that do what they could the dwarves heard the cries and howls getting
closer and closer. Soon they could hear even the flap of the goblin
feet, many many feet which seemed only just round the last corner. The
blink of red torches could be seen behind them in the tunnel they were
following; and they were getting deadly tired.
     “Why, O why did I ever leave my hobbit-hole!” said poor Mr. Baggins
bumping up and down on Bombur’s back.
     “Why, O why did I ever bring a wretched little hobbit on a treasure
hunt!” said poor Bombur, who was fat, and staggered along with the
sweat dripping down his nose in his heat and terror.
     At this point Gandalf fell behind, and Thorin with him. They turned a
sharp corner. “About turn!” he shouted. “Draw your sword, Thorin!”
There was nothing else to be done; and the goblins did not like it.
They came scurrying round the corner in full cry, and found
Goblin-cleaver and Foe-hammer shining cold and bright right in their
astonished eyes. The ones in front dropped their torches and gave one
yell before they were killed. The ones behind yelled still more, and
leaped back knocking over those that were running after them. “Biter
and Beater!” they shrieked; and soon they were all in confusion, and
most of them were hustling back the way they had come.