The History of the Hobbit

by John D. Rateliff

  Their great foe was dead, and the hoard no longer had a keeper, but the dwarves did not know it. [Another danger was gathering about them, an army come > armies coming for the ransacking and plundering of the mountain palace. >] Nor would they have rejoiced had they known that the last great danger, the danger Thorin had dreaded all along, and which their silence before the Elvenking had not averted, was gathering about them – a host was marching up to ransack and plunder the halls of Thror. But they knew nothing of all this. They sat in the dark, and eventually silence fell round them. Little they ate and little they spoke. The passage of time they could not count, they scarcely dared to move, the whispers of their voices echoed and rustled in the tunnel. If they dozed they woke still to darkness and the silence going on unbroken.

  At last after days [added: & days] as it seemed, when they were choked and dazed for want of air – it was but two [days >] nights and the day between in reality – they could bear it no longer. Almost they would have welcomed some sound of the dragon’s return below. In the silence they feared his cunning devilry, not knowing that he would never again return to his golden bed, but was lying cold as stone [upon the twisted >] twisted upon the floor of the shallows of the lake, where forever after his great could be seen in calm weather, [and >] amid the ruined pile of the old town, [but no >] if any one dared to cross the accursed spot.

  At last heedless of noise they went back to the door only to find by their groping that all the outer end of the tunnel was shattered. Neither they nor the magic which it had once obeyed – even if they had known it – would open it again.

  ‘We are trapped!’ they say. ‘This is the end; we shall die here when our food is gone, or [choke >] stifle before that’.TN1

  And yet somehow Bilbo felt a lightening of the heart. The gloom and foreboding that had settled on him on the night of the dragon’s last assault was lifted. He felt as if a menace had departed [and] his courage returned (and trust in his proven and astonishing luck).

  ‘Come come!’ he said. ‘“While there’s life there’s hope,” as my father used to say, and “third time pays for all”.TN2 I am going down the tunnel once more. I have been down twice when I knew there was a dragon at the other end, and I think I will risk a third visit, when I am no longer at all sure – and anyway is no other way out of this.

  ‘If you will take my advice you will all come with me this time; but do be careful and as quiet as you can be. There may be no dragon, but then again there may be. I am not going to take unnecessary risks with Smaug any more’.

  [Something >] In desperation they agreed, and Thorin was the first to creep forward by Bilbo’s side. Down down they went – but dwarves are not as good as hobbits when it comes to real stealth, and it was fortunate there was no listening ears at the far end of the echoing passage: the very puffing of their breath magnified in that place would have been enough for Smaug.TN3 But no sound stirred below.

  Near the bottom (as well as he could judge) Bilbo slipped on his ring again. But he scarcely needed it; the darkness was complete, and they were all invisible, with rings and without. So dark was it that Bilbo came to the opening unexpectedly put his hand on nothing, and stumbled forward and rolled headlong into the hall. There he lay still not daring to get up or even breathe. But nothing moved. There was not a gleam of light – unless far off, as his eyes [got >] stared fearfully into the blackness, he caught a pale white gleam. But certainly it was no spark of dragon-fire though the stench of the worm was still in the place, and it was hot and the taste of his vapour was on the tongue.TN4

  At length B. could bear it no more. ‘Confound you Smaug, you villain’ he said aloud. ‘Stop playing hide and seek. Give us a little light and eat me after if you must!’

  Faint echoes ran about the unseen hall, but there was no answer. Bilbo got up, but he did not know in which direction to turn.

  ‘Something seems to have happened to Smaug, I do believe’ he said.TN5 ‘Now I hope Oin or Gloin has got a tinderbox, or can make a light. Let’s have a look round before the luck turns!’

  The dwarves were very alarmed when B. fell forward with a noise and were still frightened when they heard his voice, but Oin [> Gloin] was sent back as Bilbo asked to find some materials for light, if he could, among their goods near the upper end tunnel. Before long a little twinkle of light showed that he was returning with a small pine-torch alight and a bundle of others under his arm.TN6

  Bilbo took the little lighted torch, but the Dwarves would not yet use the others, but preferred to stop inside the tunnel and see what would happen first. As Thorin explained [he > B >] Mr Baggins was still officially their expert burglar and investigator. If he liked to risk a light that was his affair: they would wait for his report.

  So they sat near the opening and watched. They saw him stealTN7 across the floor holding aloft his tiny light – a little flickering patch of red in the blackness. Every now and again there was a glint at his feet as he stumbled upon some golden thing. The light [ >] grew smaller as he wandered away into the huge hall, then it began to rise dancing into the air. Bilbo was climbing the great mound of treasure. Soon he stood near the top, and from afar they saw him stoop but they did not know the reason.

  It was the Gem of Girion,TN8 for such Bilbo guessed it to be from the description of the dwarves. Ever as he climbed forward the same [pale >] white gleam had shone before him like a small globe of pallid light; now as he approached it was tinged with [a] flickering sparkle of red [>splintering beams] reflected from his torch. At last he looked down upon it, and caught his breath. It held his eyes and he gazed in wonder. It was a great white gem, that shone of its own light within, and yet cut and fashioned by the dwarves to whom Girion had given it,TN9 it caught and splintered all light that it received into a thousand sparkles of dazzling white. It was a large gem and heavy, larger than the hobbit’s small hand – that was stretched out to it, drawn by its enchantment. Suddenly he stooped, lifted it and put it in his pocket.TN10

  ‘Now I am Burglar indeed’ thought B. ‘ – but I suppose I must tell the dwarves what I have done. Yet they said I could take my share as I could [> pick and choose my own share] – and I think I would choose this, if they took all the rest. But it remains to be seen, if I have won my share at all yet’.TN11

  With that thought he went on. Down the mound he climbed, [and all round the walls he wandered >] and his spark was hidden from the watching dwarves. All round the walls he wandered, and they saw it dimly again in the distance, and then coming back [> Then they saw it red and far in the distance again].

  On he went till he came to the great doors of the hall at the far side, and a draught of air nearly blew out his torch. He peeped through, shielding the flame with his hand, and caught a glimpse of vast passages, and stairs going up into the gloom.

  Then a black shape flew [> swooped] [> at him], brushed his hair; the flame flickered as he started, stumbled back, and fell. The torch dropped head downward & went out. ‘Only a bat I suppose and hope’ he said ruefully, ‘but now what am I to do.’TN12

  ‘Thorin Balin!’ he cried out. ‘The light’s gone out. Some one come and help me!’ He didn’t like being lost in the dark so far away from the tunnel at all and for the moment his courage failed altogether.

  Faintly from far off the dwarves heard ‘Thorin Balin!’ echoing and ‘help!’ ‘Now what on earth or under it has happened?’ said Thorin. They waited a minute, but no dragon-like noises came. ‘Come on one of you’ said Th. ‘strike another light. We must go and help Mr Baggins I suppose’.

  ‘It does seem our turn’ said Balin.

  So when Gloin had lit a couple of torches they crept outTN13 and went along the wall as hurriedly as they could; and before long they met Bilbo trying to feel his way round. They were very relieved to hear his account of what had happened, though what they would have said if he had told them at that moment about the gem of Girion I don’t know. The mere fleeting glim
pses of the treasure which they had caught had rekindled all the fire of their hearts; and when the fire of the heart of a dwarf is kindled by jewel and gold his courage grows.TN14 They no longer needed any urging of Bilbo’s. Both Balin and Thorin were eager now to explore, and willing to believe that at any rate for the present Smaug was not at home. Soon they had all the torches alight and all the party stole out of the tunnel and entered the hall which the dwarves had never [cancelled: again] entered since the days long ago [of] the dragon’s coming.

  Once they had started the exploration they forgot fear and . They lifted old treasures from the mound and held them up in the light and felt them and fingered them. They took down mail and weapons from the walls and armed themselves.TN15 Royal and princely Thorin looked in a coat of gold with a silver-hafted axe in his belt.

  ‘Mr Baggins!’ he said ‘Here is the first payment of your reward! Cast off your old coat and put on this!’ Then he put upon Bilbo a small coat of mail, ought for some elf-prince long ago.TN16 It was of silvered steel,TN17 [and pearls were >] adorned with pearls, and a belt of pearls and crystals went with it. A light helm of figured leather strengthened within with hoops of steel, and studden about the rim with gems they set upon his head. An absurd desire to look at himself in a glass took hold of him: [He began to >] but he still kept his head more than the dwarves.TN18

  [He grew >] ‘Come!’ he said ‘we are armed, but what has any such armour availed against Smaug the Dreadful? The treasure is not yet regained. We are seeking not for gold but a way of escape. Let us get on.’

  ‘True, true’ said Thorin ‘ – and I will be your guide. Not in a thousand years shall I forget the ways of this palace.’ So now the dwarves covered their glittering mail with their oldTN19 cloaks and the helms with hoods, and followed behind Thorin, a line of little torches in the Dark.

  Out [into the >] through the wide doors they went in single file. Dreading at every step to hear the rumour of Smaug’s return, for Bilbo’s words had recalled them only too well to their danger, they crept in single file into the passages . Though all was befouled [added: & ] with the dragon and all the old adornments rotten or torn away, Thorin knew every road and turn. They climbed long stairs, turned and went down echoing ways, turned again and climbed yet more stairs, smooth carved and even in the long rock; and yet more stairs again, [Till Bilbo could go on no more. >] Up and up they went and met no sign or of anything, save wild and fierce animal shapes,TN20 and suchlike forms that slipped off into the shadows. At last Bilbo felt he could go on no more – the stairs were steep and high for him, although he alone was not carrying any treasure than his armour.TN21 The dwarves’ pockets were stuffed with gold & gems (for fear this shd be their only chance of gaining anything); and besides they had all the bundles of such foods as they had got into the tunnel to carry on their backs.

  ‘A little further still’ said Thorin. ‘We shall see the Day ere long. Cannot you feel the of [> beginnings of] a new air?’

  ‘Come on [> along] Bilbo’ said Balin, taking his arm ‘ – if we get out safe and alive it will be due to you many times over; we cannot leave you here, nor can we wait.’ So as they had done in the goblins cavern they picked him up and carried himTN22 forward, until suddenly the roof sprang high far above the waning light of their torches. Light came in from an opening in the roof. Pale and white, and more light from great doors at the far end, one of which was fallen on the ground, the other was hanging on one broken hinge.

  ‘This is the Great Hall of Thror, his hall of feasting and of council. And from the Gate it is not far off’ said Thorin.

  They passed out againTN23 and soon [cancelled: before them the great arch of the Front Gate shone – blackened and ruined but still <?standing> <?firm> at the and at the >] a sound of water fell upon their ears. Out of a dark tunnel issued, a boiling water and flowed in a built channel beside their road. ‘There is the birth of the Running River’ said Thorin, ‘and it is hasting to the Gate. Let us follow!’

  Round a wide turn they went and before them stood the [added: broad] light of day. A rising sun sent its light from the East between the arms of the mountain, and beams of gold came in and fell upon the floor. Before them was a great arch, still showing cunning work within, blackened and ruined & splintered as it was. They were come to Front Gate, and were looking forth to the East. A whirl of bats went up affrighted by their smoking torches which they had not put out. Their feet slipped upon the floors that were smooth and slimy with the passing of the great Dragon that had lived there long. The water rushed noisily past them [> below them] in its bed. They were dazzled by the morning light.

  This paragraph and those that followed in the Second Phase manuscript were rearranged, rephrased, and expanded in the ‘fair copy’ (page ‘i’; 1/1/14:9), which has so many changes and crossouts in the course of writing that it here becomes essentially another draft, although still unusually legible by Tolkien’s standards. The First Typescript here represents a polished and slightly revised version of the fair copy text. Parts of this section were also revised again at the page proofs stage (Marq. 1/2/2: pages 248–50 plus rider to page 249), with Tolkien (an experienced proofreader) taking care that each revision took exactly the same amount of space as the line(s) it replaced so that necessary changes would only affect those specific lines and not force the resetting of subsequent pages.

  I do not reproduce the details of these three intermediate stages here, since the fair copy revision essentially achieves the familiar text of the published book except for geographical details regarding the orientation of the Front Gate with the rising sun and the path to the outlying watch-post; the most significant of these revisions are covered in the Text Notes.

  Fair indeed was the morning with a cold North wind upon the threshold of winter when they looked out blinded with the light after the days and nights of dark; and sweet was the feel of the air on Bilbo’s face. Far off he saw the ruins of Dale in the valley below, to which a long road wound down [added: the stones], ruinous but still to be seen. On his right the clifflike bank of the Running River rose in the distance from which he and Balin had gazed. It was that he realized how hot the dragon’s lair had been;TN24 and that smokes and vapours were drifting out of the Gate head and up into the morning air – which struck him now keen and piercing chilly.

  ‘What are all those birds doing I wonder?’ he said to Thorin, pointing up to great clouds of them that were circling in the sky southward over the river, while ever more seemed to be gathering them, flying up dark from the South.

  ‘There is something strange happening’ said Thorin. ‘The crows are all gathering as if after a battle, or as if a battle was afoot. I would give a good deal to know where Smaug is and what he is doing.’

  ‘One thing we must do at any rate’ said Bilbo ‘& that is get away from his Front Gate [as soon >] while we have a chance’.

  ‘My Front Gate’ corrected Thorin ‘ – still your advice is good. There is a place just beyond the Gate where [we can >] there used to be a bridge, and doubtless the river can anyway still be crossed, and there are steps beyond up the high South bank – and onto the long Spur where [> under which] our first camp was made. [From there we may be able to find >] From there we can see far to South and West & East’.TN25

  ‘More climbing!’ groaned Bilbo.

  ‘Your own advice!’ said Thorin. ‘We can have some food at the top.’TN26

  The bridge was broken of course but they easily forded it. When they reached at last the top of the steps, and the winding upward path beyond, they found they were on an old flat look-out post with a wide view. There was a rocky opening there – ‘steps lead down back into the mountain’TN27 said Thorin ‘or used to [> once did]. We used to keep watchmen here ever in the old days. If only it had had a northern view we might have [added: been ready in time to] k
ept [> keep] out Smaug & all this adventure wd never have been necessary! Still here we can lay hid and see without being seen.’TN28

  They look [South >] West & there was nothing, nor East, and in the South there was no sign of man or dragon; but ever the birds were gathering.

  The Second Phase text continues for another two manuscript pages, into what is now Chapter XV, but I halt here at the bottom of manuscript page 165, the spot Tolkien would later choose for his chapter-break.

  TEXT NOTES

  1 The opening paragraphs of this chapter were recast once the decision was made to make it precede, rather than follow, the account of Smaug’s death. Accordingly, these paragraphs were replaced by the following in the intermediate fair copy manuscript:

  In the meantime the Dwarves sat in darkness and utter silence fell about them. Little they ate and little they spoke. They could not count the passing of time; and they scarcely dared to move, for the whisper of their voices echoed and rustled in the tunnel. If they dozed they woke still to darkness and to silence still unbroken.

  At last after days and days of waiting, as it seemed, when they were becoming choked and dazed for want of air, they could bear it no longer. Almost they would have welcomed some sound from below of the dragon’s return. In the silence they feared some cunning devilry of his, but they could [not] sit still in hunger there for ever.

  Thorin spoke: ‘Let us try the door’ he said. ‘I must feel the wind on my face soon or die. I think I would rather be smashed by Smaug in the open than suffocate in here’. So several of the dwarves got up and groped back to where the door had been. But they found that the upper end of the tunnel had been shattered, and blocked with broken rock. Neither key nor the magic it had once obeyed would ever open that door again.

  ‘We are trapped’ they groaned. ‘This is the end. We shall all die here!’

  This passage was slightly revised, both in contemporary ink and later pencil, bringing it more into line with the typescript (which is here identical with the published text; cf. DAA.289), but I have given it here as it was originally written.