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t； pondering over the runes and the message of the moon…letters Elrond had read。 It was he that made the dwarves begin the dangerous search on the western slopes for the secret door。 They moved their camp then to a long valley； narrower than the great dale in the South where the Gates of the river stood； and walled with lower spurs of the Mountain。 Two of these here thrust forward west from the main mass in long steep…sided ridges that fell ever downwards towards the plain。 On this western side there were fewer signs of the dragon's marauding feet； and there was some grass for their ponies。 From this western camp； shadowed all day by cliff and wall until the sun began to sink towards the forest； day by day they toiled in parties searching for paths up the mountain…side。 If the map was true； somewhere high above the cliff at the valley's head must stand the secret door。 Day by day they came back to their camp without success。
But at last unexpectedly they found what they were seeking。 Fili and Kili and the hobbit went back one day down the valley and scrambled among the tumbled rocks at its southern corner。 About midday； creeping behind a great stone that stood alone like a pillar； Bilbo came on what looked like rough steps going upwards。 Following these excitedly he and the dwarves found traces of a narrow track； often lost； often rediscovered； that wandered on to the top of the southern ridge and brought them at last to a still narrower ledge； which turned north across the face of the Mountain。 Looking down they saw that they were at the top of the cliff at the valley's head and were gazing down on to their own camp below。 Silently； clinging to the rocky wall on their right； they went in single file along the ledge； till the wall opened and they turned into a little steep…walled bay； grassy…floored； still and quiet。 Its entrance which they had found could not be seen from below because of the overhang of the cliff； nor from further off because it was so small that it looked like a dark crack and no more。 It was not a cave and was open to the sky above； but at its inner end a flat wall rose up that in the lower I part； close to the ground； was as smooth and upright as mason's work； but without a joint or crevice to be seen。
〃No sign was there of post or lintel or threshold； nor any sign of bar or bolt or key…hole； yet they did not doubt that they had found the door at last。 They beat on it； they thrust and pushed at it； they implored it to move； they spoke fragments of broken spells of opening； and nothing stirred。 At last tired out they。 rested on the grass at its feet； and then at evening began； their long climb down。
There was excitement in the camp that night。 In the morning they prepared to move once more。 Only Bofur and Bombur were left behind to guard the ponies and such stores as they had brought with them from the river。 The others went down the valley and up the newly found path； and so to the narrow ledge。 Along this they could carry no bundles or packs； so narrow and breathless was it； with a fall of a hundred and fifty feet beside them on to sharp rocks below； but each of them took a good coil of rope wound tight about his waist； and so at last without mishap they reached the little grassy bay。 There they made their third camp； hauling up what they needed from below with their ropes。 Down the same way they were able occasionally to lower one of the more active dwarves； such as Kili； to exchange such news as there was； or to take a share in the guard below； while Bofur was hauled up to the higher camp。 Bombur would not e up either the rope or the path。 〃I am too fat for such fly…walks；〃 he said。 〃I should turn dizzy and tread on my beard； and then you would be thirteen again。 And the knotted ropes are too slender for my weight。〃 Luckily for him that was not true； as you will see。
In the meanwhile some of them explored the ledge beyond the opening and found a path that led higher and higher on to the mountain； but they did not dare to venture very far that way； nor was there much use in it。 Out up there a silence reigned； broken by no bird or sound except that of the wind in the crannies of stone。 They spoke low and never called or sang； for danger brooded in every rock。
The others who were busy with the secret of the door had no more success。
They were too eager to trouble about the runes or the moon…letters； but tried without resting to discover where exactly in the smooth face of the rock the door was hidden。 They had brought picks and tools of many sorts from Lake…town； and at first they tried to use these。 But when they struck the stone the handles splintered and jarred their arms cruelly； and the steel heads broke or bent like lead。 Mining work； they saw clearly was no good against the magic that had shut this door； and they grew terrified； too； of the echoing noise。 Bilbo found sitting on the doorstep lonesome and wearisome…there was not a doorstep； of course； really； but they used to call the little grassy space between the wall and the opening the 〃doorstep〃 in fun； remembering Bilbo's words long ago at the unexpected party in his hobbit…hole； when he said they could sit on the doorstep till they thought of something。 And sit and think they did； or wandered aimlessly about； and glummer and glummer they became。 Their spirits had risen a little at the discovery of the path； but now they sank into their boots； and yet they would not give it up and go away。 The hobbit was no longer much brighter than the dwarves。 He would do nothing but sit with his back to the rock…face and stare away west through the opening； over the cliff； over the wide lands to the black wall of Mirkwood； and to the distances beyond； in which he sometimes thought he could catch glimpses of the Misty Mountains small and far。 If the dwarves asked him what he was doing he answered：
〃You said sitting on the doorstep and thinking would be my job； not to mention getting inside； so I am sitting and thinking。〃 But I am afraid he was not thinking much of the job； but of what lay beyond the blue distance； the quiet Western Land and the Hill and his hobbit…hole under it。 A large grey stone lay in the centre of the grass and he stared moodily at it or watched the great snails。 They seemed to love the little shut…in bay with its walls of cool rock； and there were many of them of huge size crawling slowly and stickily along its sides。
〃Tomorrow begins the last week of Autumn；〃 said Thorin one day。
〃And winter es after autumn；〃 said Bifur。
〃And next year after that；〃 said Dwalin； 〃and our beards will grow till they hang down the cliff to the valley before anything happens here。 What is our burglar doing for us？
Since he has got an invisible ring； and ought to be a specially excellent performer now； I am beginning to think he might go through the Front Gate and spy things out a bit！〃
Bilbo heard this…the dwarves were on the rocks just ： above the enclosure where he was sitting…and 〃Good Gracious！〃 he thought； 〃so that is what they are beginning to think； is it？ It is always poor me that has to get them out ： of their difficulties； at least since the wizard left。 Whatever am I going to do？ I might have known that someth