Queer Lodgings

           ThenextmorningBilbowokeupwiththeearlysuninhiseyes.Hejumpeduptolookatthetimeandtogoandputhiskettleon-andfoundhewasnothomeatall.Sohesatdownandwishedinvainforawashandabrush.Hedidnotgeteither,norteanortoastnorbaconforhisbreakfast,onlycoldmuttonandrabbit.Andafterthathehadtogetreadyforafreshstart.Thistimehewasallowedtoclimbontoaneagle’sbackandclingbetweenhiswings.Theairrushedoverhimandheshuthiseyes.Thedwarveswerecryingfarewellsandpromisingtorepaythelordoftheeaglesifevertheycould,asoffrosefifteengreatbirdsfromthemountain’sside.Thesunwasstillclosetotheeasternedgeofthings.Themorningwascool,andmistswereinthevalleysandhollowsandtwinedhereandthereaboutthepeaksandpinnaclesofthehills.Bilboopenedaneyetopeepandsawthatthebirdswerealreadyhighupandtheworldwasfaraway,andthemountainswerefallingbackbehindthemintothedistance.Heshuthiseyesagainandheldontighter.

           "Don’tpinch!"saidhiseagle."Youneednotbefrightenedlikearabbit,evenifyoulookratherlikeone.Itisafairmorningwithlittlewind.Whatisfinerthanflying?"

           Bilbowouldhavelikedtosay:"Awarmbathandlatebreakfastonthelawnafterwards;"buthethoughtitbettertosaynothingatall,andtoletgohisclutchjustatinybit.

           Afteragoodwhiletheeaglesmusthaveseenthepointtheyweremakingfor,’evenfromtheirgreatheight,fortheybegantogodowncirclingroundingreatspirals.Theydidthisforalongwhile,andatlastthehobbitopenedhiseyesagain.Theearthwasmuchnearer,andbelowthemweretreesthatlookedlikeoaksandelms,andwidegrasslands,andariverrunningthroughitall.