Page 131 - The Hobbit

below, smacking into the water, jostling against the walls of the tunnel, knocking

into one another, and bobbing away down the current.
It was just at this moment that Bilbo suddenly discovered the weak point in his
plan. Most likely you saw it some time ago and have been laughing at him; but I

don't suppose you would have done half as well yourselves in his place. Of course
he was not in a barrel himself, nor was there anyone to pack him in, even if there
had been a chance! It looked as if he would certainly lose his friends this time
(nearly all of them had already disappeared through the dark trap-door), and get

utterly left behind and have to stay lurking as a permanent burglar in the elf-caves
for ever. For even if he could have escaped through the upper gates at once, he had
precious small chance of ever finding the dwarves again. He did not know the way

by land to the place where the barrels were collected. He wondered what on earth
would happen to them without him; for he had not had time to tell the dwarves all
that he had learned, or what he had meant to do, once they were out of the wood.
While all these thoughts were passing through his mind, the elves being very

merry began to sing a song round the river-door. Some had already gone to haul
on the ropes which pulled up the portcullis at the water-gate so as to let out the
barrels as soon as they were all afloat below.

Down the swift dark stream you go
Back to lands you once did know!
Leave the halls and caverns deep,
Leave the northern mountains steep,
Where the forest wide and dim
Stoops in shadow grey and grim!
Float beyond the world of trees
Out into the whispering breeze,

Past the rushes, past the reeds,
Past the marsh's waving weeds,
Through the mist that riseth white
Up from mere and pool at night!
Follow, follow stars that leap
Up the heavens cold and steep;
Turn when dawn comes over land,
Over rapid, over sand,
South away! and South away!

Seek the sunlight and the day,
Back to pasture, back to mead,
Where the kine and oxen feed!