Page 139 - The Hobbit

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
come 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 come 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 comrades. 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