once, now we are a little rested,” he said. “They will be out after us
in hundreds when night comes on; and already shadows are lengthening.
They can smell our footsteps for hours and hours after we have passed.
We must be miles on before dusk. There will be a bit of moon, if it
keeps fine, and that is lucky. Not that they mind the moon much, but
it will give us a little light to steer by.”
     “O yes!” he said in answer to more questions from the hobbit. “You
lose track of time inside goblin- tunnels. Today’s Thursday, and it
was Monday night or Tuesday morning that we were captured. We have
gone miles and miles, and come right down through the heart of the
mountains, and are now on the other side-quite a short cut. But we are
not at the point to which our pass would have brought us; we are too
far to the North, and have some awkward country ahead. And we are
still pretty high up. Let’s get on!”
     “I am so dreadfully hungry,” groaned Bilbo, who was suddenly aware
that he had not had a meal since the night before the night before
last. Just think of that for a hobbit! His stomach felt all empty and
loose and his legs all wobbly, now that the excitement was over.
     “Can’t help it,” said Gandalf, “unless you like to go back and ask the
goblins nicely to let you have your pony back and your luggage.” “No