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t flame。 The dwarves heard the awful rumour of his flight； and they crouched against the walls of the grassy terrace cringing under boulders； hoping somehow to escape the frightful eyes of the hunting dragon。
There they would have all been killed； if it had not been for Bilbo once again。 〃Quick！ Quick！〃 he gasped。 〃The door！ The tunnel！ It's no good here。〃 Roused by these words they were just about to creep inside the tunnel when Bifur gave a cry： 〃My cousins！ Bombur and Bofur … we have forgotten them； they are down in the valley！〃
〃They will be slain； and all our ponies too； and all out stores lost；〃 moaned the others。 〃We can do nothing。〃
〃Nonsense！〃 said Thorin； recovering his dignity。 〃We cannot leave them。 Get inside Mr。 Baggins and Balin； and you two Fili and Kili…the dragon shan't have all of us。 Now you others； where are the ropes？ Be quick！〃 Those were perhaps the worst moments they had been through yet。 The horrible sounds of Smaug's anger were echoing in the stony hollows far above； at any moment he might e blazing down or fly whirling round and find them there； near the perilous cliff's edge hauling madly on the ropes。 Up came Bofur； and still all was safe。 Up came Bombur； puffing and blowing while the ropes creaked； and still all was safe。 Up came some tools and bundles of stores； and then danger was upon them。 A whirring noise was heard。 A red light touched the points of standing rocks。 The dragon came。 They had barely time to fly back to the tunnel； pulling and dragging in their bundles； when Smaug came hurtling from the North； licking the mountain…sides with flame； beating his great wings with a noise like a roaring wind。 His hot breath shrivelled the grass before the door； and drove in through the crack they had left and scorched them as they lay hid。 Flickering fires leaped up and black rock…shadows danced。 Then darkness fell as he passed again。 The ponies screamed with terror； burst their ropes and galloped wildly off。 The dragon swooped and turned to pursue them； and was gone。 〃That'll be the end of our poor beasts！〃 said Thorin。
〃Nothing can escape Smaug once he sees it。 Here we are and here we shall have to stay； unless any one fancies tramping the long open miles back to the river with Smaug on the watch！〃
It was not a pleasant thought！ They crept further down the tunnel； and there they lay and shivered though it was warm and stuffy； until dawn came pale through the crack of the door。 Every now and again through the night they could hear the roar of the flying dragon grow and then pass and fade； as he hunted round and round the mountain…sides。
He guessed from the ponies； and from the traces of the camps he had discovered； that men had e up from the river and the lake and had scaled the mountain…side from the valley where the ponies had been standing； but the door withstood his searching eye； and the little high…walled bay had kept out his fiercest flames。 Long he had hunted in vain till the dawn chilled his wrath and he went back to his golden couch to sleep … and to gather new strength。
He would not forget or forgive the theft； not if a thousand years turned him to smouldering stone； but he could afford to wait。 Slow and silent he crept back to his lair and half closed his eyes。
When morning came the terror of the dwarves grew less。 They realized that dangers of this kind were inevitable in dealing with such a guardian； and that it was no good giving up their quest yet。 Nor could they get away just now； as Thorin had pointed out。 Their ponies were lost or killed； and they would have to wait some time before Smaug relaxed his watch sufficiently for them to dare the long way on foot。 Luckily they had saved enough of their stores to last them still for some time。
They debated long on what was to be done； but they could think of no way of getting rid of Smaug … which had always been a weak point in their plans； as Bilbo felt inclined to point out。 Then as is the nature of folk that are thoroughly perplexed； they began to grumble at the hobbit； blaming him for what had at first so pleased them： for bringing away a cup and stirring up Smaug's wrath so soon。
〃What else do you suppose a burglar is to do？〃 asked Bilbo angrily。 〃I was not engaged to kill dragons； that is warrior's work； but to steal treasure。 I made the best beginning I could。 Did you expect me to trot back with the whole hoard of Thror on my back？ If there is any grumbling to be done； I think I might have a say。 You ought to have brought five hundred burglars not one。 I am sure it reflects great credit on your grandfather； but you cannot pretend that you ever made the vast extent of his wealth clear to me。 I should want hundreds of years to bring it all up； if I was fifty times as big； and Smaug as tame as a rabbit。〃
After that of course the dwarves begged his pardon。
〃What then do you propose we should do； Mr。 Baggins？〃 asked Thorin politely。
〃I have no idea at the moment … if you mean about removing the treasure。 That obviously depends entirely on some new turn of luck and the getting rid of Smaug。
Getting rid of dragons is not at all in my line； but I will do my best to think about it。 Personally I have no hopes at all； and wish I was safe back at home。〃
〃Never mind that for the moment！ What are we to do now； to…day？〃 〃Well； if you really want my advice； I should say we can do nothing but stay where we are。 By day we can no doubt creep out safely enough to take the air。 Perhaps before long one or two could be chosen to go back to the store by the river and replenish our supplies。 But in the meanwhile everyone ought to be well inside the tunnel by night。
〃Now I will make you an offer。 I have got my ring and will creep down this very noon…then if ever Smaug ought to be napping…and see what he is up to。 Perhaps something will turn up。 'Every worm has his weak spot；' as my father used to say； though I am sure it was not from personal experience。〃 Naturally the dwarves accepted the offer eagerly。 Already they had e to respect little Bilbo。 Now he had bee the real leader in their adventure。 He had begun to have ideas and plans of his own。 When midday came he got ready for another journey down into the Mountain。 He did not like it of course； but it was not so bad now he knew； more or less； what was in front of him。 Had he known more about dragons and their wily ways； he might have teen more frightened and less hopeful of catching this one napping。 The sun was shining when he started； but it was as dark as night in the tunnel。 The light from the door； almost closed； soon faded as he went down。 So silent was his going that smoke on a gentle wind could hardly have surpasses it； and he was inclined to feel a bit proud of himself as he drew near the lower door。 There was only the very fainter glow to be seen。 〃Old Smaug is weary and asleep；〃 he thought。 〃He can't； see me and he won't hear me。 Cheer up Bilbo！〃 He had forgotten or had never heard about dragons' sense of smell。
It is also an awkward fact that they keep half an eye open watching while they sleep； if they are suspicious。 Smaug certainly looked fast asleep； almost dead and dark； with scarcely a snore more than a whiff of unseen steam； when