Summary

Chapter 11. In three days the dwarves and hobbit make it to the Mountain. The Men of the lake refuse to stay with them and they are left to continue on their own. They do not see any sign of the dragon. Thorin sends Bilbo, Balin, Fili, and Kili to check out the Front Gate. Balin points out the ruins of the town of Dale. The only evidence of the dragon is steam and dark smoke coming from the Front Gate entrance. Bilbo spends a good deal of time looking at Thorin’s map and makes the dwarves begin the search for the secret door on the western slope. One day, Bilbo finds a set of steps and this leads them to the secret entrance, although they do not know how to open it. While the dwarves use picks and various other tools to try to...