![the hobbit king under the mountain the hobbit king under the mountain](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/8JpmuI1u8kI/maxresdefault.jpg)
A hail of dark arrows leaped up and snapped and rattled on his scales and jewels, and their shafts fell back kindled by his breath burning and hissing into the lake. If he plunged into it, a vapour and a steam would arise enough to cover all the land with a mist for days but the lake was mightier than he, it would quench him before he could pass through. Amid shrieks and wailing and the shouts of men he came over them, swept towards the bridges and was foiled! The bridge was gone, and his enemies were on an island in deep water-too deep and dark and cool for his liking. Every vessel in the town was filled with water, every warrior was armed, every arrow and dart was ready, and the bridge to the land was thrown down and destroyed, before the roar of Smaug’s terrible approach grew loud, and the lake rippled red as fire beneath the awful beating of his wings. So it was that the dragon did not find them quite unprepared.īefore long, so great was his speed, they could see him as a spark of fire rushing towards them and growing ever huger and more bright, and not the most foolish doubted that the prophecies had gone rather wrong. The cheering stopped and the joy was turned to dread. Then warning trumpets were suddenly sounded, and echoed along the rocky shores. “The dragon is coming or I am a fool!” he cried. But the grim-voiced fellow ran hotfoot to the Master. There was once more a tremendous excitement and enthusiasm.
The hobbit king under the mountain windows#
“His wealth is like the Sun, his silver like a fountain, his rivers golden run! The river is running gold from the Mountain!” they cried, and everywhere windows were opening and feet were hurrying. “The King beneath the Mountain!” they shouted. Then suddenly a great light appeared in the low place in the hills and the northern end of the lake turned golden. “You are always foreboding gloomy things!” said the others. “As like as not it is the marauding fire of the Dragon, the only king under the Mountain we have ever known.” “Which king?” said another with a grim voice. It is time the songs began to prove themselves again.” “Perhaps the King under the Mountain is forging gold,” said another.
![the hobbit king under the mountain the hobbit king under the mountain](https://64.media.tumblr.com/0c63a35cd7cf79219ccce8a7c19ec6f3/tumblr_ozkz667wIW1rdsr52o1_500.jpg)
“The lights again! Last night the watchmen saw them start and fade from midnight until dawn. Suddenly it flickered back to view a brief glow touched it and faded. Now it was lost and gone, blotted in the dark.
![the hobbit king under the mountain the hobbit king under the mountain](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/d8/20/47/d8204765d5caaaddf2cebb2dc51a7cba.jpg)
Only its high peak could they see in clear weather, and they looked seldom at it, for it was ominous and drear even in the light of morning. From their town the Lonely Mountain was mostly screened by the low hills at the far end of the lake, through a gap in which the Running River came down from the North. The men of the lake-town Esgaroth were mostly indoors, for the breeze was from the black East and chill, but a few were walking on the quays, and watching, as they were fond of doing, the stars shine out from the smooth patches of the lake as they opened in the sky. Now if you wish, like the dwarves, to hear news of Smaug, you must go back again to the evening when he smashed the door and flew off in rage, two days before.