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〃And what brought you back in the nick of time？〃
〃Looking behind；〃 said he。
〃Exactly！〃 said Thorin； 〃but could you be more plain？〃 〃I went on to spy out our road。 It will soon bee dangerous and difficult。 Also I was anxious about replenishing our small stock of provisions。 I had not gone very far； however； when I met a couple of friends of mine from Rivendell。〃
〃Where's that？〃 asked Bilbo；
〃Don't interrupt！〃 said Gandalf。 〃You will get there in a few days now； if we're lucky； and find out all about it As I was saying I met two of Elrond's people。 They were hurrying along for fear of the trolls。 It was they who told me that three of them had e down from the mountains and settled in the woods not far from the road； they had frightened everyone away from the district； and they waylaid strangers。
〃I immediately had a feeling that I was wanted back。 Looking behind I saw a fire in the distance and made for it。 So now you know。 Please be more careful； next time； or we shall never get anywhere！〃
〃Thank you！〃 said Thorin。
Chapter 3
A Short Rest
They did not sing or tell stories that day； even though the weather improved； nor the next day； nor the day after。 They had begun to feel that danger was not far away on either side。 They camped under the stars； and their horses had more to eat than they had； for there was plenty of grass； but there was not much in their bags； even with what they had got from the trolls。 One morning they forded a river at a wide shallow place full of the noise of stones and foam。 The far bank was steep and slippery。 When they got to the top of it； leading their ponies； they saw that the great mountains had marched down very near to them。 Already they I seemed only a day's easy journey from the feet of the nearest。 Dark and drear it looked； though there were patches of sunlight on its brown sides； and behind its shoulders the tips of snow…peaks gleamed。
〃Is that The Mountain？〃 asked Bilbo in a solemn voice； looking at it with round eyes。 He had never seen a thing that looked so big before。 〃Of course not！〃 said Balin。 〃That is only the beginning of the Misty Mountains； and we have to get through； or over； or under those somehow； before we can e into Wilderland beyond。 And it is a deal of a way even from the other side of them to the Lonely Mountain in the East Where Smaug lies on our treasure。〃
〃O！〃 said Bilbo； and just at that moment he felt more fared than he ever remembered feeling before。 He was thinking once again of his fortable chair before the fire in his favourite sitting…room in his hobbit…hole； and of the kettle singing。 Not for the last time！
Now Gandalf led the way。 〃We must not miss the road； or we shall be done for；〃 he said。 〃We need food； for one thing； and rest in reasonable safety…also it is very necessary to tackle the Misty Mountains by the proper path； or else you will get lost in them； and have to e back and start at the beginning again （if you ever get back at all）。〃
They asked him where he was making for； and he answered： 〃You are e to the very edge of the Wild； as some of you may know。 Hidden somewhere ahead of us is the fair valley of Rivendell where Elrond lives in the Last Homely House。 I sent a message by my friends； and we are expected。〃 That sounded nice and forting； but they had not got there yet； and it was not so easy as it sounds to find the Last Homely House west of the Mountains。 There seemed to be no trees and no valleys and no hills to break the ground in front of them； only one vast slope going slowly up and up to meet the feet of the nearest mountain； a wide land the colour of heather and crumbling rock； with patches and slashes of grass…green and moss…green showing where water might be。
Morning passed； afternoon came； but in all the silent waste there was no sign of any dwelling。 They were growing anxious； for they now saw that the house might be hidden almost anywhere between them and the mountains。 They came on unexpected valleys； narrow with deep sides； that opened suddenly at their feet； and they looked down surprised to see trees below them and running water at the bottom。 There were gullies that they could almost leap over； but very deep with waterfalls in them。 There were dark ravines that one could neither jump nor climb into。 There were bogs； some of them green pleasant places to look at with flowers growing bright and tall； but a pony that walked there with a pack on its back would never have e out again。 It was indeed a much wider land from the ford to the mountains than ever you would have guessed。 Bilbo was astonished。 The only path was marked with white stones some of which were small； and others were half covered with moss or heather。 Altogether it was a very slow business following the track； even guided by Gandalf； who seemed to know his way about pretty well。 His head and beard wagged this way and that as he looked for the stones； and they followed his head； but they seemed no nearer to the end of the search when the day began to fail。 Tea…time had long gone by； and it seemed supper…time would soon do the same。 There were moths fluttering about； and the light became very dim； for the moon had not risen。 Bilbo's pony began to stumble over roots and stones。 They came to the edge of a steep fall in the ground so suddenly that Gandalf s horse nearly slipped down the slope。 〃Here it is at last！〃 he called； and the others gathered round him and looked over the edge。 They saw a valley far below。 They could hear the voice of hurrying water in rocky bed at the bottom； the scent of trees was in the air； and there was a light on the valley…side across the water。 Bilbo never forgot the way they slithered and slipped in the dusk down the steep zig…zag path into the secret valley of Rivendell。 The air grew warmer as they got lower； and the smell of the pine…trees made him drowsy； so that every now and again he nodded and nearly fell off； or bumped his nose on the pony's neck。 Their spirits rose as they went down and down。 The trees changed to beech and oak； and hire was a fortable feeling in the twilight。 The last green had almost faded out of the grass； when they came at length to an open glade not far above the banks of the stream。
〃Hrnmm！ it smells like elves！〃 thought Bilbo； and he looked up at the stars。 They were burning bright and blue。 Just then there came a burst of song like laughter in the trees：
〃O！ What are you doing；
And where are you going？
Your ponies need shoeing！
The river is flowing！
O！ tra…la…la…lally
here down in the valley！
O！ What are you seeking；
And where are you making？
The faggots are reeking；
The bannocks are baking！
O！ tril…lil…lil…lolly
the valley is jolly；
ha！ ha！
O！ Where are you going
With beards all a…wagging？
No knowing； no knowing
What brings Mister Baggins；
And Balin and Dwalin
down into the valley
in June
ha！ ha！
O！ Will you be staying；
Or will you be flying？
Your ponies are straying！
The daylight is dying！
To fly would be folly；
To stay would be jolly
And listen and hark
Till the end of the dark
to our tune
ha！ ha。'〃
So they laughed and sang in the trees； and pretty fair nonsense I daresay you think it。 Not that they would care they would only laugh all the more if you told them so。 They were elves of course。 Soon Bilbo caught glimpses of them as the darkness deepened。 He loved elves； though he seldom met them； but he was a little frightened of them too。 Dwarves don't get on well with them。 Even decent enough dwarves like Thorin and his friends think them foolish （which is a very foolish thing to think）； or get annoyed with them。 For some elves tease them and laugh at them； and most of all at their beards。 〃Well； well！〃 said a voice。 〃Just look！ Bilbo the hobbit on a pony； my dear！ Isn't it delicious！〃
〃Most astonishing wonderful！〃
Then off they went into another song as ridiculous as the one I have written down in full。 At last one； a tall young fellow； came out from the trees and bowed to Gandalf and to Thorin。
〃Wele to the valley！〃 he said。
〃Thank you！〃 said Thorin a bit gruffly； but Gandalf was already off his horse and among the elves； talking merrily with them。 〃You are a little out of your way；〃 said the elf： 〃that is； if you are making for the only path across the water and to the house beyond。 We will set you right； but you had best get on foot； until you are over the bridge。 Are you going to stay a bit and sing with us； or will you go straight on？ Supper is preparing over there；〃 he said。 〃I can smell the Wood…fires for the cooking。〃
Tired as he was； Bilbo would have liked to stay awhile。 Elvish singing is not a thing to miss； in June under the stars； not if you care for such things。
Also he would have liked to have a few private words with these people that seemed to know his name and all about him； although he had never been them before。 He thought their opinion of his adventure might be interesting。 Elves know a lot and are wondrous folk for news； and know what is going on among the peoples of the land； as quick as water flows； or quicker。 But the dwarves were all for supper as soon 'as possible just then； and would not stay。 On they all went； leading t