"Another interesting story according to Firki, is that which happened to both him and his brother [Virki] after they decided to travel and see the world beyond the Misty Mountains, and started to run a transportation and installation business of Dwarven crafts:

A tower bell was ordered to be installed in some little town (probably Trestlebridge, I guess) in the borders of the North-Downs, because there was an increase in attacks from the North, and that place was raided some few months before; the assault was costly repelled, and the bell tower was knocked down. [...] So there were Firki, Virki and their fellow workers, installing the solid bronze bell on the top of the tower.

The job was almost finished when suddenly, while the sun was setting upon the horizon and there was no moon, a band of Orcs and Wargs raided the town. One of Firki's fellows died instantly by an arrow, and he and the rest started to fight with their mere tools, with a bunch of man-soldiers and farmers from the surroundings. All seemed  lost. But Virki was alone on the top of the tower, so he took his hammer and started to hit the bell so hard for aid, that he lost his right ear. After that -and what's most awe-inspiring- he cut the rope, lifted the massive bell upon his head with his own arms, and threw it over the enemies' heads. One or two of them died, but the rest was so frightened with the clang that they fled to the North.

Not so long after, some raiders from Esteldín showed up and chased the Orcish band, but they found none. Firki, Virki and their company were  deeply honored and rewarded. Because of this too they were  very welcomed in their homeland, and Balin himself offered them a rank in the Halls of Moria. Virki accepted; Firki kept the family business."

Excerpt from Steindor's Travels Journal, c. T.A. 2974.