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"Whatelsedoyousupposeaburglaristodo?"askedBilboangrily."Iwasnotengagedtokilldragons,thatiswarrior’swork,buttostealtreasure.ImadethebestbeginningIcould.DidyouexpectmetotrotbackwiththewholehoardofThroronmyback?Ifthereisanygrumblingtobedone,IthinkImighthaveasay.Yououghttohavebroughtfivehundredburglarsnotone.Iamsureitreflectsgreatcreditonyourgrandfather,butyoucannotpretendthatyouevermadethevastextentofhiswealthcleartome.Ishouldwanthundredsofyearstobringitallup,ifIwasfiftytimesasbig,andSmaugastameasarabbit."
Afterthatofcoursethedwarvesbeggedhispardon.
"Whatthendoyouproposeweshoulddo,Mr.Baggins?"askedThorinpolitely.
"Ihavenoideaatthemoment-ifyoumeanaboutremovingthetreasure.ThatobviouslydependsentirelyonsomenewturnofluckandthegettingridofSmaug.
Gettingridofdragonsisnotatallinmyline,butIwilldomybesttothinkaboutit.PersonallyIhavenohopesatall,andwishIwassafebackathome."
"Nevermindthatforthemoment!Whatarewetodonow,to-day?""Well,ifyoureallywantmyadvice,Ishouldsaywecandonothingbutstaywhereweare.Bydaywecannodoubtcreepoutsafelyenoughtotaketheair.Perhapsbeforelongoneortwocouldbechosentogobacktothestorebytheriverandreplenishoursupplies.Butinthemeanwhileeveryoneoughttobewellinsidethetunnelbynight.
"NowIwillmakeyouanoffer.
