Amid shrieks and wailing and the shouts of men Smaug came over Laketown. A hail of dark arrows leaped up and snapped and rattled on his scales, and their shafts fell back kindled by his breath.

Fire leaped from the dragon’s jaws. Down he swooped straight through the arrow-storm, reckless in his rage, seeking only to set their town ablaze.

Fire leaped from thatched roofs and wooden beam-ends as he hurtled down past and round again. Flames unquenchable sprang high into the night.

Still a ...