“He wouldn’t make above a mouthful,” said William, who had already had a fine supper, “not when he was skinned and boned”.

“P’raps there are more like him round about, and we might make a pie,” said Bert. “Here you, are there any more of your sort a-sneakin’ in these here woods, yer nassty little rabbit,” said he looking at the hobbit’s furry feet; and he picked him up by the toes and shook him.

“Yes, lots,” said Bilbo, before he remembered not to give his friends away. “No, none at all, not one,” he said immediately afterwards.

William, Tom, & Bert plotting to eat Bilbo, The Hobbit, Roast Mutton.

Gandalf, who was a good deal taller than the others, had found a tree into which they could not climb, a large pine standing at the very edge of the glade. He was quite hidden in its boughs, but you could see his eyes gleaming in the moon as he peeped out.

And Bilbo? He could not get into any tree, and was scuttling about from trunk to trunk, like a rabbit that has lost its hole and has a dog after it. “You’ve left the burglar behind again}” said Nori to Dori looking down.

“I can’t be always carrying burglars on my back,” said Dori, “down tunnels and up trees! What do you think I am? A porter?”

“He’ll be eaten if we don’t ‘do something,” said Thorin

Thorin’s Company hiding in a tree from wolves, The Hobbit, Out of the Frying Pan into the Fire.

Soon another eagle flew up. “The Lord of the Eagles bids you to bring your prisoners to the Great Shelf,” he cried and was off again. The other seized Dori in his claws and flew away with him into the night leaving Bilbo all alone. He had just strength to wonder what the messenger had meant by ‘prisoners,’ and to begin to think of being torn up for supper like a rabbit, when his own turn came. The eagle came back, seized him in his talons by the back of his coat, and swooped off.

Bilbo being picked up by an Eagle, The Hobbit, Out of the Frying Pan into the Fire.

“Don’t pinch!” said his eagle. “You need not be frightened like a rabbit, even if you look rather like one. It is a fair morning with little wind. What is finer than flying?”

Bilbo would have liked to say: “A warm bath and late breakfast on the lawn afterwards;” but he thought it better to say nothing at all, and to let go his clutch just a tiny bit.

Bilbo riding on an Eagle. The Hobbit, Queer Lodgings.

“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 of you! May his beard wither! As for you I will throw you to the rocks!” he cried and lifted Bilbo in his arms.

Here’s another set of chapter notes because I fell behind this week and meant to get these out during the week. Ooops.

• Bilbo is given a dwarven cloak and hood from Dwalin and now even his attire has been changed due to the adventure.

• "On some of [the hills] were old castles with an evil look, as if they had been built by wicked people" - I wonder if one of them was Weathertop?

• It's interesting to me to see how the Company have chosen to utilise Bilbo - he's used as an excuse to go towards the fire as if they believe he could help them if they run into trouble. I think it's more likely the dwarves had decided to trust Gandalf's word rather than Bilbo himself.

• Bilbo is reluctant to return to the Company empty-handed. He really wants to prove his worth to them - that Tookish spirit rising up again.

• Bilbo attempts to go to Thorin's aid in the fight against the trolls - he was hiding in the trees before this. Again, he wishes to prove his worth or at least prove that he is useful.

• "And there they stand to this day, all alone, unless the birds perch on them." And of course we will see the trolls again. It's interesting to note how, despite the danger they're in, this scene is light-hearted and humorous. It is, of course, a children's book but I can't help but think of how Bilbo's account, for which this is, removes the sense of danger and darkness. I wonder how much scarier this would have been had it been intended for adults.

• On that note I feel I should mention the fact that The Hobbit, as being a tale written down by Bilbo, is his version of the adventure. Or rather, that he decided what should be included. I'm jumping ahead of myself but in Lord of the Rings it is mentioned that Bilbo hides his pain and discomfit with humour. Because of this I wonder how much of the adventure was edited out so as to keep it entertaining rather than a true account of what must have been a terrifying journey at times.

We’re on the road! Brace yourself for 20ish pages of journeying and trolls. Try to finish by the 30th.