Far over the misty mountains grim
To dungeons deep and caverns dim
We must away； ere break of day；
To win our harps and gold from him！〃
As they sang the hobbit felt the love of beautiful things made by hands
and by cunning and by magic moving through him； a fierce and jealous love； the desire of the hearts of dwarves。 Then something Tookish woke up inside him； and he wished to go and see the great mountains； and hear the pine…trees and the waterfalls； and explore the caves； and wear a sword instead of a walking…stick。 He looked out of the window。 The stars were out in a dark sky above the trees。 He thought of the jewels of the dwarves shining in dark caverns。 Suddenly in the wood beyond The Water a flame leapt up…probably somebody lighting a wood…fire…and he thought of plundering dragons settling on his quiet Hill and kindling it all to flames。 He shuddered； and very quickly he was plain Mr。 Baggins of Bag…End； Under…Hill； again。 He got up trembling。 He had less than half a mind to fetch the lamp； and more than half a mind to pretend to； and go and hide behind the beer barrels in the cellar； and not e out again until all the dwarves had gone away。 Suddenly he found that the music and the singing had stopped； and they were all looking at him with eyes shining in the dark。
〃Where are you going？〃 said Thorin； in a tone that seemed to show that he guessed both halves of the hobbit's mind。
〃What about a little light？〃 said Bilbo apologetically。
〃We like the dark；〃 said the dwarves。 〃Dark for dark business！ There are many hours before dawn。〃
〃Of course！〃 said Bilbo； and sat down in a hurry。 He missed the stool and sat in the fender； knocking over the poker and shovel with a crash。 〃Hush！〃 said Gandalf。 〃Let Thorin speak！〃 And this is bow Thorin began。 〃Gandalf； dwarves and Mr。 Baggins！ We are not together in the house of our friend and fellow conspirator； this most excellent and audacious hobbit…may the hair on his toes never fall out！ all praise to his wine and ale！…〃 He paused for breath and for a polite remark from the hob…bit； but the pliments were quite lost on…poor Bilbo Baggins； who was wagging his mouth in protest at being called audacious and worst of all fellow conspirator； though no noise came out； he was so flummoxed。 So Thorin went on：
〃We are met to discuss our plans； our ways； means； policy and devices。 We shall soon before the break of day start on our long journey； a journey from which some of us； or perhaps all of us （except our friend and counsellor； the ingenious wizard Gandalf） may never return。 It is a solemn moment。 Our object is； I take it； well known to us all。 To the estimable Mr。 Baggins； and perhaps to one or two of the younger dwarves （I think I should be right in naming Kili and Fili； for instance）； the exact situation at the moment may require a little brief explanation…〃 This was Thorin's style。 He was an important dwarf。 If he had been allowed； he would probably have gone on like this until he was out of breath； without telling any one there 'anything that was not known already。 But he was rudely interrupted。 Poor Bilbo couldn't bear it any longer。 At may never return he began to feel a shriek ing up inside； and very soon it burst out like the whistle of an engine ing out of a tunnel。 All the dwarves sprang Bp knocking over the table。 Gandalf struck a blue light on the end of his magic staff； and in its firework glare the poor little hobbit could be seen kneeling on the hearth…rug； shaking like a jelly that was melting。 Then he fell flat on the floor； and kept on calling out 〃struck by lightning； struck by lightning！〃 over and over again； and that was all they could get out of him for a long time。 So they took him and laid him out of the way on the drawing…room sofa with a drink at his elbow； and they went back to their dark business。
〃Excitable little fellow；〃 said Gandalf； as they sat down again。 〃Gets funny queer fits； but he is one of the best； one of the best…as fierce as a dragon in a pinch。〃
If you have ever seen a dragon in a pinch； you will realise that this was
only poetical exaggeration applied to any hobbit； even to Old Took's great…
granduncle Bullroarer； who was so huge （for a hobbit） that he could ride a
horse。 He charged the ranks of the goblins of Mount Gram in the Battle of the
Green Fields； and knocked their king Gol…firnbul's head clean off with a
wooden club。 It sailed a hundred yards through the air and went down a rabbit hole； and in this way the battle was won and the game of Golf invented at the same moment。
In the meanwhile； however； Bullroarer's gentler descendant was reviving in the drawing…room。 After a while and a drink he crept nervously to the door of the parlour。 This is what he heard； Gloin speaking： 〃Humph！〃 （or some snort more or less like that）。 〃Will he do； do you think？ It is all very well for Gandalf to talk about this hobbit being fierce； but one shriek like that in a moment of excitement would be enough to wake the dragon and all his relatives； and kill the lot of us。 I think it sounded more like fright than excitement！ In fact； if it bad not been for the sign on the door； I should have been sure we had e to the wrong house。 As soon as I clapped eyes on the little fellow bobbing and puffing on the mat； I had my doubts。 He looks more like a grocer…than a burglar！〃
Then Mr。 Baggins turned the handle and went in。 The Took side had won。 He suddenly felt he would go without bed and breakfast to be thought fierce。 As for little fellow bobbing on the mat it almost made him really fierce。 Many a time afterwards the Baggins part regretted what he did now； and he said to himself： 〃Bilbo； you were a fool； you walked right in and put your foot in it。〃
〃Pardon me；〃 he said； 〃if I have overheard words that you were saying。 I don't pretend to understand what you are talking about； or your reference to burglars； but I think I am right in believing〃 （this is what he called being on his dignity） 〃that you think I am no good。 I will show you。 I have no signs on my door…it was painted a week ago…； and I am quite sure you have e to the wrong house。 As soon as I saw your funny faces on the door…step； I had my doubts。 But treat it as the right one。 Tell me what you want done； and I will try it； if I have to walk from here to the East of East and fight the wild Were…worms in the Last Desert。 I bad a great…great…great…granduncle once； Bullroarer Took； and …〃 〃Yes； yes； but that was long ago；〃 said Gloin。 〃I was talking about you。 And I assure you there is a mark on this door…the usual one in the trade； or used to be。 Burglar wants a good job； plenty of Excitement and reasonable Reward； that's how it is usually read。 You ^an say Expert Treasure…hunter instead of Burglar if you like。 Some of them do。 It's all the same to us。 Gandalf told us that there was a man of the sort in these parts looking for a Job at once； and that he had arranged for a meeting here this Wednesday tea…time。〃
〃Of course there is a mark；〃 said Gandalf。 〃I put it there myself。 For very good reasons。 You asked me to find the fourteenth man for your expedition； and I chose Mr。 Baggins。 Just let any one say I chose the wrong man or the wrong house； and you can stop at thirteen and have all the bad luck you like； or go back to digging coal。〃
He scowled so angrily at Gloin that the dwarf huddled back in his chair； and when Bilbo tried to open his mouth to ask a question； he turned and frowned at him and stuck oat his bushy eyebrows； till Bilbo shut his mouth tight with a snap。 〃That's right；〃 said Gandalf。 〃Let's have no more argument。 I have chosen Mr。 Baggins and that ought to ！6te enough for all of you。 If I say he is a Burglar； a Burglar he is； or will be when the time es。 There is a lot more in him than you guess； and a deal more than he has any idea of himself。 You may （possibly） all live to thank me yet。 Now Bilbo； my boy； fetch the lamp； and let's have little light on this！〃
On the table in the light of a big lamp with a red shad he spread a piece of parchment rather like a map。
〃This was made by Thror； your grandfather； Thorin； he said in answer to the dwarves' excited questions。 〃It is a plan of the Mountain。〃 〃I don't see that this w