This point also marks a slight pause in composition; the next paragraph is more neatly written and in darker ink.
33 This sentence was changed several times in the course of writing it: ‘murmur against him > offer him other counsel, and indeed > that had they wished they would not have dared to grumble at > find fault with him.’ That Thorin’s most trusted companions dare not speak their mind is of course another sign that Thorin is no longer the person he was, and sets the stage for his threats against them in the next chapter and his assault on Bilbo in the chapter after that. It is rather surprising that Balin, the most reasonable of all the dwarves, is not listed as having mental reservations à la Bilbo, Bombur, Fili, and Kili; perhaps his disdain for the Elvenking (made plain in his bluntness before him back in Chapter IX) affected his judgment here.
Chapter XVI
Divided Loyalties
As before, there was initially no chapter division in the manuscript, merely a paragraph break between the third and fourth paragraphs (of five) on this page (Third Phase manuscript page 14; 1/1/17:1). However, at some later date, probably during the continuation and completion of the First Typescript in summer–autumn 1936, Tolkien wrote ‘Ch’ (i.e., ‘Ch[apter]’) in the left margin in pencil and marked it for insertion at this point, indicating where he had decided the chapter break should occur. There is some evidence that Tolkien initially considered this the fifteenth chapter, not having yet inserted the chapter-break on page 642; see page 666 below.
Now the days passed slowly and wearily. Many of the dwarves spent their time piling and ordering the treasure, and Thorin [asked >] bade them eagerly to look for the Arkenstone of Thrain. ‘For that’ he said ‘is worth more than a river of gold in itself and to me yet more.’
Added in pencil at the bottom of the page and marked for insertion here:
That of all the treasure I name unto myself and I will slay any one that [added: finds it > takes it <&>] withholds it.TN1
Bilbo heard these words and he grew afraid wondering what would happen if the stone was found – wrapped in an old bundle of tattered oddments that he used as a pillow. Yet he did not yet speak of it, and as the weariness of the days grew heavier [he thought of >] a plan came into his little head.
Things had gone on thus for some while, when the Ravens brought news that Dain and five hundred dwarves were hurrying from the Iron Hills in the N.E. and in a few days’ time would be coming to Dale.
‘But [I >] they cannot [come >] reach the Mountain unmarked’ said Roäc. ‘And I fear lest there be battle in Dale. Nor do I call this counsel good. Though they are a grim folk they are not likely to overcome the host that besets you, and even should they do so what will you gain? [added: Winter and snow is hastening behind them.] TN2 [Without >] How shall you be fed without the friendship and good will of the lands about you?TN3 The treasure is likely to be your death though Smaug is dead!’
But Thorin would not listen [> was not moved]. ‘Winter and snow will bite [the >] both men and elves’ he said, ‘and they may find their dwelling in the vale too grievous to bear. With my friends [upon their >] behind them and winter upon them they will perchance be in better mood [for >] to parley with.’
That night B. made up his mind. Bofur & Bombur were the watchmen about the middle of the night. The sky was dark and moonless. As soon as it was full dark he slipped on his ring and going to a
‘It’s warm enough inside’ said Bilbo.
The paragraph describing his preparations for departure was re-written even while it was being set down, eventually becoming as follows:
That night B. made up his mind. The sky was dark [> black] and moonless. As soon as it was full dark he went to a corner of an inner chamber and drew from his bundle a rope and the Arkenstone [added:
It is warm enough inside’ said Bilbo.
Originally Bilbo’s exit from the group was both more whimsical and more dramatic, as the following cancelled draft (1/1/17:6), which survives as the verso of new page 17 (=1/1/17:7), demonstrates:
‘But I am bound here until midnight’ grumbled Bombur ‘A sorry business altogether. Not that I say a word against Thorin may his beard grow ever longer; yet he was ever a dwarf stiff in the neck!’
‘My eyes are sharp’ said Bilbo ‘[and I have >] it is long since I did watch. [Lend me your >] Let us sing songs to cheer us up.’ said Bilbo.
‘Singing is thirsty work and calls for more than water.’
‘I will sing to you’ said Bilbo.
And he began to sing in his small voice an absurd song one that used to be sung to him long ago in the green of the world when he was a small hobbit in a little bed in his father’s hole.
Birds are
[For which we have >]
At this point, all but the first paragraph on this page was cancelled, after which the drafting continued:
‘Not as stiff as my legs’ said Bilbo. ‘I am tired of stairs and stone-passages. I will be going to bed, I think.’
Bombur gave a shiver and a sneeze. ‘Stay here a moment’ he begged. ‘I will fetch
No sooner had B. gone than Bilbo [fastened >] slipped [> put] on his ring secured his rope slipped over the wall and was gone.
‘Confound that hobbit!’ said Bombur when he returned. ‘[I should be >] What Thorin would say if he knew the watch were broken I don’t know.’ But in the dark he did not see the rope & it was not until morning
At this point the drafting breaks off, well shy of the bottom of the page. Clearly, Bilbo absconds in the night without meaning to come back, taking the Arkenstone with him. His further movements would probably have been along the lines of those outlined in Plot Notes D (see pp. 569–70).
The drafting actually gives two variants of the scene with Bombur (Bifur/Bofur having already been eliminated), shifting focus in the middle; the writing is somewhat neater in the second half, perhaps indicating a brief pause in composition. Initially the idea seems to be that Bilbo sings a lullaby that sends Bombur to sleep, perhaps with the aid of strong drink; cf. Bombur’s reference to the need for something ‘more than water’ (i.e., alcohol). It is regrettable that only the first two words of Bungo’s lullaby were written down, since this is our only opportunity to hear what sort of bedtime songs Bilbo’s father sang his son; from the subject matter (a lullaby) and the tiny scrap preserved here, I suspect it would have resembled the choruses (e.g., ‘little birds are sleeping’) from Lewis Carroll’s poem ‘The Pig Tale’ in Sylvie and Bruno Concluded, from which Arry Lowdham quotes in The Notion Club Papers (HME IX.179 & x–xi).
All this is changed in the latter half, so that instead of singing Bilbo now slips off while Bombur’s back is turned, much to the latter’s chagrin. However, the guileless dwarf does not suspect that Bilbo has crept out toward the enemy and simply assumes Bilbo has gone off to sleep, as had been his stated intention (‘I will be going to bed, I think’); his concern is merely for the watchpost’s having been left unmanned for a brief interval. When Tolkien decided that Bilbo would be able to conclude his business that same night and rejoin the dwarves before his disappearance had become known, he recast the scene on the replacement page (Third Phase manuscript page 15; 1/1/17:4) into a very close approximation of its familiar final form:
‘But I am bound here till midnight’ grumbled Bombur. ‘A sorry business altogether. Not that I venture to disagree with Thorin, may his beard grow
ever longer; yet he was ever a dwarf [with a stiff neck >] stiff in the neck!’
‘Not as stiff as my legs’ said Bilbo. ‘I am tired of stairs and stone-passages. I would give a good deal for the feel of grass at my toes.’
‘I would give a good deal for [added: the feel of] a strong drink in my throat and a soft bed after good supper’ said Bombur.
‘I can’t give you those’ said Bilbo; ‘but it is long since I watched, and I will [watch for >] take your turn for you, if you wish. I have no sleep in me tonight.’
‘You are a good fellow Mr Baggins. I will take your offer kindly. [I will >] If there should be anything to note, rouse me first, mind you. I [sha[ll] >] will lie in the inner chamber to the left not far away.’
‘Off you go’ said Bilbo. ‘I will wake you at midnight, and you can wake the next watchman.’
As soon as Bombur had gone Bilbo put on his ring secured the rope, slipped over the wall and was gone. He had [added in pencil: nearly] six hours before him.TN5 It was very dark and the road after a while when he left the narrow path and climbed down towards the [riv[er] >] stream in its lower course below the falls was strange to him. Fording the river narrow and shallow as it was was not easy for the little hobbit. He missed his footing on a boulder & fell into the cold water with a splash; and he had barely scrambled out on the northern bank, shivering and spluttering, when up came elves in the gloom and seized him.
To this was added in bottom margin: ‘. . . up came elves in the gloom with lanterns and searched for him.’ This sentence was recast as:
‘That was no fish’ one said. ‘There is a spy abroad. Hide your lights they will help him more than us.’
Suddenly Bilbo sneezed and they gathered towards the sound. ‘Let’s have a light’ he said. ‘I am here if you want me’ and he slipped off his ring.
Quickly they seized him. ‘How have you got so far past our sentinels’ they asked.
‘Who are you’ they asked ‘and what are you doing?’
‘I am Bilbo Baggins’ he answered, ‘companion of Thorin. I know your king well by sight though he does not know me; but Bard perhaps will remember me, and it’s he that I wish to see.’
‘[O ho >] Indeed’ said they ‘and what may be your business?’
‘That’s my own affair, my good elves’ he answered. ‘But if you wish ever to get back to your woods from this cold cheerless place,’ he answered shivering, ‘you will take me along quickly to a fire where I can get dry – and let me speak with your chiefs as quick as may be. I have only a hour or two to spare.’
So it came about that about 2 hours from his escape B. was sitting beside a large [> warm] fire before a large tent, and there sat gazing curiously at him both the Elvenking and Bard. An [>A] hobbit in elvish armour (covered with the tatters of a coat and waistcoat) was something new to them.
‘Really you know’ Bilbo was saying [added: in his best businessmanner] ‘Things are impossible. Personally I am tired of the whole affair. I wish I was back in [my >] the West in my own home, where folk are more reasonable. But I have an interest in this matter – a fourteenth share to be precise according to a letter which I think I have kept.’TN6 He drew out from a pocket the [> a] crumpled and much folded Thorin’s letter that had been put under his clock on the mantelpiece in May! ‘A share of profits, mind you.’ he went on. ‘I am aware of that. Personally I am only too ready to consider all your claims, and deduct them from the total before putting in my own claim. However you probably don’t know Mr Thorin O. as well as I do now.
‘I assure you he is quite ready [to starve sitting >] to sit on a heap of gold and starve as long as you sit here.’
‘Well let him’ said Bard. ‘Such a fool deserves to starve’.
‘Quite so’ said Bilbo. ‘I see your point of view. At the same time winter is coming on fast. Before long you will be having snow [and all sorts >] and what not, and supplies will be difficult. Also there will be other difficulties. I think you may not know quite all I do. You have not heard of Dain and the dwarves of the Iron Hills?’
‘No we have not, and what has he to do with us’ The king asked.TN7
‘I thought not. Well here is now but a few [> less than 2] days’ march off and has at least five hundred grim dwarves with him, not a few that have [> had] experience in the dreadful dwarf and goblin wars of which you may have heard.TN8 When he arrives there may be serious trouble.’
‘What do you tell us this for? [> Why do you tell us this?] Are you betraying your friends or are you threatening us?’ asked Bard grimly.
‘My dear Bard’ squeaked Bilbo ‘don’t be so hasty. I merely wish to [avoid all trouble >] stop trouble for all concerned. Now I will make you an offer – ’
‘What offer’ said they.
‘This!’ said he and he drew forth the Arken stone. The Elvenking himself whose eyes were not unused to things of wonder and of beauty stood up in amaze. Even Bard gazed a while in silent wonder. It was as if the moon lit water had caught the sharp glitter [added: netted all the glinting] of all the frosty stars and risen radiant in the
‘This is the Arkenstone of Thrain’ said Bilbo, ‘and it is the heart of Thorin. He will value it above a river of gold.TN10 I give it to you. It will aid you in your bargaining.’
Then Bilbo not without a shudder, not without a longing glance handed the marvellous stone to Bard, and he
‘But how is it yours to give’ he asked at last with an effort.
‘O well’ said the hobbit uncomfortably. ‘It isn’t exactly, but, well I am willing to let it stand against all my claim, don’t you know. I may be a burglar (or so they say: [I never >] personally I never really felt like one) but I am a honest one, I hope, more or less. Anyway I am going back now, and the dwarves can do what they like to me.’TN11
Then the Elvenking looked on B. in a new wonder. ‘Bilbo Baggins’ he said. ‘You are more worthy to wear the armour of elf princes than many who have looked more comely in it. But I wonder if Thorin Oakenshield will see it so. I have perhaps more knowledge of dwarves in general than have you. I counsel you to remain with us, and here you shall be honoured & twice welcome.’
‘Thank you very much’ said Bilbo ‘I am sure. But I don’t think I could leave my friends [added: like that] after [such a lot we >] all we have gone through together. And I promised to wake old Bombur by midnight too. Really I must be going, and quickly.’
And nothing they could say would stop him. [So h[e] >] So an escort was provided for him, and as he went both the Elvenking & Bard saluted him with honour. Guided to a safe ford and set safely across Bilbo soon scrambled back to the Gate, and it was well before midnight when he climbed his rope again, untied it and hid it, and sat down upon the wall.
This last sentence detailing Bilbo’s return to the lookout post was cancelled and a new scene inserted:
As they passed through the camp, an old man sitting by a tent door rose and came towards them.
‘Well done Mr Baggins!’ he said clapping B. on the back. ‘There is always more about you than any one expects!TN12 [cancelled: There is a]’
It was Gandalf!
For the first time for many a day B. was really delighted; but there was no time for all the questions that he wished suddenly to ask.
‘All in good time’ said Gandalf. ‘Things are drawing towards an end, now. There is an unpleasant time just before you, but [be of >] keep your heart up. There is news brewing that even the ravens have not yet heard. Good night.’
Puzzled but cheered Bilbo hurried on. Guided to a safe ford and set across dry he said farewell to the elves, & climbed back towards the Gate. Great weariness began to come over him; but it was well before midnight when he climbed his rope again, untied [it >] and hid it, and sat down on the wall to wonder what would happen now.
At midnight he woke up Bombur, and then in turn rolled himself up in his corner, without listening to the old dwarf’s thanks (which he f
elt he had hardly earned); and soon he was fast asleep, forgetting all his worries till the morning.
TEXT NOTES
1 This hastily pencilled addition is significant, since it shows that Thorin is slipping into madness and can no longer be trusted. That he would threaten capital punishment over a piece of treasure to one of the loyal companions he has led for a year and more is completely out of character (cf. his courage in the face of Smaug’s attack in Chapter XII, sending others to safety while risking his life to save Bofur and Bombur from danger) and foreshadows his attack on Bilbo in the next chapter.
2 This sentence is added at the bottom of the paragraph and marked for insertion here; it recasts the unfinished and cancelled sentence that originally began this paragraph:
‘But winter and snow is hastening behind them’ said Roäc and their food is
3 By Thorin’s own account in Chapter I, the Kingdom under the Mountain depended upon the nearby human communities for food, trading worked goods in order to gain all the produce and other foodstuffs they needed. Remarkably enough, here we have a carrion bird advising against a battle, something which we have just been told (through a later interpolation) none of Thorin’s fellow dwarves dared to do.
4 This cancelled unfinished word seems to be either stor[eroom] or stai[r].
5 It is one indication of just how late in the year it is that it is already full dark shortly after six in the evening – again a detail more in keeping with the revised timing of Durin’s Day (the last new moon before winter) rather than the original version (the first new moon of autumn).
6 Tolkien later created a facsimile of this very letter that Bilbo had carried with him on his trip; see Frontispiece, plate two, for a reproduction of Bilbo’s contract, and page 107 for a transcription.
The History of the Hobbit Page 81
