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nd water； he began to wonder what had bee of his unfortunate friends。 It was not very long before he discovered； but that belongs to the next chapter and the beginning of another adventure in which the hobbit again showed his usefulness。
Chapter 9
Barrels Out of Bond
The day after the battle with the spiders Bilbo and the dwarves made one last despairing effort to find a way out before they died of hunger and thirst。 They got up and staggered on in the direction which eight out of the thirteen of them guessed to be the one in which the path lay； but they never found out if they were right。 Such day as there ever was in the forest was fading once more into the blackness of night； when suddenly out sprang the light of many torches all round them； like hundreds of red stars。 Out leaped Wood…elves with their bows and spears and called the dwarves to halt。 There was no thought of a fight。 Even if the dwarves had not been in such a state that they were actually glad to be captured； their small knives； the only weapons they had； would have been of no use against the arrows of the elves that could hit a bird's eye in the dark。 So they simply stopped dead and sat down and waited…all except Bilbo； who popped on his ring and slipped quickly to one side。
That is why； when the elves bound the dwarves in a long line； one behind the other； and counted them； they never found or counted the hobbit。 Nor did they hear or feel him trotting along well behind their torch…light as they led off their prisoners into the forest。 Each dwarf was blindfold； but that did not make much difference； for even Bilbo with the use of his eyes could not see where they were going； and neither he nor the others knew where they had started from anyway。 Bilbo had all he could do to keep up with the torches； for the elves were making the dwarves go as fast as ever they could； sick and weary as they were。 The king had ordered them to make haste。 Suddenly the torches stopped； and the hobbit had just time to catch them up before they began to cross the bridge。 This was the bridge that led across the river to the king's doors。 The water flowed dark and swift and strong beneath； and at the far end were gates before the mouth of a huge cave that ran into the side of a steep slope covered with trees。 There the great beeches came right down to the bank； till their feet were in the stream。 Across this bridge the elves thrust their prisoners； but Bilbo hesitated in the rear。 He did not at all like the look of the cavern…mouth and he only made up his mind not to desert his friends just in time to scuttle over at the heels of the fast elves； before the great gates of the king closed behind them with a clang。 Inside the passages were lit with red torch…light； and the elf…guards sang as they marched along the twisting； crossing； and echoing paths。 These were not like those of the goblin…cities： they were smaller； less deep underground； and filled with a cleaner air。 In a great hall with pillars hewn out of the living stone sat the Elvenking on a chair of carven wood。 On his head was a crown of berries and red leaves； for the autumn was e again。 In the spring he wore a crown of woodland flowers。 In his hand he held a carven staff of oak。
The prisoners were brought before him； and though he looked grimly at them； he told his men to unbind them； for they were ragged and weary。 〃Besides they need no ropes in here；〃 said he。 〃There is no escape from my magic doors for those who are once brought inside。〃
Long and searchingly he questioned the dwarves about their doings； and where they were going to； and where they were ing from； but he got little more news out of them than out of Thorin。 They were surly and angry and did not even pretend to be polite。
〃What have we done； O king？〃 said Balin； who was the eldest left。 〃Is it a crime to be lost in the forest； to be hungry and thirsty； to be trapped by spiders？ Are the spiders your tame beasts or your pets； if killing them makes you angry？〃 Such a question of course made the king angrier than ever； and he answered： 〃It is a crime to wander in my realm without leave。 Do you forget that you were in my kingdom； using the road that my people made？ Did you not three times pursue and trouble my people in the forest and ' rouse the spiders with your riot and clamour？ After all the disturbance you have made I have a right to know what brings you here； and if you will not tell me now； I will keep you all in prison until you have learned sense and manners！〃 Then he ordered the dwarves each to be put in a separate cell and to be given food and drink； but not to be allowed to pass the doors of their little prisons； until one at least of them was willing to tell him all he wanted to know。 But be did not tell them that Thorin was also a prisoner with him。 It was Bilbo who found that out。
Poor Mr。 Baggins … it was a weary long time that he lived in that place all alone； and always in hiding； never daring to take off his ring； hardly daring to sleep； even tucked away in the darkest and remotest ers he could find。 For something to do he took to wandering about the Elven…king's palace。 Magic shut the gates； but be could sometimes get out； if he was quick。 panies of the Wood…elves； sometimes with the king at their head； would from time to time ride out to hunt； or to other business in the woods and in the lands to the East。 Then if Bilbo was very nimble； he could slip out just behind them； though it was a dangerous thing to do。 More than once he was nearly caught in the doors； as they clashed together when the last elf passed； yet he did not dare to march among them because of his shadow （altogether thin and wobbly as it was in torch…light）； or for fear of being bumped into and discovered。 And when he did go out； which was not very often； he did no good。 He did not wish to desert the dwarves； and indeed he did not know where in the world to go without them。 He could not keep up with the hunting elves all the time they were out； so he never discovered the ways out of the wood； and was left to wander miserably in the forest； terrified of losing himself； until a chance came of returning。 He was hungry too outside； for he was no hunter； but inside the caves he could pick up a living of some sort by stealing food from store or table when no one was at hand。 〃I am like a burglar that can't get away； but must go on miserably burgling the same house day after day；〃 he thought。 〃This is the dreariest and dullest part of all this wretched； tiresome； unfortable adventure！ I wish I was back in my hobbit…hole by my own warm fireside with the lamp shining！〃 He often wished； too； that he could get a message for help sent to the wizard； but that of course was quite impossible； and he soon realized that if anything was to be done； it would have to be done by Mr。 Baggins； alone and unaided。
Eventually； after a week or two of this sneaking sort of life； by watching and following the guards and taking what chances he could； he managed to find out where each dwarf was kept。 He found all their twelve cells in different parts of the palace； and after a time he got to know his way about very well。 What was his surprise one day to overhear some of th