Out of the Frying-Pan into the Fire

           Bilbohadescapedthegoblins,buthedidnotknowwherehewas.Hehadlosthood,cloak,food,pony,hisbuttonsandhisfriends.Hewanderedonandon,tillthesunbegantosinkwestwards-behindthemountains.TheirshadowsfellacrossBilbo’spath,andhelookedback.Thenhelookedforwardandcouldseebeforehimonlyridgesandslopesfallingtowardslowlandsandplainsglimpsedoccasionallybetweenthetrees.

           "Goodheavens!"heexclaimed."IseemtohavegotrighttotheothersideoftheMistyMountains,righttotheedgeoftheLandBeyond!WhereandOwherecanGandalfandthedwarveshavegotto?Ionlyhopetogoodnesstheyarenotstillbackthereinthepowerofthegoblins!"

           Hestillwanderedon,outofthelittlehighvalley,overitsedge,anddowntheslopesbeyond;butallthewhileaveryuncomfortablethoughtwasgrowinginsidehim.Hewonderedwhetherheoughtnot,nowhehadthemagicring,togobackintothehorrible,horrible,tunnelsandlookforhisfriends.Hehadjustmadeuphismindthatitwashisduty,thathemustturnback-andverymiserablehefeltaboutit-whenheheardvoices.Hestoppedandlistened.Itdidnotsoundlikegoblins;sohecreptforwardcarefully.Hewasonastonypathwindingdownwardswitharockywall.onthelefthand;ontheothersidethegroundslopedawayandthereweredellsbelowthelevelofthepathoverhungwithbushesandlowtrees.Inoneofthesedellsunderthebushespeopleweretalking.

           Hecreptstillnearer,andsuddenlyhesawpeeringbetweentwobigbouldersaheadwitharedhoodon:itwasBalindoinglook-out.Hecouldhaveclappedandshoutedforjoy,buthedidnot.Hehadstillgottheringon,forfearofmeetingsomethingunexpectedandunpleasant,andhesawthatBalinwaslookingstraightathimwithoutnoticinghim.