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.Great weariness began to come over him; but it was wellbefore midnight when he clambered up the rope again - it was still where he hadleft it.He untied it and hid it, and then he sat down on the wall and wonderedanxiously what would happen next.At midnight he woke up Bombur; and then in turn rolled himself up in hiscorner, without listening to old dwarfs thanks (which he felt he had hardlyearned).He was soon fast asleep forgetting all his worries till the morning.As matter of fact he was dreaming of eggs and bacon.Chapter 17The Clouds BurstNext day the trumpets rang early in the camp.Soon a single runner was seenhurrying along the narrow path.At a distance he stood and hailed them, askingwhether Thorin would now listen to another embassy, since new tidings had cometo hand, and matters were changed."That will be Dain!" said Thorin when he heard."They will have got wind of hiscoming.I thought that would alter their mood! Bid them come few in number andweaponless, and I will hear," he called to the messenger.About midday the banners of the Forest and the Lake were seen to be borne forthagain.A company of twenty was approaching.At the beginning of the narrow waythey laid aside sword and spear, and came on towards the Gate.Wondering, thedwarves saw that among them were both Bard and the Elvenking, before whom anold man wrapped in cloak and hood bore a strong casket of iron-bound wood."Hail Thorin!" said Bard."Are you still of the same mind?""My mind does not change with the rising and setting of a few suns," answeredThorin."Did you come to ask me idle questions? Still the elf-host has notdeparted as I bade! Till then you come in vain to bargain with me." "Is therethen nothing for which you would yield any of your gold?""Nothing that you or your friends have to offer.""What of the Arkenstone of Thrain?" said he, and at the same moment the old manopened the casket and held aloft the jewel.The light leapt from his hand,bright and white in the morning.Then Thorin was stricken dumb with amazement and confusion.No one spoke for along while.Thorin at length broke the silence, and his voice was thick withwrath."That stone was my father's, and is mine," he said."Why should Ipurchase my own?" But wonder overcame him and he added: "But how came you bythe heirloom of my house-if there is need to ask such a question of thieves?""We are not thieves," Bard answered."Your own we will give back in return forour own."'How came you by it?" shouted Thorin in gathering rage."I gave it them!" squeaked Bilbo, who was peeping over the wall, by now, in adreadful fright."You! You!" cried Thorin, turning upon him and grasping him with both hands."You miserable hobbit! You undersized-burglar!" he shouted at a loss for words,and he shook poor Bilbo like a rabbit."By the beard of Durin! I wish I had Gandalf here! Curse him for his choice ofyou! May his beard wither! As for you I will throw you to the rocks!" he criedand lifted Bilbo in his arms."Stay! Your wish is granted!" said a voice.The old man with the casket threwaside his hood and cloak."Here is Gandalf! And none too soon it seems.If youdon't like my Burglar, please don't damage him.Put him down, and listen firstto what he has to say!""You all seem in league!" said Thorin dropping Bilbo on the top of the wall."Never again will I have dealings with any wizard or his friends.What have youto say, you descendant of rats?""Dear me! Dear me!" said Bilbo."I am sure this is all very uncomfortable.Youmay remember saying that I might choose my own fourteenth share? Perhaps I tookit too literally -1 have been told that dwarves are sometimes politer in wordthan in deed.The time was, all the same, when you seemed to think that I hadbeen of some service.Descendant of rats, indeed! Is this ail the service ofyou and your family that I was promised.Thorin? Take it that I have disposedof my share as I wished, and let it go at that!""I will," said Thorin grimly."And I will let you go at that-and may we nevermeet again!" Then he turned and spoke over the wall."I am betrayed," he said."It was rightly guessed that I could not forbear to redeem the Arkenstone, thetreasure of my house.For it I will give one fourteenth share of the hoard insilver and gold, setting aside the gems; but that shall be accounted thepromised share of this traitor, and with that reward he shall depart, and youcan divide it as you will.He will get little enough, I doubt not.Take him, ifyou wish him to live; and no friendship of mine goes with him."Get down now to your friends!" he said to Bilbo, "or I will throw you down.""What about the gold and silver?" asked Bilbo."That shall follow after, as can be arranged," said he."Get down!""Until then we keep the stone," cried Bard."You are not making a very splendid figure as King under the Mountain," saidGandalf."But things may change yet.""They may indeed," said Thorin.And already, so strong was the bewilderment ofthe treasure upon him, he was pondering whether by the help of Dain he mightnot recapture the Arkenstone and withhold the share of the reward.And so Bilbo was swung down from the wall, and departed with nothing for allhis trouble, except the armour which Thorin had given him already.More thanone of the dwarves 'in their hearts felt shame and pity at his going."Farewell!" he cried to them."We may meet again as friends.""Be off!" called Thorin."You have mail upon you, which was made by my folk,and is too good for you.It cannot be pierced.by arrows; but if you do nothasten, I will sting your miserable feet.So be swift!""Not so hasty!" said Bard."We will give you until tomorrow.At noon we willreturn, and see if you have brought from the hoard the portion that is to beset against the stone
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