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lay。 So he spoke to the Master and his councillors and said that soon he and his pany must go on towards the Mountain。
Then for the first time the Master was surprised and a little frightened； and he wondered if Thorin was after all really a descendant of the old kings。 He had never thought that the dwarves would actually dare to approach Smaug； but believed they were frauds who would sooner or later be discovered and be turned out。 He was wrong。 Thorin； of course； was really the grandson of the King under the Mountain； and there is no knowing what a dwarf will not dare and do for revenge or the recovery of his own。 But the Master was not sorry at all to let them go。 They were expensive to keep； and their arrival had turned things into a long holiday in which business was at a standstill。 〃Let them go and bother Smaug； and see how he weles them！〃 he thought。 〃Certainly； O Thorin Thrain's son Thror's son！〃 was what he said。 〃You must claim your own。 The hour is at hand； spoken of old。 What help we can offer shall be yours； and we trust to your gratitude when your kingdom is regained。〃 So one day； although autumn was now getting far on； and winds were cold； and leaves were falling fast； three large boats left Lake…town； laden with rowers； dwarves； Mr。 Baggins； and many provisions。 Horses and ponies had been sent round by circuitous paths to meet them at their appointed landing…place。 The Master and his councillors bade them farewell from the great steps of the town…hall that went down to the lake。 People sang on the quays and out of windows。 The white oars dipped and splashed； and off they went north up the lake on the last stage of their long journey。 The only person thoroughly unhappy was Bilbo。
Chapter 11
On the Doorstep
In two days going they rowed right up the Long Lake and passed out into the River Running； and now they could all see the Lonely Mountain towering grim and tall before them。 The stream was strong and their going slow。 At the； end of the third day； some miles up the river； they drew in to the left or western bank and disembarked。 Here they were joined by the horses with other provisions and necessaries and the ponies for their own use that had been sent to meet them。 They packed what they could on the ponies and the rest was made into a store under a tent； but none of the men of the town would stay with them even for the night so near the shadow of the Mountain。 〃Not at any rate until the songs have e true！〃 said they。 It was easier to believe in the Dragon and less easy to believe in Thorin in these wild parts。 Indeed their stores had no need of any guard； for all the land was desolate and empty。 So their escort left them； making off swiftly down the river and the shoreward paths； although the night was already drawing on。 They spent a cold and lonely night and their spirits fell。 The next day they set out again。 Balin and Bilbo rode behind； each leading another pony heavily laden beside him； the others were some way ahead picking out a slow road； for there were no paths。 They made north…west； slanting away from the River Running； and drawing ever nearer and nearer to a great spur of the Mountain that was flung out southwards towards them。
It was a weary journey； and a quiet and stealthy one。 There was no laughter or song or sound of harps； and the pride and hopes which had stirred in their hearts at the singing of old songs by the lake died away to a plodding gloom。 They knew that they were drawing near to the end of their journey； and that it might be a very horrible end。 The land about them grew bleak and barren； though once； as Thorin told them； it had been green and fair。 There was little grass； and before long there was neither bush nor tree； and only broken and blackened stumps to speak of ones long vanished。 They were e to the Desolation of the Dragon； and they were e at the waning of the year。
They reached the skirts of the Mountain all the same without meeting any danger or any sign of the Dragon other than the wilderness he had made about his lair。 The Mountain lay dark and silent before them and ever higher above them。 They made their first camp on the western side of the great southern spur； which ended in a height called Ravenhill。 On this there had been an old watch…post； but they dared not climb it yet； it was too exposed。 Before setting out to search the western spurs of the Mountain for the hidden door； on which all their hopes rested； Thorin sent out a scouting expedition to spy out the land to the South where the Front Gate stood。 For this purpose he chose Balin and Fili and Kili； and with them went Bilbo。 They marched under the grey and silent cliffs to the feet of Ravenhill。 There the river； after winding a wide loop over the valley of Dale； turned from the Mountain on its road to the Lake； flowing swift and noisily。 Its bank was bare and rocky； tall and steep above the stream； and gazing out from it over the narrow water； foaming and splashing among many boulders； they could see in the wide valley shadowed by the Mountain's arms the grey ruins of ancient houses； towers； and walls。
〃There lies all that is left of Dale；〃 said Balin。 〃The mountain's sides were green with woods and all the sheltered valley rich and pleasant in the days when the bells rang in that town。〃 He looked both sad and grim as he said this： he had been one of Thorin's panions on the day the Dragon came。 They did not dare to follow the river much further to。 wards the Gate； but they went on beyond the end of the southern spur； until lying hidden behind a rock they could look out and see the dark cavernous opening in a great cliff…wall between the arms of the Mountain。 Out of it the waters of the Running River sprang； and out of it too there came a steam and a dark smoke。 Nothing moved in the waste； save the vapour and the water； and every now and again a black and ominous crow。 The only sound was the sound of the stony water； and every now and again the harsh croak of a bird。 Balin shuddered。 〃Let us return！〃 he said。 〃We can do no good here！… And I don't like these dark birds； they look like spies of evil。〃
〃The dragon is still alive and in the halls under the Mountain then…or I imagine so from the smoke；〃 said the hobbit。
〃That does not prove it；〃 said Balin； 〃though I don't doubt you are right。 But he might be gone away some time； or he might be lying out on the mountain…side keeping watch； and still I expect smokes and steams would e out of the gates： all the halls within must be filled with his foul reek。〃 With such gloomy thoughts； followed ever by croaking crows above them； they made their weary way back to the camp。 Only in June they had been guests in the fair house of Elrond； and though autumn was now crawling towards winter that pleasant time now seemed years ago。 They were alone in the perilous waste without hope of further help。 They were at the end of their journey； but as far as ever； it seemed； from the end of their quest。 None of them had much spirit left。
Now strange to say Mr。 Baggins had more than the others。 He would often borrow Thorin's map and gaze at it； pondering over the runes and the message of the moon…letters Elrond had read。 It was he that made