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ood after the lights。 But the others remembered only too well the warnings of the wizard and of Beorn。 〃A feast would be no good； if we never got back alive from it；〃 said Thorin。 〃But without a feast we shan't remain alive much longer anyway；〃 said Bombur； and Bilbo heartily agreed with him。 They argued about it backwards and forwards for a long while； until they agreed at length to send out a couple of spies； to creep near the lights and find out more about them。 But then they could not agree on who was to be sent： no one seemed anxious to run the chance of being lost and never finding his friends again。 In the end； in spite of warnings； hunger decided them； because Bombur kept on describing all the good things that were being eaten； according to his dream； in the woodland feast； so they all left the path and plunged into the forest together。 After a good deal of creeping and crawling they peered round the trunks and looked into a clearing where some trees had been felled and the ground levelled。 There were many people there； elvish…looking folk； all dressed in green and brown and sitting on sawn rings of the felled trees in a great circle。 There was a fire in their midst and there were torches fastened to some of the trees round about； but most splendid sight of all： they were eating and drinking and laughing merrily。
The smell of the roast meats was so enchanting that； without waiting to consult one another； every one of them got up and scrambled forwards into the ring with the one idea of begging for some food。 No sooner had the first stepped into the clearing than all the lights went out as if by magic。
Somebody kicked the fire and it went up in rockets of glittering sparks and vanished。 They were lost in a pletely lightless dark and they could not even find one another； not for a long time at any rate。 After blundering frantically in the gloom； falling over logs； bumping crash into trees； and shouting and calling till they must have waked everything in the forest for miles； at last they managed to gather themselves in a bundle and count themselves by touch。 By that time they had； of course； quite forgotten in what direction the path lay； and they were all hopelessly lost； at least till morning。
There was nothing for it but to settle down for the night where they were； they did not even dare to search on the ground for scraps of food for fear of being separated again。 But they had not been lying long； and Bilbo was only just getting drowsy； when Dori； whose turn it was to watch first； said in a loud whisper：
〃The lights are ing out again over there； and there are more than ever of them。〃
Up they all jumped。 There； sure enough； not far away were scores of twinkling lights； and they heard the voices and the laughter quite plainly。 They crept slowly towards them； in a single line； each touching the back of the one in front。 When they got near Thorin said： 〃No rushing forward this time！ No one is to stir from hiding till I say。 I shall send Mr。 Baggins alone first to talk to them。 They won't be frightened of him…（'What about me of them？' thought Bilbo）…and any way I hope they won't do anything nasty to him。〃 When they got to the edge of the circle of lights they pushed Bilbo suddenly from behind。 Before he had time to slip on his ring； he stumbled forward into the full blaze of the fire and torches。 It was no good。 Out went all the lights again and plete darkness fell。 If it had been difficult collecting themselves before； it was far worse this time。 And they simply could not find the hobbit。 Every time they counted themselves it only made thirteen。 They shouted and called： 〃Bilbo Baggins！ Hobbit！ You dratted hobbit！ Hi！ hobbit； confusticate you； where are you？〃 and other things of that sort； but there was no answer。
They were just giving up hope； when Dori stumbled across him by sheer luck。 In the dark he fell over what he thought was a log； and he found it was the hobbit curled up fast asleep。 It took a deal of shaking to wake him； and when he was awake he was not pleased at all。
〃I was having such a lovely dream；〃 he grumbled； 〃all about having a most gorgeous dinner。〃
〃Good heavens！ he has gone like Bombur；〃 they said。 〃Don't tell us about dreams。 Dream…dinners aren't any good； and we can't share them。〃 〃They are the best I am likely to get in this beastly place；〃 he muttered； as he lay down beside the dwarves and tried to go back to sleep and find his dream again。 But that was not the last of the lights in the forest。 Later when the night must have been getting old； Kili who was watching then； came and roused them all again； saying：
〃There's a regular blaze of light begun not far away … hundreds of torches and many fires must have been lit suddenly and by magic。 And hark to the singing and the harps！〃
After lying and listening for a while； they found they could not resist the desire to go nearer and try once more to get help。 Up they got again； and this time the result was disastrous。 The feast that they now saw was greater and more magnificent than before； and at the head of a long line of feasters sat a woodland king with a crown of leaves upon his golden hair； very much as Bombur had described the figure in his dream。 The elvish folk were passing bowls from hand to hand and across the fires； and some were harping and many were singing。 Their gloaming hair was twined with flowers； green and white gems glinted on their collars and their belts； and their faces and their songs were filled with mirth。 Loud and clear and fair were those songs； and out stepped Thorin into their midst。
Dead silence fell in the middle of a word。 Out went all light。 The fires leaped up in black smokes。 Ashes and cinders were in the eyes of the dwarves； and the wood was filled again with their clamour and their cries。 Bilbo found himself running round and round （as he thought） and calling and calling：
〃Dori； Nori； Ori； Oin； Gloin； Fili； Kili； Bombur； Bifur； Bofur； Dwalin； Balin； Thorin Oakenshield；〃 while people he could not see or feel were doing the same all round him （with an occasional 〃Bilbo！〃 thrown in）。 But the cries of the others got steadily further and fainter； and though after a while it seemed to him they changed to yells and cries for help in the far distance； all noise at last died right away； and he was left alone in plete silence and darkness。 That was one of his most miserable moments。 But he soon made up his mind that it was no good trying to do anything till day came with some little light； and quite useless to go blundering about tiring himself out with no hope of any breakfast to revive him。 So he sat himself down with his back to a tree； and not for the last time fell to thinking of his far…distant hobbit…hole with its beautiful pantries。 He was deep in thoughts of bacon and eggs and toast and butter when he felt something touch him。 Something like a strong sticky string was against his left hand； and when he tried to move he found that his legs were already wrapped in the same stuff； so that when he got up he fell over。
Then the great spider； who had been busy tying him up while he dozed； came from behind him and came at him。 He could only see the things's eyes； but he could feel its hairy legs as it struggled to wind its abominable threads round and round him。 It was lucky that he had e to his senses in time。 Soon he would not have been able to move at all。 As it was； he had a desperate fight before he got free。 He beat the creature off with his hands…it was trying to poison him to keep him quiet； as small spiders do to flies…until he remembered his sword and drew it out。 Then the spider jumped back； and he had time to cut his legs loose。 After that it was his turn to attack。 The spider evidently was not used to things that carried such stings at their sides； or it would have hurried away quicker。 Bilbo came at it before it could disappear and struck it with his sword right in the eyes。 Then it went mad and leaped and danced and flung out its legs in horrible jerks； until he killed it with another stroke； and then he fell down and remembered nothing more for a long while。
There was the usual dim grey light of the forest…day about him when he came to his senses。 The spider lay dead