out all the halls, and lanes, and tunnels, alleys, cellars, mansions
and passages. After that there were no dwarves left alive inside, and
he took all their wealth for himself. Probably, for that is the
dragons’ way, he has piled it all up in a great heap far inside, and
sleeps on it for a bed. Later he used to crawl out of the great gate
and come by night to Dale, and carry away people, especially maidens,
to eat, until Dale was ruined, and all the people dead or gone. What
goes on there now I don’t know for certain, but I don’t suppose anyone
lives nearer to the Mountain than the far edge of the Long Lake
now-a-days.
     “The few of us that were well outside sat and wept in hiding, and
cursed Smaug; and there we were unexpectedly joined by my father and
my grandfather with singed beards. They looked very grim but they said
very little. When I asked how they had got away, they told me to hold
my tongue, and said that one day in the proper time I should know.
After that we went away, and we have had to earn our livings as best
we could up and down the lands, often enough sinking as low as
blacksmith-work or even coalmining. But we have never forgotten our
stolen treasure. And even now, when I will allow we have a good bit
laid by and are not so badly off”-here Thorin stroked the gold chain