Over Hill and Under Hill

           Thereweremanypathsthatledupintothosemountains,andmanypassesoverthem.Butmostofthepathswerecheatsanddeceptionsandlednowhereortobadends;andmostofthepasseswereinfestedbyevilthingsanddreadfuldangers.Thedwarvesandthehobbit,helpedbythewiseadviceofElrondandtheknowledgeandmemoryofGandalf,tooktherightroadtotherightpass.

           LongdaysaftertheyhadclimbedoutofthevalleyandlefttheLastHomelyHousemilesbehind,theywerestillgoingupandupandup.Itwasahardpathandadangerouspath,acrookedwayandalonelyandalong.Nowtheycouldlookbackoverthelandstheyhadleft,laidoutbehindthemfarbelow.Far,farawayintheWest,wherethingswereblueandfaint,Bilboknewtherelayhisowncountryofsafeandcomfortablethings,andhislittlehobbit-hole.Heshivered.Itwasgettingbittercolduphere,andthewindcameshrillamongtherocks.Boulders,too,attimescamegallopingdownthemountain-sides,letloosebymiddaysunuponthesnow,andpassedamongthem(whichwaslucky),orovertheirheads(whichwasalarming).Thenightswerecomfortlessandchill,andtheydidnotdaretosingortalktooloud,fortheechoeswereuncanny,andthesilenceseemedtodislikebeingbroken-exceptbythenoiseofwaterandthewailofwindandthecrackofstone."Thesummerisgettingondownbelow,"thoughtBilbo,"andhaymakingisgoingonandpicnics.Theywillbeharvestingandblackberrying,beforeweevenbegintogodowntheothersideatthisrate."Andtheotherswerethinkingequallygloomythoughts,althoughwhentheyhadsaidgood-byetoElrondinthehighhopeofamidsummermorning,they’hadspokengailyofthepassageofthemountains,andofridingswiftacrossthelandsbeyond.TheyhadthoughtofcomingtothesecretdoorintheLonelyMountain,perhapsthatverynextfirstmoonofAutumn-"andperhapsitwillbeDurin’sDay"theyhadsaid.