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ere on huge piles made of forest trees was built a busy wooden town； not a town of elves but of Men； who still dared to dwell here under the shadow of the distant dragon…mountain。 They still throve on the trade that came up the great river from the South and was carted past the falls to their town； but in the great days of old； when Dale in the North was rich and prosperous； they had been wealthy and powerful； and there had been fleets of boats on the waters； and some were filled with gold and some with warriors in armour； and there had been wars and deeds which were now only a legend。 The rotting piles of a greater town could still be seen along the shores when the waters sank in a drought。
But men remembered little of all that； though some still sang old songs of the dwarf…kings of the Mountain； Thror and Thrain of the race of Durin； and of the ing of the Dragon； and the fall of the lords of Dale。 Some sang too that Thror and Thrain would e back one day and gold would flow in rivers through the mountain…gates； and all that land would be filled with new song and new laughter。 But this pleasant legend did not much affect their daily business。
As soon as the raft of barrels came in sight boats rowed out from the piles of the town； and voices hailed the raft…steerers。 Then ropes were cast and oars were pulled； and soon the raft was drawn out of the current of the Forest River and towed away round the high shoulder of rock into the little bay of Lake…town。 There it was moored not far from the shoreward head of the great bridge。 Soon men would e up from the South and take some of the casks away； and others they would fill with goods they had brought to be taken back up the stream to the Wood…elves' home。 In the meanwhile the barrels were left afloat while the elves of the raft and the boatmen went to feast in Lake…town。
They would have been surprised； if they could have seen what happened down by the shore； after they had gone and the shades of night had fallen。 First of all a barrel was cut loose by Bilbo and pushed to the shore and opened。 Groans came from inside； and out crept a most unhappy dwarf。 Wet straw was in his draggled beard； he was so sore and stiff； so bruised and buffeted he could hardly stand or stumble through the shallow water to lie groaning on the shore。 He had a famished and a savage look like a dog that has been chained and forgotten in a kennel for a week。 It was Thorin； but you could only have told it by his golden chain； and by the colour of his now dirty and tattered sky…blue hood with its tarnished silver tassel。 It was some time before he would be even polite to the hobbit。
〃Well； are you alive or are you dead？〃 asked Bilbo quite crossly。 Perhaps he had forgotten that he had had at least one good meal more than the dwarves； and also the use of his arms and legs； not to speak of a greater allowance of air。 〃Are you still in prison； or are you free？ If you want food； and if you want to go on with this silly adventure… it's yours after all and not mine…you had better slap your arms and rub your legs and try and help me get the others out while there is a chance！〃
Thorin of course saw the sense of this； so after a few more groans he got up and helped the hobbit as well as he could。 In the darkness floundering in the cold water they had a difficult and very nasty job finding which were the right barrels。 Knocking outside and calling only discovered about six dwarves that could answer。 They were unpacked and helped ashore where they sat or lay muttering and moaning； they were so soaked and bruised and cramped that they could hardly yet realize their release or be properly thankful for it。 Dwalin and Balin were two of the most unhappy； and it was no good asking them to help。 Bifur and Bofur were less knocked about and drier； but they lay down and would do nothing。 Fili and Kili； however； who were young （for dwarves） and had also been packed more neatly with plenty of straw into smaller casks； came out more or less smiling； with only a bruise or two and a stiffness that soon wore off。
〃I hope I never smell the smell of apples again！〃 said Fili。 〃My tub was full of it。 To smell apples everlastingly when you can scarcely move and are cold and sick with hunger is maddening。 I could eat anything in the wide world now； for hours on end…but not an apple！〃
With the willing help of Fili and Kili； Thorin and Bilbo at last discovered the remainder of the pany and got them out。 Poor fat Bombur was asleep or senseless； Dori； Nori； Ori； Oin and Gloin were waterlogged and seemed only half alive； they all had to be carried one by one and laid helpless on the shore。
〃Well！ Here we are！〃 said Thorin。 〃And I suppose we ought to thank our stars and Mr。 Baggins。 I am sure he has a right to expect it； though I wish he could have arranged a more fortable journey。 Still…all very much at your service once more； Mr。 Baggins。 No doubt we shall feel properly grateful； when we are fed and recovered。 In the meanwhile what next？〃 〃I suggest Lake…town；〃 said Bilbo； 〃What else is there？〃 Nothing else could； of course； be suggested； so leaving the others Thorin and Fili and Kili and the hobbit went along the shore to the great bridge。 There were guards at the head of it； but they were not keeping very careful watch； for it was so long since there had been any real need。 Except for occasional squabbles about river…tolls they were friends with the Wood…elves。 Other folk were far away； and some of the younger people in the town openly doubted the existence of any dragon in the mountain； and laughed at the greybeards and gammers who said that they had seen him flying in the sky in their young days。 That being so it is not surprising that the guards were drinking and laughing by a fire in their hut； and did not hear the noise of the unpacking of the dwarves or the footsteps of the four scouts。 Their astonishment was enormous when Thorin Oakenshield stepped in through the door。
〃Who are you and what do you want？〃 they shouted leaping to their feet and gipping for weapons。
〃Thorin son of Thrain son of Thror King under the Mountain！〃 said the dwarf in a loud voice； and he looked it； in spite of his torn clothes and draggled hood。 The gold gleamed on his neck and waist： his eyes were dark and deep。 〃I have e back。 I wish to see the Master of your town！〃 Then there was tremendous excitement。 Some of the more foolish ran out of the hut as if they expected the Mountain to go golden in the night and all the waters of the lake to turn yellow right away。 The captain of the guard came forward。
〃And who are these？〃 he asked； pointing to Fili and： Kili and Bilbo。 〃The sons of my father's daughter；〃 answered Thorin； 〃Fili and Kili of the race of Durin； and Mr。 Baggins who has travelled with us out of the West。〃 〃If you e in peace lay down your arms！〃 said the captain。 〃We have none；〃 said Thorin； and it was true enough： their knives had been taken from them by the wood…elves； and the great sword Orcrist too。 Bilbo had his short sword； hidden as usual； but he said nothing about that。 〃We have no need of weapons； who return at last to our own as spoken of old。 Nor could we fight against so many。 Take us to your master！〃
〃He is at feast；〃 said the captain。
〃Then all the more reason for taking us to him；〃 burst in Fili； who was getting impatient at these solemnities。 〃We are worn and famished after our long road and we have sick rades。 Now make haste and let us have no more words； or your master may have something to say to you。〃 〃Follow me then；〃 said the captain； and with six men about them he led them over the bridge through the gates and into the market…place of the town。 This was a wide circle of quiet water surrounded by the tall piles on which were built the greater houses； and by long wooden quays with many steps and ladders going down to the surface of the lake。 From one great hall shone many lights and there came the sound of many voices。 They passed its doors and stood blinking in the light looking at long tables filled with folk。 〃I am Thorin son of Thrain son of Thror King under the Mountain！ I return！〃 cried Thorin in a loud voice from the door； before the captain could say anything。 All leaped to their feet。 The Master of the town sprang from his great chair。 But none rose in greater surprise than the raft…men of the elves who were sitting at the lower end of the hall。 Pressing forward before the Master's table they cried：
〃These are prisoners of our king that have escaped； wandering vagabond dwarves that could not give any good account of themselves； sneaking through the woods and molesting our people！〃
〃Is this true？〃 asked the Master。 As a matter of fact he thought it far more likely than the return of the King under the Mountain； if any such person had ever existed。
〃It is true that we were wrongfully waylaid by the Elven…king and imprisoned without cause as we journeyed back to our own land；〃 answered Thorin。 〃But lock nor bar may hinder the homeing spoken of old。 Nor is this town in the Wood…elves' realm。 I speak to the Master of the town of the Men of the lake； not to the raft…men of the king。〃
Then the Master hesitated and looked from one to the other。 The Elvenking was very powerful in those parts