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Itdoesnotdotoleavealivedragonoutofyourcalculations,ifyoulivenearhim.Dragonsmaynothavemuchrealuseforalltheirwealth,buttheyknowittoanounceasarule,especiallyafterlongpossession;andSmaugwasnoexception.Hehadpassedfromanuneasydream(inwhichawarrior,altogetherinsignificantinsizebutprovidedwithabitterswordandgreatcourage,figuredmostunpleasantly)toadoze,andfromadozetowidewaking.Therewasabreathofstrangeairinhiscave.Couldtherebeadraughtfromthatlittlehole?Hehadneverfeltquitehappyaboutit,thoughwassosmall,andnowheglaredatitinsuspicionanwonderedwhyhehadneverblockeditup.Oflatehehadhalffanciedhehadcaughtthedimechoesofaknockingsoundfromfarabovethatcamedownthroughittohislair.Hestirredandstretchedforthhisnecktosniff.Thenhemissedthecup!
Thieves!Fire!Murder!SuchathinghadnothappenedsincefirsthecametotheMountain!Hisragepassesdescription-thesortofragethatisonlyseenwhenrichfolkthathavemorethantheycanenjoysuddenlylosesomethingthattheyhavelonghadbuthaveneverbeforeusedorwanted.Hisfirebelchedforth,thehallsmoked,heshookthemountain-roots.Hethrusthisheadinvainatthelittlehole,andthencoilinghislengthtogether,roaringlikethunderunderground,hespedfromhisdeeplairthroughitsgreatdoor,outintothehugepassagesofthemountain-palaceanduptowardstheFrontGate.
