| Fire leaped from the
dragon's jaws. He circled for a while high in the air above them lighting all the
lake; the trees by the shores shone like copper and like blood with leaping shadows
of dense black at their feet. Then down he swooped straight through the arrow-storm,
reckless in his rage, taking no heed to turn his scaly sides towards his foes, seeking
only to set their town alight. Back
swirled the dragon. A sweep of his tail and the roof of the Great House crumbled and
smashed down. Flames unquenchable sprang into the night.
"The Hobbit" |