The Hobbit JR Tolkien - Mr Collins

Before long the dwarves could be seencoming up the valley at a great pace. Theyhalted between the river and the easternspur; but a few held on their way, andcrossing the river drew near the camp; andthere they laid down their weapons andheld up their hands in sign of peace. Bardwent out to meet them, and with him wentBilbo.“We are sent from Dain son of Nain,”they said when questioned. “We arehastening to our kinsmen in the Mountain,since we learn that the kingdom of old isrenewed. But who are you that sit in theplain as foes before defended walls?”This, of course, in the polite and ratherold-fashioned language of such occasions,meant simply: “You have no businesshere. We are going on, so make way or we