moment it spread to the others. The bark
     Then Gandalf climbed to the top of his tree. The sudden splendour
flashed from his wand like lightning, as he got ready to spring down
from on high right among the spears of the goblins. That would have
been the end of him, though he would probably have killed many of them
as he came hurtling down like a thunderbolt. But he never leaped.
     Just at that moment the Lord of the Eagles swept down from above,
seized him in his talons, and was gone.
     There was a howl of anger and surprise from the goblins. Loud cried
the Lord of the Eagles, to whom Gandalf had now spoken. Back swept the
great birds that were with him, and down they came like huge black
shadows. The wolves yammered and gnashed their teeth; the goblins
yelled and stamped with rage, and flung their heavy spears in the air
in vain. Over them swooped the eagles; the dark rush of their beating
wings smote them to the floor or drove them far away; their talons
tore at goblin faces. Other birds flew to the tree- tops and seized
the dwarves, who were scrambling up now as far as ever they dared to
go.
     Poor little Bilbo was very nearly left behind again! He just managed
to catch hold of Dori’s legs, as Dori was borne off last of all; and