A Thief in the Night

           Nowthedayspassedslowlyandwearily.Manyofthedwarvesspenttheirtimepilingandorderingthetreasure;andnowThorinspokeoftheArkenstoneofThrain,andbadethemeagerlytolookforitineverycomer."FortheArkenstoneofmyfather,"hesaid,"isworthmorethanariverofgoldinitself,andtomeitisbeyondprice.ThatstoneofallthetreasureInameuntomyself,andIwillbeavengedonanyonewhofindsitandwithholdsit."

           Bilboheardthesewordsandhegrewafraid,wonderingwhatwouldhappen,ifthestonewasfound-wrappedinanoldbundleoftatteredoddmentsthatheusedasapillow.Allthesamehedidnotspeakofit,forasthewearinessofthedaysgrewheavier,thebeginningsofaplanhadcomeintohislittlehead.Thingshadgoneonlikethisforsometime,whentheravensbroughtnewsthatDainandmorethanfivehundreddwarves,hurryingfromtheIronHills,werenowwithinabouttwodays’marchofDale,comingfromtheNorth-East."ButtheycannotreachtheMountainunmarked,"saidRac,"andIfearlesttherebebattleinthevalley.Idonotcallthiscounselgood.Thoughtheyareagrimfolk,theyarenotlikelytoovercomethehostthatbesetsyou;andeveniftheydidso,whatwillyougain?Winterandsnowishasteningbehindthem.Howshallyoubefedwithoutthefriendshipandgoodwillofthelandsaboutyou?Thetreasureislikelytobeyourdeath,thoughthedragonisnomore!"’

           ButThorinwasnotmoved."Winterandsnowwillbitebothmenandelves,"hesaid,"andtheymayfindtheirdwellingintheWastegrievoustobear.