The Hunt and the White Deer

Tolkien says the dwarves would have known they were at last getting towards the eastern edge of the forest if they hadn't been so emotional. They're just too focused on their emotions and being upset and hungry and tired and depressed, he writes. Bilbo climbs a tree to look around but all he sees are trees - there's no end to the forest. Tolkien: " despair is like hopelessness, no hope"