The Hobbit

think, is it? It is always poor me that has to get them out of their difficulties,
     at least since the wizard left. Whatever am I going to do? I might have known that something dreadful would happen to me in
     the end. I don’t think I could bear to see the unhappy valley of Dale again, and as for that steaming gate! ! !”
    That night he was very miserable and hardly slept. Next day the dwarves all went wandering off in various directions; some
     were exercising the ponies down below, some were roving about the mountain-side. All day Bilbo sat gloomily in the grassy
     bay gazing at the stone, or out west through the narrow opening. He had a queer feeling that he was waiting for something.
     “Perhaps the wizard will suddenly come back today,” he thought.
    If he lifted his head he could see a glimpse of the distant forest. As the sun turned west there was a gleam of yellow upon
     its far roof, as if the light caught the last pale leaves. Soon he saw the orange ball of the sun sinking towards the level
     of his eyes. He went to the opening and there pale and faint was a thin new moon above the rim of Earth.
    At that very moment he heard a sharp crack behind him. There on the grey stone in the grass was an enormous thrush, nearly
     coal black, its pale yellow breast freckled with dark spots. Crack! It had caught a snail and was knocking it on the stone.
     Crack! Crack!
    Suddenly Bilbo understood. Forgetting all danger he stood on the ledge and hailed the dwarves, shouting and waving. Those
     that were nearest came tumbling over the rocks and as fast as they could along the ledge to him, wondering what on earth was the matter; the others shouted
     to be hauled up the ropes (except Bombur, of course: he was asleep).
    Quickly Bilbo explained. They all fell silent: the hobbit standing by the grey stone, and the dwarves with wagging beards
     watching impatiently. The sun sank lower and lower, and their hopes fell. It sank into a belt of reddened cloud and disappeared.
     The dwarves groaned, but still Bilbo stood almost without moving. The little moon was dipping to the horizon. Evening was
     coming on. Then suddenly when their hope was lowest a red ray of the sun escaped like a finger through a rent in the cloud.
     A gleam of light came straight through the opening into the bay and fell on the smooth rock-face. The old thrush, who had
     been watching from a high perch with beady eyes and head cocked on one side, gave a sudden trill. There was a loud crack.
     A flake of rock split from the wall and fell. A hole appeared suddenly about three feet from the ground.
    Quickly, trembling lest the chance should fade, the dwarves rushed to the rock and pushed—in vain.
    “The key! The key!” cried Bilbo. “Where is Thorin?”
    Thorin hurried up.
    “The key!” shouted Bilbo. “The key that went with the map! Try it now while there is still time!”
    Then Thorin stepped up and drew the key on its chain from round his neck. He put it to the hole. It fitted and it turned!
     Snap! The gleam went out, the sun sank, the moon was gone, and evening sprang into the sky.
    Now they all pushed together, and slowly a part of the rock-wall gave way. Long straight cracks appeared and widened. A door
     five feet high and three broad was outlined, and slowly without a sound swung inwards. It seemed as if darkness flowed out
     like a vapour from the hole in the mountain-side, and deep darkness in which nothing could be seen lay before their eyes,
     a yawning mouth leading in and down.

Chapter
XII
INSIDE INFORMATION
    For a long time the dwarves stood in the dark before the door and debated, until at last Thorin spoke:
    “Now is the time for our esteemed Mr. Baggins, who has proved himself a good companion on our long road, and a hobbit full
     of courage and resource far exceeding his size, and if I may say so possessed of good luck far exceeding the usual allowance—now
     is the time for him to perform the service for which he was included in our Company; now is the time for him to earn his Reward.”
    You are familiar with Thorin’s style on important occasions, so I will not give you any more of it, though he went on a good
     deal longer than this. It certainly was an important occasion, but Bilbo felt impatient. By now he was quite familiar with
     Thorin too, and he knew what he was driving at.
    “If you mean you think it is my job to go into the secret passage first, O Thorin Thrain’s son Oakenshield, may your beard
     grow ever