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."

By the time that Bilbo and the "em-barralled" dwarves reach Laketown, we can also see the Professor foreshadowing his later writing style that we see in The Lord of the Rings. Look at this excerpt:

"Not far from the mouth of the Forest River was the strange town he heard the elves speak of in the king's cellars. It was not built on the shore, though there were a few huts and buildings there, but right out on the surface of the lake, protected from the swirl of the entering river by a promontory of rock which formed a calm bay. A great bridge made of wood ran out to where on huge piles made of forest trees was built a busy wooden town, not a town of elves but of Men, who still dared to dwell here under the shadow of the distant dragon-mountain. They still throve on the trade that came up the great river from the South and was carted past the falls to their town; but in the great days of old, when Dale in the North was rich and prosperous, they had been wealthy and powerful, and there had been fleets of boats on the waters, and some were filled with gold and some with warriors in armour, and there had been wars and deeds which were now only a legend. The rotting piles of a greater town could still be seen along the shores when the waters sank in a drought."

But men remembered little of all that, though some still sang old songs . . .


This is vintage Tolkien, isn't it? First is the great imaginary place, with a totally different kind of scape, like elves living in flets in trees. Second is the detailed geographical description, further enhancing the sense of place. Third is the description of trade patterns, adding an air of detail that helps us believe in the reality of the place. Fourth is the allusion to a great and glorious past, upon which the present is built, just like Laketown is built on the ruins of a greater city. And last, but not least, are the dim memories of that past which are present only in old songs. Although it seems to be accepted that The Hobbit is a children's book, here is one of the transition passages into a more adult style. And certainly the political corruption in Laketown is a more sophisticated theme.

P.S. Do you think Bilbo remembered that today was his birthday?

Oh! I get it! This is exactly one of those situations that Gandalf envisioned when he sent Bilbo running after the Dwarves on this grand adventure. The depressed Thorin has taken heart and indeed has a new respect for Bilbo and the magic Ring that makes him invisible, and therefore the perfect escape coordinator.

It is interesting that Tolkien has placed each Dwarf in a separate cell and unable to communicate with the others...a tactic much used even today in criminal incarceration and interrogation methods. It also gives Bilbo the chance to prove his worth in planning their escape and communicating with them all to pull it off. It is, however, very much in Bilbo's personality that he is not comfortable with this new role. Too much responsibility...too much stress.

Thorin also stays true to form. Not only is he delighted with Bilbo, he is equally pleased that he will not have to barter away any of the treasure from the Lonely Mountain to secure the Company's release from the Elven King. The ever present greed and suspicion of Thorin and the rest of the Dwarves shows itself again and is engraved in the mind as a true Dwarvish trait.

Bilbo has discovered a second path of exit other than the great gates. He discovers the Elves love of wine and their method of transporting via the river that flows under the palace. The empty barrels were floated downstream to Long Lake and Lake-town. The perfect escape vehicles! Waiting until the Elf guards had drunk their fill and fallen asleep, Bilbo at length convinces the not to enthusiastic Dwarves that it is now or never and loads each of them into his own barrel. The Elves supply the muscle power to push the barrels through the trap door into the river. It is only here that it dawns on still invisible Bilbo that he hasn't figured out how he himself will escape and it is only at the last moment that grabs hold of the final barrel and is pushed through the trap door as well.

At last, wet and cold, they come to a place where Men gather the barrels and tie them into rafts before floating them further downstream. It is now dusk and Bilbo is wretched and cold and manages to find a little food, but has no way the reach the em-barralled Dwarves. It is a long cold night indeed. Are his Dwarf friends alive or dead?