hobbit

So now they began to labour hard in fortifying the main entrance, and in remaking the
road that led from it. Tools were to be found in plenty that the miners and quarriers and
builders of old had used; and at such work the dwarves were still very skilled.
As they worked the ravens brought them constant tidings. In this way they learned that
the Elvenking had turned aside to the Lake, and they still had a breathing space. Better
still, they heard that three of their ponies had escaped and were wandering wild far down
the banks of the Running River, not far from where the rest of their stores had been left.
So while the others went on with their work, Fili and Kili were sent, guided by a raven, to
find the ponies and bring back all they could.
They were four days gone, and by that time they knew that the joined armies of the
Lake-men and the Elves were hurrying towards the Mountain. But now their hopes were
higher; for they had food for some weeks with carechiefly cram, of course, and they were
very tired of it; but cram is much better than nothing-and already the gate was blocked
with a wall of squared stones laid dry, but very thick and high across the opening. There
were holes in the wall through which they could see (or shoot) but no entrance. They
climbed in or out with ladders, and hauled stuff up with ropes. For the issuing of the
stream they had contrived a small low arch under the new wall; but near the entrance
they had so altered the narrow bed that a wide pool stretched from the mountain-wall to
the head of the fall over which the stream went towards Dale. Approach to the Gate was
now only possible, without swimming, along a narrow ledge of the cliff, to the right as
one looked outwards from the wall. The ponies they had brought only to the head of the
steps above the old bridge, and unloading them there had bidden them return to their
masters and sent them back riderless to the South.
There came a night when suddenly there were many lights as of fires and torches away
south in Dale before them.
"They have come!" called Balin. "And their camp is very great. They must have come
into the valley under the cover of dusk along both banks of the river."
That night the dwarves slept little. The morning was still pale when they saw a company
approaching. From behind their wall they watched them come up to the valley's head
and climb slowly up. Before long they could see that both men of the lake armed as if for
war and elvish bowmen were among them. At length the foremost of these climbed the
tumbled rocks and appeared at the top of the falls; and very great was their surprise to
see the pool before them and the Gate blocked with a wall of new-hewn stone.
As they stood pointing and speaking to one another Thorin hailed them:
"Who are you," he called in a very loud voice, "that come as if in war to the gates of
Thorin son of Thrain, King under the Mountain, and what do you desire?"
But they answered nothing. Some turned swiftly back, and the others after gazing for a
while at the Gate and its defences soon followed them. That day the camp was moved
and was brought right between the arms of the Mountain. The rocks echoed then with
voices and with song, as they had not done for many a day. There was the sound, too,
of elven-harps and of sweet music; and as it echoed up towards them it seemed that the
chill of the air was warmed, and they caught faintly the fragrance of woodland flowers
blossoming in spring.
Then Bilbo longed to escape from the dark fortress and to go down and join in the mirth
and feasting by the fires. Some of the younger dwarves were moved in their hearts, too,
and they muttered that they wished things had fallen out otherwise and that they might
welcome such folk as friends; but Thorin scowled.
Then the dwarves themselves brought forth harps and instruments regained from the
hoard, and made music to soften his mood; but their song was not as elvish song, and
was much like the song they had sung long before in Bilbo's little hobbit-hole.