A Warm Welcome

           Thedaygrewlighterandwarmerastheyfloatedalong.Afterawhiletheriverroundedasteepshoulderoflandthatcamedownupontheirleft.Underitsrockyfeetlikeaninlandcliffthedeepeststreamhadflowedlappingandbubbling.Suddenlytheclifffellaway.Theshoressank.Thetreesended.ThenBilbosawasight:Thelandsopenedwideabouthim,filledwiththewatersoftheriverwhichbrokeupandwanderedinahundredwindingcourses,orhaltedinmarshesandpoolsdottedwithislesoneveryside:butstillastrongwaterflowedonsteadilythroughthemidst.Andfaraway,itsdarkheadinatorncloud,thereloomedtheMountain!ItsnearestneighbourstotheNorth-Eastandthetumbledlandthatjoinedittothemcouldnotbeseen.Allaloneitroseandlookedacrossthemarshestotheforest.TheLonelyMountain!Bilbohadcomefarandthroughmanyadventurestoseeit,andnowhedidnotlikethelookofitintheleast.

           Ashelistenedtothetalkoftheraftmenandpiecedtogetherthescrapsofinformationtheyletfall,hesoonrealizedthathewasveryfortunateevertohaveseenitatall,evenfromthisdistance.Drearyashadbeenhisimprisonmentandunpleasantaswashisposition(tosaynothingofthepoordwarvesunderneathhim)still,hehadbeenmoreluckythanhehadguessed.