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Wispsofvapourfloatedupandpasthimandhebegantosweat.Asound,too,begantothrobinhisears,asortofbubblinglikethenoiseofalargepotgallopingonthefire,mixedwitharumbleasofagigantictom-catpurring.Thisgrewtotheunmistakablegurglingnoiseofsomevastanimalsnoringinitssleepdownthereintheredglowinfrontofhim.
ItwasatthispointthatBilbostopped.Goingonfromtherewasthebravestthingheeverdid.Thetremendousthingsthathappenedafterwardwereasnothingcomparedtoit.Hefoughttherealbattleinthetunnelalone,beforeheeversawthevastdangerthatlayinwait.Atanyrateafterashorthaltgoonhedid;andyoucanpicturehimcomingtotheendofthetunnel,anopeningofmuchthesamesizeandshapeasthedoorabove.Throughitpeepsthehobbit’slittlehead.Beforehimliesthegreatbottommostcellarordungeon-halloftheancientdwarvesrightattheMountain’sroot.Itisalmostdarksothatitsvastaesscanonlybedimlyguessed,butrisingfromthenearsideoftherockyfloorthereisagreatglow.TheglowofSmaug!Therehelay,avastred-goldendragon,fastasleep;thrummingcamefromhisjawsandnostrils,andwispsofsmoke,buthisfireswerelowinslumber.
Beneathhim,underallhislimbsandhishugecoiledtail,andabouthimonallsidesstretchingawayacrosstheunseenfloors,laycountlesspilesofpreciousthings,goldwroughtandunwrought,gemsandjewels,andsilverred-stainedintheruddylight.
