Now Bard was fighting to defend the Eastern spur, and yet giving
slowly back; and the elf-lords were at bay about their king upon the
southern
     Suddenly there was a great shout, and from the Gate came a
     They had forgotten Thorin! Part of the wall, moved by levers, fell
outward with a crash into the pool. Out leapt the King under the
Mountain, and his companions followed him. Hood and cloak were gone;
they were in shining armour, and red light leapt from their eyes. In
the gloom the great dwarf gleamed like gold in a dying fire.
     Rocks were buried down from on high by the goblins above; but they
held on. leapt down to the falls’ foot, and rushed forward to battle.
Wolf and rider fell or fled before them. Thorin wielded his axe with
mighty strokes, and nothing seemed to harm him.
     “To me! To me! Elves and Men! To me! O my kinsfolk!” he cried, and his
voice shook like a horn in the valley.
     Down, heedless of order, rushed all the dwarves of Dain to his help.
Down too came many of the Lake- men, for Bard could not restrain them;
and out upon the other side came many of the spearmen of the elves.
Once again the goblins were stricken in the valley; and they were
piled in heaps till Dale was dark and hideous with their corpses. The