Having left it to Bilbo to solve the problem of opening the Secret Door, Thorin now expects Bilbo (in his capacity as Burglar) to go down the tunnel and reconnoitre the dragon's lair - a classic example of asking someone to do something you won't do yourself. Bilbo makes it plain to Thorin that he's not impressed by this attitude. Nevertheless, Bilbo is willing to do what Thorin wants ("Perhaps I have begun to trust my luck more than I used to in the old days"). Bilbo's experiences since leaving Bag End have made him more confident in dealing with Thorin and more prepared to face danger.

Only Balin is prepared to accompany him even part of the way, and once again Bilbo is forced to face the unknown on his own: "Going on from there was the bravest thing he ever did . . . He fought the real battle in the tunnel alone, before he ever saw the vast danger that lay in wait." This brief passage sums up the essence of fear and how to deal with it (perhaps Tolkien was recalling his experiences in the Great War at this point). The Bilbo who prepares to face Smaug bears little resemblance to the cautious hobbit who set out from the Shire six months previously.

The name Smaug is the past tense of the Old Norse verb smjúga - to creep through an opening (cf. the Old English "sméogan wyrme", which means "creeping worm") - a good example of Tolkien's word-play. Tolkien had become familiar with the mythology of dragons when studying the Old Norse sagas: "A dragon is no idle fancy. Whatever may be his origins, in fact or invention, the dragon in legend is a potent creation of men's imagination, richer in significance than his barrow is in gold. Even to-day (despite the critics) you may find men . . . who yet have been caught by the fascination of the worm." * And Tolkien was one of those who had been thus caught!

And what a barrow Bilbo discovers when he eventually plucks up the courage to enter the treasure-filled cave where Smaug lies sleeping on top of a pile of gold and jewels! Tolkien says that "there are no more words left to express his staggerment" (the earliest written record of this wonderful word "staggerment" is believed to be in one of Tolkien's own letters**). Awed as he is, Bilbo has enough wit to grab a great golden cup and run back to Balin, who carries him out of the tunnel. So Bilbo has indeed become the Burglar the dwarves wanted him to be, but their delight is cut short when Smaug discovers the theft and leaves the mountain in a rage, seeking the culprit . . .

* Beowulf: The Monsters and the Critics, 1936
** Ring of Words, Gilliver, Marhsall & Weiner, OUP 2006

In this section, we have one of Tolkien's many riddles. Bilbo and the dwarves do not remember the riddle at this point, so the dwarves let their frustrations overcome them. They beat at the door with their axes. Of course, this doesn't work, so they retire. But, Bilbo sits and ponders, trying to remember the riddle. His patience proves valuable, since during his pondering a thrush comes and knocks on a snail, reminding Bilbo of the riddle. He then remembers how to get inside.

This is a good example of the contrast of our characters in this story. As the dwarves get closer to the treasure, they get more and more stubborn and make more mistakes since their minds are only on the treasure, and not on the path and journey. Bilbo, on the other hand, is learning as he goes. He is growing and applying all the experiences of this journey to the decisions he's making. His decision to take and hide the most coveted of the treasure from the dwarves, and convince them to take refuge in the hidden bay, is a decision made because the dwarves do not seem to have the ability to think about protecting themselves. They are only thinking about treasure, whereas Bilbo is thinking about the whole picture.

I think this passage is a good example of how Tolkien incorporated messages of strength, honor, and how to live a good life within his work. He is showing us that Bilbo is gaining a much more precious thing from this journey than the dwarves are. Bilbo is gaining wisdom, patience, courage, and initiative. The dwarves think the journey is only about the treasure they seek, and fail to learn from the experiences they encounter. What good is a journey, if you do not grow and learn from it?

In keeping with his newfound interest and determination, Bilbo prods the dispirited dwarves to move camp to a place where they can begin their search for the secret door in earnest. The group moves to the western slopes of the Lonely Mountain, finding a sheltered valley with grass for their patient, long-suffering ponies, and fewer signs of dragon activity. The camp, while safe, is dark and cheerless, shadowed all day by the cliffs and mountain wall above. From this base, the group searches through the days in parties of two, casting for the path to the door.

And at last they find it--it should be no surprise by now that it is discovered by Bilbo and the two youngest dwarves Fili and Kili, who choose October 14 to explore a narrow, tortuous path above the camp that leads to the hidden bay where the door, without any obvious markings yet still recognizable for what it is, lies some 150 feet above the base camp. The excited young dwarves and the hobbit beat and push on the door, and speak some spell fragments to it, but nothing happens. Only temporarily defeated, they descend to the camp, where their discovery heartens Thorin and the others, and they prepare to move again, their goal finally in sight. As we will see, their elation is a bit premature, primarily because, as we already know, dwarves never listen!

After the comforts of Lake Town, Thorin's party turn north for the last part of their journey and receive, very quickly, a large dose of reality. They meet a party with horses and provisions at the north end of the lake who quickly leave them with the words that it was "...easier to believe in the Dragon and less easy to believe in Thorin in these wild parts" putting an end to the puffed up pride that Thorin used to bolster his courage in Lake Town. The Lonely Mountain "grim and tall" grows ever nearer. The land is pathless and desolate - indeed it is "The Desolation of the Dragon" and their spirits plunge. Even though there is no sign of the Dragon himself, they are now in his territory with everything that that entails and the realisation of the true magnitude of their quest starts to hit home. Only Thorin and Balin have any idea what lies ahead, being survivors of Smaug's attack. In fact it is only at this point in the story that we discover that Balin was also there, alongside Thorin. What memories and depressing thoughts must have been aroused by the sight of the ruination of a once 'green and fair' land.

It is here that Tolkien shows us that there is more to a Dragon than the immediate possibility of becoming at worst, charcoaled and, at best, rather singed. In Tolkien they are great destroyers of entire landscapes, creating a wilderness that nothing can live in. In fact all of Tolkien's 'monsters' are destroyers of the natural environment, not just people: Morgoth, Sauron, Saruman, Orcs, they all create a lifeless wilderness for themselves by their very nature - they are destroyers of natural creation (i.e. anything not created by themselves). So there is more to the task ahead than just regaining the Lonely Mountain, there is a whole land to heal if there is ever to be food and trade. And it's very quickly apparent that Thorin's folk weren't the only ones to suffer. The ruins of Dale, which Balin, Fili, Kili and Bilbo see when they are sent scouting for the hidden door, are a reminder that once the Dragon is gone there are other disposed peoples with their own claims to the Desolation of the Dragon.

And as for the Dragon himself, there is even more discomfort when the scouting party see smoke issuing through the cavernous entrance to the Mountain. Bilbo takes it as a sign that the dragon is home (something to lose sleep over in itself) but Balin points out that the foul reek would still issue from it even if the dragon were away, or possibly "lying out on the mountainside keeping watch". A Dragon in a hole is better than a Dragon keeping watch, by anyone's reckoning. The dwarves are now completely dispirited but, astonishingly, Bilbo is energised by the whole thing and starts pondering the map and moon-letters in search of clues to the hidden door.

It would seem that our modern-day politicians have absolutely nothing on the Master of Lake-town when it comes to corruption and the capacity to talk out of both sides of one's mouth simultaneously. Thorin & Co.'s sojourn in Lake-town certainly draws and refines a number of very interesting character portraits.

The further illumination of Thorin's personality is particularly interesting. He is the first of the dwarves to be "de-embarrelled" by Bilbo, and of course, he is thoroughly bedraggled, sore and stiff, in an exceptionally foul mood, and not feeling especially grateful to the little hobbit who secured the dwarves' release from the Elvenking's fortress, despite the extraordinary odds against him achieving such a feat.

Bilbo, bless him, isn't about to take any guff off Thorin, "Well, are you alive or are you dead? . . . Are you still in prison, or are you free? If you want food, and if you want to go on with this silly adventure - it's yours after all and not mine - you had better slap your arms and rub your legs and try and help me get the others out while there is a chance!" Our little hobbit has certainly learned to speak up for himself, hasn't he?

After a good bit of struggle, they manage to "de-embarrel" the rest of the dwarves. How does Thorin exert his authority once his team has been reassembled? He asks Bilbo, "In the meanwhile what next?" The dwarves - including the great Thorin Oakenshield - are increasingly relying on Bilbo, not for burgling, but for ideas and LEADERSHIP!

We should note, however, that Thorin only does so within the privacy of their little company. Once they reach Lake-town, Thorin steps to the fore and loudly proclaims himself, "Thorin son of Thrain son of Thror King under the Mountain!" The force of his personality must have been absolutely tremendous, otherwise surely such a pompous declaration made by a dirty, sopping wet, bedraggled dwarf would only result in general hilarity.

What follows is certainly a masterful description of the political intrigue one is bound to encounter in any sizeable village. Although the Master of Lake-town doesn't believe Thorin's claim one bit and is concerned about incurring the wrath of the Elvenking, the townpeople become so immediately carried away by the thought of the old legends coming true that the Master plays along and hosts Thorin and Co. most handsomely to please the populace. He figures they'll be quickly revealed as frauds, at which time he can turn them over to the Elvenking, thereby retaining both his local popularity and his lucrative business alliance with the Mirkwood kingdom. A clear example of government policy based on popular opinion polls!

The dwarves themselves become more than a little carried away by the general excitement, parading about as though the gold had already been won and seeming to forget about the small complication known as Smaug the Dragon. Who hasn't forgotten about this most important detail? Bilbo Baggins, who got a good look at the Lonely Mountain during his hazardous trip down the river. Plus, the Professor informs us that Bilbo has also contracted a "shocking cold," which turns him into a sneezing, coughing bundle of misery who can only choke out, "Thag you very buch," for his banquet speeches.

At length, Thorin has the sense to realize that he will need the assistance of the Master and the people of Lake-town to outfit his company for the final leg of their Quest and that it would be best to ask for that help while they are still so wildly popular. This gives the Master pause, but he is more than happy to be rid of his expensive guests, saying, "Certainly, O Thorin Thrain's son Thror's son!" while at the same time thinking, "Let them go and bother Smaug, and see how he welcomes them!"

So, on this day, Thorin & Co. at last departed Lake-town in three large, well-provisioned boats. The dwarves were excited, the people were singing. "The only person thoroughly unhappy was Bilbo."