Today, map in hand, I explored the "long valley, narrower than the great dale in the South where the Gates of the river stood, and walled with lower spurs of the Mountain".

"The dangerous search on the western slopes for the secret door"

"It seemed as if darkness flowed out like a vapour from the hole in the mountain-side" "They spoke low and never called or sang, for danger brooded in every rock."

"It is almost dark so that its vastness can only be dimly guessed, but rising from the near side of the rocky floor there is a great glow. The glow of Smaug!"