This is a story of long ago. At that time the languages and letters were quite different from ours of today.English is used to represent the languages. But two points may be noted. (1) In English the only correct plural of dwarf is dwarfs, and the adjective is dwarfish. In this story dwarves and dwarvish are used, but only when speaking of the ancient people to whom Thorin Oakenshield and his companions belonged. (2) Orc is not an English word. It occurs in one or two places but is usually translated goblin (or hobgoblin for the larger kinds). Orc is the hobbits' form of the name given at that time to these creatures, and it is not connected at all with our orc, ork, applied to sea-animals of dolphin-kind.

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Smaug certainly looked fast asleep, when Bilbo peeped once more from the entrance. He was just about to step out on to the floor when he caught a sudden thin ray of red from under the drooping lid of Smaug's left eye. He was only pretending to be asleep！ He was watching the tunnel entrance ...

Whisked away from his comfortable, unambitious life in his hobbit-hole in Bag End by Gandalf the wizard and a company of dwarves, Bilbo Baggins finds himself caught up in a plot to raid the treasure hoard of Smaug the Magnificent,a large and very dangerous dragon. Although quite reluctant to take part in this quest, Bilbo surprises even himself by his resourcefulness and his skill as a burglar！

   CHAPTER

   List of illustrations

   Author's Note

I  An Unexpected Party

  II  Roast Mutton

 III  A Short Rest

  IV  Over Hill and Under Hill

V  Riddles in the Dark

  VI  Out of the Frying-Pan into the Fire

 VII  Queer Lodgings

VIII  Flies and Spiders

  IX  Barrels Out of Bond

X  A Warm Welcome

  XI  On the Doorstep

 XII  Inside Information

XIII  Not at Home

 XIV  Fire and Water

  XV  The Gathering of the Clouds

 XVI  A Thief in the Night

XVII  The Clouds Burst

XVIII  The Return Journey

 XIX  The Last Stage