Page 125 - The Hobbit

dangerous thing to do. More than once he was nearly caught in the doors, as they

clashed together when the last elf passed; yet he did not dare to march among
them because of his shadow (altogether thin and wobbly as it was in torch-light),
or for fear of being bumped into and discovered. And when he did go out, which

was not very often, he did no good. He did not wish to desert the dwarves, and
indeed he did not know where in the world to go without them. He could not keep
up with the hunting elves all the time they were out, so he never discovered the
ways out of the wood, and was left to wander miserably in the forest, terrified of

losing himself, until a chance came of returning. He was hungry too outside, for
he was no hunter; but inside the caves he could pick up a living of some sort by
stealing food from store or table when no one was at hand. "I am like a burglar

that can't get away, but must go on miserably burgling the same house day after
day," he thought. "This is the dreariest and dullest part of all this wretched,
tiresome, uncomfortable adventure! I wish I was back in my hobbit-hole by my
own warm fireside with the lamp shining!" He often wished, too, that he could get

a message for help sent to the wizard, but that of course was quite impossible; and
he soon realized that if anything was to be done, it would have to be done by Mr.
Baggins, alone and unaided.

Eventually, after a week or two of this sneaking sort of life, by watching and
following the guards and taking what chances he could, he managed to find out
where each dwarf was kept. He found all their twelve cells in different parts of the
palace, and after a time he got to know his way about very well. What was his

surprise one day to overhear some of the guards talking and to learn that there was
another dwarf in prison too, in a specially deep dark place. He guessed at once, of
course, that that was Thorin; and after a while he found that his guess was right.
At last after many difficulties he managed to find the place when no one was

about, and to have a word with the chief of the dwarves. Thorin was too wretched
to be angry any longer at his misfortunes, and was even beginning to think of
telling the king all about his treasure and his quest (which shows how low-spirited
he had become), when he heard Bilbo's little voice at his keyhole. He could hardly

believe his ears. Soon however he made up his mind that he could not be
mistaken, and he came to the door and had a long whispered talk with the hobbit
on the other side.

So it was that Bilbo was able to take secretly Thorin's message to each of the
other imprisoned dwarves, telling them that Thorin their chief was also in prison
close at hand, and that no one was to reveal their errand to the long, not yet, not
before Thorin gave the word. For Thorin had taken heart again hearing how the