The Hobbit

swift!”
    “Not so hasty!” said Bard. “We will give you until tomorrow. At noon we will return, and see if you have brought from the
     hoard the portion that is to be set against the stone. If that is done without deceit, then we will depart, and the elf-host
     will go back to the Forest. In the meanwhile farewell!”
    With that they went back to the camp; but Thorin sent messengers by Roäc telling Dain of what had passed, and bidding him
     come with wary speed.
    That day passed and the night. The next day the wind shifted west, and the air was dark and gloomy. The morning was still
     early when a cry was heard in the camp. Runners came in to report that a host of dwarves had appeared round the eastern spur of the Mountain and was now
     hastening to Dale. Dain had come. He had hurried on through the night, and so had come upon them sooner than they had expected.
     Each one of his folk was clad in a hauberk of steel mail that hung to his knees, and his legs were covered with hose of a
     fine and flexible metal mesh, the secret of whose making was possessed by Dain’s people. The dwarves are exceedingly strong
     for their height, but most of these were strong even for dwarves. In battle they wielded heavy two-handed mattocks; but each
     of them had also a short broad sword at his side and a roundshield slung at his back. Their beards were forked and plaited
     and thrust into their belts. Their caps were of iron and they were shod with iron, and their faces were grim.
    Trumpets called men and elves to arms. Before long the dwarves could be seen coming up the valley at a great pace. They halted
     between the river and the eastern spur; but a few held on their way, and crossing the river drew near the camp; and there
     they laid down their weapons and held up their hands in sign of peace. Bard went out to meet them, and with him went Bilbo.
    “We are sent from Dain son of Nain,” they said when questioned. “We are hastening to our kinsmen in the Mountain, since we
     learn that the kingdom of old is renewed. But who are you that sit in the plain as foes before defended walls?” This, of course,
     in the polite and rather old-fashioned language of such occasions, meant simply: “You have no business here. We are going
     on, so make way or we shall fight you!” They meant to push on between the Mountain and the loop of the river; for the narrow land there did not seem to be strongly
     guarded.
    Bard, of course, refused to allow the dwarves to go straight on to the Mountain. He was determined to wait until the gold
     and silver had been brought out in exchange for the Arkenstone; for he did not believe that this would be done, if once the
     fortress was manned with so large and warlike a company. They had brought with them a great store of supplies; for the dwarves
     can carry very heavy burdens, and nearly all of Dain’s folk, in spite of their rapid march, bore huge packs on their backs
     in addition to their weapons. They would stand a siege for weeks, and by that time yet more dwarves might come, and yet more,
     for Thorin had many relatives. Also they would be able to reopen and guard some other gate, so that the besiegers would have
     to encircle the whole mountain; and for that they had not sufficient numbers.
    These were, in fact, precisely their plans (for the raven-messengers had been busy between Thorin and Dain); but for the moment
     the way was barred, so after angry words the dwarf-messengers retired muttering in their beards. Bard then sent messengers
     at once to the Gate; but they found no gold or payment. Arrows came forth as soon as they were within shot, and they hastened
     back in dismay. In the camp all was now astir, as if for battle; for the dwarves of Dain were advancing along the eastern
     bank.
    “Fools!” laughed Bard, “to come thus beneath the Mountain’s arm! They do not understand war above ground, whatever they may know of battle in the mines. There are many of our archers and spearmen now hidden in the rocks
     upon their right flank. Dwarf-mail may be good, but they will soon be hard put to it. Let us set on them now from both sides,
     before they are fully rested!”
    But the Elvenking said: “Long will I tarry, ere I begin this war for gold. The dwarves cannot pass us, unless we will, or
     do anything that we cannot mark. Let us hope still for something that will bring reconciliation. Our advantage in numbers
     will be enough, if in the end it must come to unhappy