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was the first go forward by Bilbo's side。
〃Now do be careful！〃 whispered the hobbit； 〃and quiet as you can be！ There may be no Smaug at the bottom but then again there may be。 Don't let us take any unnecessary risks！〃
Down； down they went。 The dwarves could not； course； pare with the hobbit in real stealth； and the made a deal of puffing and shuffling which echoes magnified alarmingly； but though every now and again Bilbo in fear stopped and listened； not a sound stirred below Near the bottom； as well as he could judge； Bilbo slipped on his ring and went ahead。 But he did not need it： the darkness was plete； and they were all invisible； ring or no ring。 In fact so black was it that the hobbit came to the opening unexpectedly； put his hand on air； stumbled for ward； and rolled headlong into the hall！ There he lay face downwards on the floor and did no dare to get up； or hardly even to breathe。 But nothing moved。 There was not a gleam of light…unless； as seemed to him； when at last he slowly raised his head； there was a pale white glint； above him and far off in the gloom。 But certainly it was not a spark of dragon…fire； though the wormstench was heavy in the place； and the taste of vapour was on his tongue。
At length Mr。 Baggins could bear it no longer。 〃e found you； Smaug； you worm！〃 he squeaked aloud。 〃Stop playing hide…and…seek！ Give me a light； and then eat me if you can catch me！〃
Faint echoes ran round the unseen hall； but there was no answer。 Bilbo got up； and found that he did not know in what direction to turn。 〃Now I wonder what on earth Smaug is playing at；〃 he said。 〃He is not at home today （or tonight； or whatever it is）； I do believe。 If Oin and Gloin have not lost their time tinder…boxes； perhaps we can make a little light； and have a look round before the luck turns。〃
〃Light！〃 he cried。 〃Can anybody make a light？〃
The dwarves； of course； were very alarmed when Bilbo fell forward down the step with a bump into the hall； and they sat huddled just where he had left them at the end the tunnel。
〃Sh！ sh！〃 they hissed； when they heard his voice： and though that helped the hobbit to find out where they were； was some time before he could get anything else out of them。 But in the end； when Bilbo actually began to stamp in the floor； and screamed out light！' at the top of his thrill voice； Thorin gave way； and Oin and Gloin were sent back to their bundles at the top of the tunnel。 After a while a twinkling gleam showed them returning； in with a small pine…torch alight in his hand； and Gloin with a bundle of others under his arm。 Quickly Bilbo trotted to the door and took the torch； but he could not persuade the dwarves to light the others or to e and join him yet。 As Thorin carefully explained； Mr。 Baggins was still officially their expert burglar and investigator。 If he liked to risk a light； that was his affair。 They would wait in the tunnel for his report。 So they sat near the door and watched。
They saw the little dark shape of the hobbit start across the floor holding his tiny light aloft。 Every now and again； while he was still near enough； they caught a glint and a tinkle as he stumbled on some golden thing。 The light grew smaller as he wandered away into the vast hall； then it began to rise dancing into the air。 Bilbo was climbing the great mound of treasure。 Soon he stood upon the top； and still went on。 Then they saw him halt and stoop for a moment； but they did not know the reason。 It was the Arkenstone； the Heart of the Mountain。 So Bilbo guessed from Thorin's description； but indeed there could not be two such gems； even in so marvellous a hoard； even in all the world。 Ever as he climbed； the same white gleam had shone before him and drawn his feet towards Slowly it grew to a little globe of pallid light。 Now as came near； it was tinged with a flickering sparkle of man colours at the surface； reflected and splintered from the wavering light of his torch。 At last he looked down upon it and he caught his breath。 The great jewel shone before he feet of its own inner light； and yet； cut and fashioned by the dwarves； who had dug it from the heart of the mountain long ago； it took all light that fell upon it and…changes it into ten thousand sparks of white radiance shot with glints of the rainbow。
Suddenly Bilbo's arm went towards it drawn by it enchantment。 His small hand would not close about it for it was a large and heavy gem； but he lifted it； shut his eyes； and put it in his deepest pocket。
〃Now I am a burglar indeed！〃 thought he。 〃But I suppose I must tell the dwarves about it…some time。 The did say I could pick and choose my own share； and I think I would choose this； if they took all the rest！〃 All the same he had an unfortable feeling that the picking and choosing had not really been meant to include this marvellous gem； and that trouble would yet e of it。 Now he went on again。 Down the other side of the great mound he climbed； and the spark of his torch vanished from the sight of the watching dwarves。 But soon they saw it far away in the distance again。 Bilbo was crossing the floor of the hall。
He went on； until he came to the great doors at the further side； and there a draught of air refreshed him； but it almost puffed out his light。 He peeped timidly through and caught a glimpse of great passages and of the dim beginnings of wide stairs going up into the gloom。 And still there was no sight nor sound of Smaug。 He was just going to turn and go back； when a black shape swooped at him and brushed his face。 He squeaked and started； stumbled backwards and fell。 His torch dropped head downwards and went out！ 〃Only a bat； I suppose and hope！〃 he said miserably。 But now what am I to do？ Which is East； South； North West？〃
〃Thorin！ Balin！ Oin！ Gloin！ Fill！ Kili！〃 he cried as loud he could…it seemed a thin little noise in the wide blackness。 〃The light's gone out！ Someone e and find and help me！〃 For the moment his courage had failed together。
Faintly the dwarves heard his small cries； though the only word they could catch was 'help！'
〃Now what on earth or under it has happened？〃 said Thorin。 〃Certainly not the dragon； or he would not go on squeaking。〃
They waited a moment or two； and still there were no dragon…noises； no sound at all in fact but Bilbo's distant voice。 〃e； one of you； get another light or two！〃 Thorin ordered。 〃It seems we have got to go and help our burglar。〃
〃It is about our turn to help；〃 said Balin； 〃and I am quite willing to go。 Anyway I expect it is safe for the moment。〃
Gloin lit several more torches； and then they all crept out； one by one； and went along the wall as hurriedly as they could。 It was not long before they met Bilbo himself ing back towards them。 His wits had quickly returned soon as he saw the twinkle of their lights。
〃Only a bat and a dropped torch； nothing worse！〃 he said in answer to their questions。 Though they were much relieved； they were inclined to be grumpy at being frightened for nothing； but what they would have said； if he had told them at that moment about the Arkenstone； I don't know。 The mere fleeting glimpses of treasure which they had caught as they went along had rekindled all the fire of their dwar