Reading Class 7 English Notes Chapter 10 North South East West Summary in English and Hindi helps students understand the main plot quickly.
The Tunnel West Class 7 Summary in English and Hindi
The Tunnel West Summary in English
I. The day was bit hot one noon in the jungle. There were two railway lines that ran into a tunnel, which was dark inside. Near the railway lines, a boy named Suraj waited for the midday train. He just stood there, watching the train with a steam engine coming. He had cycled all the way from a town to a small village, where he left his bicycle and walked towards the tunnel exit.
He heard the sound of the approaching train but could not see it, as it was coming from the other end of the tunnel. A few moments later, the train rushed out of the tunnel, snorting a cloud of smoke with’a loud, thunderous noise, throwing sparks from the burning coal. As the train emerged from the tunnel, Suraj stepped back a few paces. As the train passed by him, Suraj felt hot steam coming from the engine. Even the trees seemed to feel the sudden heat and noise. When the train finally passed, everything became silent once again, and the tunnel, filled with smoke, was left behind.
As the train passed by, Suraj walked towards the tunnel. After travelling about twenty yards into it, the darkness grew deeper. He turned back to see if there was still daylight outside. He was curious about what lay ahead in the tunnel. The walls were damp and sticky, bats flew past, and lizards crawled between the railway tracks. As he stepped out of the tunnel, the darkness faded, and he was greeted by a sudden burst of light. Shielding his eyes with his hand, he gazed at the tall trees along the hillside. It was then that he noticed something flashy, orange and golden, moving between the trees.
There was a watchman’s hut fifteen metres outside the entrance of the tunnel, with marigolds and a small vegetable garden in front of it. The watchman’s duty was to inspect the tunnel regularly for any obstacles, both inside and outside, and warn the train drivers as they approached. In between the arrival of the trains, he would take a nap.
While the watchman was about to take a nap, he saw Suraj approaching and waited for him. The watchman greeted Suraj and asked the purpose of his visit, as not many visitors came by. When the watchman referred to “his tunnel,” Suraj was surprised, wondering if the watchman actually owned it. Sarcastically, the watchman replied that, yes, it was his, and he had lent it to the government. Sitting on the cot, Suraj explained that he had come to see the train coming out of the tunnel and thought he would take a walk through it.
Upon hearing this, the watchman asked what Suraj had found in the tunnel. Suraj mentioned that he had seen something strange between the trees. In response, the watchman said, “That was probably my leopard.” Suraj was again surprised, asking how a wild animal like a leopard could belong to him. Suraj asked if he had also lent the leopard to the government. To this, the watchman replied that yes, he owned it, but he had not lent it to the government. The leopard, he explained, is dangerous but minds its own business. It doesn’t bother anyone and only visits for a few days each month.
Sunder Singh, the watchman and Suraj both introduced themselves to each other. Suraj then told him the reason for his visit. The watchman also mentioned that the next train would pass around nine o’clock, if it wasn’t delayed, and invited Suraj to his house after it had passed. Suraj replied that he would inform his parents to make sure it was safe. In response, the watchman assured him that it was safer in the jungle than in the city, where there was a lot of traffic.
The watchman said he was going to take a nap and offered Suraj the chance to lie down as well. Suraj remarked that everyone, including animals, lies down in the afternoon to relax-except for the boys who prefer to play. The watchman then covered his face with a banana leaf to avoid flies and drifted off to sleep. Suraj looked towards the tunnel and then walked back to the village.
II. As dusk approached, flying foxes emerged from their hideouts, and Suraj rushed to the watchman’s hut. Now the earth was cooling from the silent breeze that carried the scent of mangoes. Sunder Singh was waiting for Suraj while making tea on an oil stove. When Suraj arrived, Sunder Singh offered him tea, and both sat down to drink it.
Suraj was sipping tea sitting on the cot while the watchman left to inspect the tunnel with an oil lamp in his hand. Sounds of different animals were coming and Suraj was not able to recognise the sounds. Sunder Singh returned to the hut. As he sat down beside Suraj; they both heard a sound. Sunder Singh recognised the sound, it was leopard’s. Sunder Singh rushed towards the tunnel, shouting to drive away the leopard and save it from running under the train, Suraj followed him.
They both ran into the tunnel and shouted to drive away the leopard, which disappeared into the darkness. As the train approached, the watchman could feel the vibration of the rails. The train passed by, making a thunderous noise.
The rails trembled again with every passing train. A week later, they trembled once more when Suraj and his father travelled on it. His father was going on a business trip and took Suraj with him, thinking that when Suraj grew up, he would understand the nature of his work.
The train passed through forests and villages, carrying hundreds of passengers in a steady rhythm along the rails. As the train entered the tunnel, Suraj saw the light of a lamp. He understood that it was Sunder Singh, the watchman, though he could not see him. Suraj acknowledged the dedication of the watchman, working tirelessly for the safety of the animals, the train, and the passengers, endangering his own life without any remorse.
The Tunnel West Summary in Hindi
I. दोपहर में जंगल में गर्मी की लहरें चमक रही थीं। दो रेलवे लाइनें एक सुरंग में जा रही थीं, जो अंदर से अँधेरी थी। रेलवे लाइनों के पास सूरज नाम का एक लड़का दोपहर की ट्रेन का इंतजार कर रहा था। वह वहीं खड़ा होकर भाप इंजन वाली ट्रेन को आते देख रहा था। वह एक शहर से एक छोटे से गाँव तक साइकिल से आया था, जहाँ उसने अपनी साइकिल छोड़ दी और सुरंग के बाहर की ओर चल पड़ा। उसने ट्रेन के आने की आवाज़ सुनी, लेकिन उसे देख नहीं पाया, क्योंकि वह सुरंग के दूसरे छोर से आ रही थी। कुछ पल बाद, ट्रेन धुएँ के बादल के साथ तेज़ आवाज़ के साथ जलते कोयले से चिंगारी फेंकते हुए सुरंग से बाहर निकल गई। जैसे ही ट्रेन सुरंग से बाहर निकली, सूरज कुछ कदम पीछे हट गया। जैसे ही ट्रेन उसके पास से गुज़री, सूरज को इंजन से गर्म भाप आती हुई महसूस हुई।
यहाँ तक कि पेड़ों को भी अचानक गर्मी और शोर महसूस हुआ। जब ट्रेन आखिरकार गुज़री, तो सब कुछ एक बार फिर शांत हो गया और धुएँ से भरी सुरंग पीछे छूट गई। जैसे ही ट्रेन गुज़री, सूरज सुरंग की ओर चल पड़ा। लगभग बीस गज अंदर जाने के बाद, अँधेरा गहरा गया। उसने पीछे मुड़कर देखा कि क्या अभी भी बाहर उजाला है। वह उत्सुक था कि सुरंग में आगे क्या है। दीवारें नम और चिपचिपी थीं, चमगादड़ उड़ रहे थे, और छिपकलियाँ रेल की पटरियों के बीच रेंग रही थीं। जैसे ही वह सुरंग से बाहर निकला, अँधेरा दूर हो गया, और अचानक रोशनी की एक किरण ने उसका स्वागत किया। अपनी आँखों को हाथ से छिपाते हुए, उसने पहाड़ी के किनारे ऊँचे पेड़ों को देखा। तभी उसने पेड़ों के बीच कुछ चमकीला,
नारंगी और सुनहरा, हिलता हुआ देखा। सुरंग के प्रवेश द्वार के बाहर पंद्रह मीटर की दूरी पर एक चौकीदार की झोपड़ी थी, जिसके सामने गेंदे के फूल और एक छोटा-सा सब्ज़ी का बगीचा था। चौकीदार का काम नियमित रूप से सुरंग का निरीक्षण करना था, अंदर और बाहर किसी भी बाधा के लिए, और ट्रेन के आने पर ड्राइवरों को चेतावनी देना। ट्रेनों के आने के बीच में, वह झपकी ले लेता था। जब चौकीदार झपकी लेने वाला था, उसने सूरज को आते देखा और उसका इंतजार करने लगा। चौकीदार ने सूरज का अभिवादन किया और उसके आने का उद्देश्य पूछा, क्योंकि वहाँ कोई आगंतुक नहीं आता, जब चौकीदार ने अपनी सुरंग का उल्लेख किया, तो सूरज आश्चर्यचकित हो गया, यह सोचकर कि क्या चौकीदार वास्तव में इसका मालिक है। व्यंग्यात्मक रूप से, चौकीदार ने उत्तर दिया कि, हाँ, यह सुरंग उसकी है, और उसने इसे सरकार को उधार दिया है।
खाट पर बैठे सूरज ने बताया कि वह सुरंग से निकलती ट्रेन को देखने आया था और सोचा कि वह इसके बीच से टहलेगा। यह सुनकर, चौकीदार ने पूछा कि सूरज को सुरंग में क्या मिला। सूरज ने बताया कि उसने पेड़ों के बीच कुछ अजीब देखा था। जवाब में, चौकीदार ने कहा, शायद वह मेरा तेंदुआ था । सूरज फिर से आश्चर्यचकित हुआ, उसने पूछा कि तेंदुए जैसा जंगली जानवर उसका कैसे हो सकता है। सूरज ने पूछा कि क्या उसने तेंदुए को भी सरकार को उधार दिया है। इस पर, चौकीदार ने उत्तर दिया कि हाँ, वह उसका मालिक है, लेकिन उसने इसे सरकार को उधार नहीं दिया है। उन्होंने बताया कि तेंदुआ खतरनाक है, लेकिन अपने काम से मतलब रखता है। यह किसी को परेशान नहीं करता है और हर महीने केवल कुछ दिनों के लिए आता है। सुंदर सिंह, चौकीदार और सूरज दोनों ने एक दूसरे को अपना परिचय दिया।
फिर सूरज ने उसे अपने आने का कारण बताया। चौकीदार ने यह भी बताया कि अगली ट्रेन अगर देरी से नहीं गुज़री तो करीब रात के नौ बजे गुज़रेगी और सूरज को उसके गुज़रने के बाद अपने घर आने का निमंत्रण दिया। सूरज ने जवाब दिया कि वह अपने माता-पिता को सूचित करेगा ताकि यह सुनिश्चित हो सके कि यह सुरक्षित है। जवाब में, चौकीदार ने उसे आश्वासन दिया कि जंगल शहर की तुलना में अधिक सुरक्षित है, जहाँ बहुत अधिक यातायात है। चौकीदार ने कहा कि वह झपकी लेने जा रहा है और उसने सूरज को भी लेटने का मौका दिया। सूरज ने टिप्पणी की कि दोपहर में सभी, यहाँ तक कि जानवर भी आराम करने के लिए लेट जाते हैं लड़कों को छोड़कर जो खेलना पसंद करते हैं। फिर चौकीदार ने मक्खियों से बचने के लिए केले के पत्ते से अपना चेहरा ढक लिया और सो गया। सूरज ने सुरंग की ओर देखा और फिर गाँव की ओर चल दिया ।
II. जैसे – जैसे शाम ढलती गई, बड़े चमगादड़ अपने ठिकानों से निकले और सूरज चौकीदार की झोपड़ी की ओर दौड़ा। अब धरती शांत हवा से ठंडी हो रही थी जिसमें आमों की खुशबू थी । सुंदर सिंह तेल के चूल्हे पर चाय बनाते हुए सूरज का इंतजार कर रहा था। सूरज के आने पर सुंदर सिंह ने उसे चाय दी और दोनों बैठकर चाय पीने लगे। सूरज चारपाई पर बैठा चाय पी रहा था जबकि चौकीदार हाथ में तेल का दीया लेकर सुरंग का निरीक्षण करने चला गया। तरह-तरह के जानवरों की आवाजें आ रही थीं और सूरज उन आवाज़ों को पहचान नहीं पा रहा था। सुंदर सिंह वापस झोपड़ी में आ गया। जैसे ही वह सूरज के पास बैठा तो दोनों को एक आवाज़ सुनाई दी। सुंदर सिंह ने आवाज़ पहचान ली, यह तेंदुआ था। सुंदर सिंह सुरंग की ओर दौड़ा और चिल्लाया कि तेंदुए को भगाओ और उसे ट्रेन के नीचे आने से बचाओ, सूरज भी उसके पीछे-पीछे गया।
वे दोनों सुरंग में दौड़े और तेंदुए को भगाने के लिए चिल्लाए, जो अंधेरे में गायब हो गया। जैसे ही ट्रेन नज़दीक आई, चौकीदार ने पटरियों का कंपन महसूस किया। ट्रेन तेज़ आवाज़ करते हुए गुज़र गई। हर गुज़रती ट्रेन के साथ पटरियाँ फिर से काँपने लगीं। एक सप्ताह बाद, पटरियाँ एक बार फिर काँप उठी जब सूरज और उसके पिता उस पर यात्रा कर रहे थे। उसके पिता एक व्यापारिक यात्रा पर जा रहे थे और सूरज को यह सोचकर अपने साथ ले गए कि जब सूरज बड़ा हो जाएगा, तो वह उनके काम की प्रकृति को समझ जाएगा। रेलगाड़ी जंगलों और गाँवों से होकर गुज़री, सैकड़ों यात्रियों को पटरियों पर एक स्थिर लय में लेकर। जैसे ही ट्रेन सुरंग में प्रवेश करती है, सूरज को एक दीपक की रोशनी दिखाई देती है। वह समझ गया कि यह सुंदर सिंह, चौकीदार है, हालाँकि वह उसे देख नहीं सकता था। सूरज ने चौकीदार के समर्पण को सराहा, जो जानवरों, ट्रेन और यात्रियों की सुरक्षा के लिए अथक परिश्रम कर रहा था, बिना किसी पश्चाताप के अपनी जान जोखिम में डाल रहा था।
The Tunnel Word Meanings in English and Hindi
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- Shimmered – to shine with a soft light that seems to be moving, झिलमिलाना ( हिलने का आभास देते हुए कोमल प्रकाश के साथ चमकना
- Embankment – a wall of stone or earth that is built to carry a road or railway, सड़क या रेलवे लाइन बनाने के लिए इसके दोनों ओर बनी पत्थर अथवा मिट्टी की दीवार
- Serpents – (here) like a snake, especially a large one, (यहाँ) जैसे साँप (विशेषत: बड़ा )
- Roaring – making a very loud noise, दहाड़ना
- Tunnel – a passage under the ground/hill, भूमिगत पथ ( ज़मीन / पहाड़ी केनीचे का रास्ता )
- Scrub-covered hill – it refers to a hill or area of land that is overgrown or covered with low, stunted bushes or shrubs, often in a dry or harsh environment., यह एक पहाड़ी या भूमि के क्षेत्र को संदर्भित करता है जो ऊँचा हो गया है या कम, बौने झाड़ियों या झाड़ियों से ढका हुआ है, अक्सर शुष्क या कठोर वातावरण में।
- Shrill – (used about a sound) high and unpleasant, (आवाज़) तेज और तीखी
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- Distant – a long way away in space or time,स्थान या समय की दृष्टि से काफी दूर
- Snorting – to make a noise by blowing air, फुफकारना
- Puffing – (used about air, smoke, wind, etc.) to blow or come out in clouds,(हवा, धुएँ आदि का) उड़ना या बादलों के आकार में सघन रूप में बाहर आना
- Monster – (in stories) a creature that is large, ugly and frightening,(कथाओं में) दैत्य, राक्षस (बड़ा कुरूप और भयावह प्राणी
- Showering – to cover somebody/something with a lot of small falling objects, किसी पर ( किसी वस्तु के ) बहुत-से छोटे-छोटे कणों की बरसात सी होना
- Instinctively – in a way that is not thought about, planned, सहज रूप से
- Paces – the distance that you move when you take one step, एक कदम में तय की जाने वाली दूरी; क़दम
- Flinch – make sudden movement back- wards because of something painful or frightening, दर्द या डर के मारे एकाएक पीछे हटना
- Plume of smoke – spiral cloud of smoke, लहराता हुआ धुएँ का गुब्बार
- Contemplation – thoughtful observation, गहरा विचार
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- Damp – a little wet, सीलन भरा
- Sticky – tending to stick, चिपचिपा
- Scuttled – to run quickly with short steps, छोटे कदमों से तेज़ भागना
- Dazzled – radiated, तेज चमक से प्रभावित होना
- Swishing – a soft sweeping sound, सरसराहट
- Obstacles – something that makes it difficult for you to do some- thing or go somewhere, बाधा, अड़चन, अवरोध
- Nap – a short sleep that you have during the day, झपकी ( दिन के समय की अल्प निद्रा)
- Porcupine – a small animal covered with long thin sharp spikes, एक छोटा जानवर जिसके शरीर पर रक्षात्मक कांटे होते है
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- Lent – (here) to give on rent, (यहाँ) किराये पर देना
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- Yawned – to open your mouth wide and breathe in deeply, especially when you are tired or bored, जम्हाई लेना (थकने या ऊबने पर)
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- Dusk – the time in the evening when the sun has already gone down and it is nearly dark, साँझ, शाम का झुटपुट
- Swooped – to move down suddenly, झपट्टा मारना
- Breeze – a light wind, मंद पवन, बयार, समीर
- Blossoms – a flower or a mass of flowers, especially on a fruit tree in the spring, फूल, बौर, मंजरी
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- Twilight – the light from the sky between full night and sunrise or between sunset and full night, संध्या
- Faded – to disappear slowly, धीरे-धीरे लुप्त हो जाना
- Quaint – unique, not common, असामान्य
- Nightjar a bird that is active at night, रात में उड़ने वाला पक्षी
- Creakings – to make the noise of wood bending, चरमरान
- Whispering – to speak very quietly into somebody’s ear, फुसफुसाना
- Flexing – fold, to bend, मोड़ना
- Distinctly – clearly, स्पष्ट रूप से
- Concern – worry, परेशान होना
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- Crouching – to bend your legs and body so that you are close to the ground, टाँगों और शरीर को ऐसे झुकाना कि ज़मीन तक पहुँच जाए; सिकुड़ कर बैठना
- Lithe – slim and quick in movement, लचीला और फुर्तीला
- Sinewy – lean but powerful, मजबूत और सशक्त
- Snarling – (used about an animal) to make an angry sound while showing the teeth, (पशु का) दाँत चमकाते हुए गुर्राना
- Twitching – to make a quick sudden movement, झटका मारना
- Tremor – a slight shaking movement, हलका कंपन
- Scattering sparks – tiny sparks spreading in all directions, चिंगारियाँ उड़ना
- Defying – to resist boldly, विरोध करना
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- Scribbling – to write something quickly and carelessly, लापरवाही से जल्दी-जल्दी कुछ
- Flickering – twinkling, टिमटिमाना
- Fringe – border, किनारा
- Rumble – a deep, heavy sound, गड़गड़ाहट
- Strained to do something with excessive effort किसी काम का अत्यधिक प्रयास
Class 7 English The Tunnel Chapter
I. It was almost noon, and the jungle was very still, very silent. Heat waves shimmered along the railway embankment where it cut a path through the tall evergreen trees. The railway lines were two straight black serpents disappearing into the tunnel in the hillside. Suraj stood near the cutting, waiting for the midday train. It wasn’t a station, and he wasn’t catching a train. He was waiting o that he could watch the steam engine come roaring out of the tunnel.
He had cycled out of the town and taken the jungle path until he had come to a small village. He had left the cycle there, and walked over a low scrub-covered hill and down to the tunnel exit.
Now he looked up. He had heard, in the distance, the shrill whistle of the engine. He couldn’t see anything, because the train was approaching from the other side of the hill; but presently a sound like distant thunder issued from the
tunnel, and he knew the train was coming through.
A second or two later, the steam engine shot out of the tunnel, snorting and puffi like some green, black, and gold dragon,
some beautiful monster out of Suraj’s dreams. Showering sparks left and right, it roared a challenge to the jungle. Instinctively, Suraj stepped back a few paces. Waves of hot steam struck him in the face. Even the trees seemed to flinch from the noise and heat. And then the train had gone, leaving only a plume of smoke to drift lazily over the tall shisham
trees.
The jungle was still again. No one moved. Suraj turned from his contemplation of the drifting smoke and began walking along the embankment towards the tunnel. The tunnel grew darker as he walked further into it. When he had gone about twenty yards, it became pitch dark. Suraj had to turn and look back at the opening to reassure himself that there was still daylight outside. Ahead of him, the tunnel’s other opening was just a small round circle of light. The tunnel was still full of smoke from the train, but it would be several hours before another train came through. Till then, the cutting belonged to the jungle again.
Suraj didn’t stop, because there was nothing to do in the tunnel and nothing to see. He had simply wanted to walk through, so that he would know what the inside of a tunnel was really like. The walls were damp and sticky. A bat flw past. A lizard scuttled between the lines. Coming straight from the darkness into the light, Suraj was dazzled by the sudden glare and put a hand up to shade his eyes. He looked up at the tree-covered hillside and thought he saw something moving between the trees.
It was just a flash of orange and gold, and a long swishing tail. It was there between the trees for a second or two, and then it was gone. About fiteen metres from the entrance to the tunnel stood the watchman’s hut. Marigolds grew in front of the hut, and at the back there was a small vegetable patch. It was the watchman’s duty to inspect the tunnel and keep it clear of obstacles.
Every day, before the train came through, he would walk the length of the tunnel. If all was well, he would return to his hut and take a nap. If something was wrong, he would walk back up the line and wave a red flag, and the engine driver would slow down. At night, the watchman lit an oil lamp and made a similar inspection of the tunnel. Of course, he would not stop the train if there was a porcupine on the line. But if there was any danger to the train, he’d go back up the line and wave his lamp to the approaching engine. If all was well, he’d hang his lamp at the door of his hut and go to sleep.
He was just settling down on his cot for an afternoon nap when he saw the boy emerge from the tunnel. He waited until Suraj was only a metre or so away and then said, “Welcome, welcome. I don’t often have visitors. Sit down for a while, and tell me why you were inspecting my tunnel.” “Is it your tunnel?” asked Suraj.
“It is,” said the watchman. “It is truly my tunnel, since no one else will have anything to do with it. I have only lent it to the Government.” Suraj sat down on the edge of the cot. “I wanted to see the train come through,” he said. “And then, when it had gone, I thought I’d walk through the tunnel.
“And what did you fid in it?” “Nothing. It was very dark. But when I came out, I thought I saw an animal up on the hill—but I’m not sure, it moved off very quickly.” It was a leopard you saw,” said the watchman. “My leopard.” “Do you own a leopard too?” “I do.” “And do you lend it to the Government?” “I do not.” “Is it dangerous?” “No, it’s a leopard that minds its own business. It comes to this range for a few days every month.”
“Have you been here a long time?” asked Suraj. “Many years. My name is Sunder Singh.” “My name’s Suraj.” “There is one train during the day. And there is one train during the night. Have you seen the night mail come through the tunnel?” “No. At what time does it come?” “About nine o’clock, if it isn’t late. You could come and sit here with me, if you like. And after it has gone, instead of going to sleep I will take you home.” “I’ll ask my parents,” said Suraj. “Will it be safe?”
“Of course. It is safer in the jungle than in the town. Nothing happens to me out here. But last month, when I went into town, I was almost run over by a bus.” Sunder Singh yawned and stretched himself out on the cot. “And now I am going to take a nap, my friend. It is too hot to be up and about in the afternoon.” Everyone goes to sleep in the afternoon,” complained Suraj. “My father lies down as soon as he’s had his lunch.” “Well, the animals also rest in the heat of the day. It is only the tribe of boys who cannot, or will not, rest.” Sunder Singh placed a large banana leaf over his face to keep away the flies, and was soon snoring gently. Suraj stood up, looking up and down the railway tracks. Then he began walking back to the village.
II. The following evening, towards dusk, as the fling foxes swooped silently out of the trees, Suraj made his way to the watchman’s hut. It had been a long hot day, but now the earth was cooling, and a light breeze was moving through the trees. It carried with it the cent of mango blossoms, the promise of rain. Sunder Singh was waiting for Suraj. He had watered his small garden, and the flowers ooked cool and fresh. A kettle was boiling on a small oil stove. “I am making tea,” he said. “There is nothing like a glass of hot tea while waiting for a train.” They drank their tea, listening to the sharp notes of the tailorbird and the noisy chatter of the seven sisters.
As the brief twilight faded, most of the birds fell silent. Sunder Singh lit his oil lamp and said it was time for him to inspect the
tunnel. He moved off towards the tunnel, while Suraj sat on the cot, sipping his tea. In the dark, the trees seemed to move closer to him. And the nightlife of the forest was conveyed on the breeze—the sharp call of a barking deer, the cry of a fox, the quaint tonk-tonk of a nightjar. There were some sounds that Suraj didn’t recognise sounds that came from the trees, creakings and whisperings, as though the trees were coming to life, stretching their limbs in the dark, shifting a little, flxing their figers.
Sunder Singh stood inside the tunnel, trimming his lamp. The night sounds were familiar to him and he did not give them much thought; but something else -a padded footfall, a rustle of dry leaves -made him stand still for a few seconds, peering into the darkness. Then, humming softly to himself, he returned to where Suraj was waiting. Ten minutes remained for the night mail to arrive.
As Sunder Singh sat down on the cot beside Suraj, a new sound reached both of them quite distinctly -a rhythmic sawing sound, as if someone cutting through the branch of a tree. “What’s that?” whispered Suraj. “It’s the leopard,” said Sunder Singh. “I think it’s in the tunnel.” “The train will soon be here,” said Suraj. Yes, my friend. And if we don’t drive the leopard out of the tunnel, it will be run over and killed. I can’t let that happen.”“But won’t it attack us if we try to drive it out?” asked Suraj, beginning to share the watchman’s concern.
“Not this leopard. It knows me well. We have seen each other many times. It has a weakness for goats and stray dogs, but it will not harm us. Even so, I’ll take my axe with me. You stay here, Suraj.” “No, I’m coming with you. It will be better than sitting here alone in the dark!” “All right, but stay close behind me. And remember, there is nothing to fear.” Raising his lamp, Sunder Singh advanced into the tunnel, shouting at the top of his voice to try and scare away the animal. Suraj followed close behind, but he found he was unable to do any shouting. His throat was quite dry.
They had gone about twenty paces into the tunnel when the light from the lamp fell upon the leopard. It was crouching between the tracks, only fie metres away from them. It was not a very big leopard, but it looked lithe and sinewy. Baring its teeth and snarling, it went down on its belly, tail twitching. Suraj and Sunder Singh both shouted together. Their voices rang through the tunnel. And the leopard, uncertain as to how many terrifying humans were there in the tunnel with him, turned swiftly and disappeared into the darkness.
To make sure that it had gone, Sunder Singh and Suraj walked the length of the tunnel. When they returned to the entrance, the rails were beginning to hum. They knew the train was coming. Suraj put his hand to one of the rails and felt its tremor. Heheard the distant rumble of the train. And then the engine came round the bend, hissing at them, scattering sparks into the darkness, defying the jungle as it roared through the steep sides of the cutting. It charged straight at the tunnel, and into it, thundering past Suraj like the beautiful dragon of his dreams.
And when it had gone, the silence returned and the forest seemed to breathe, to live again. Only the rails still trembled with the passing of he train. hey trembled again to the passing of the same train, almost a week later, when Suraj and his father were both travelling in it. Suraj’s father was scribbling in a notebook, doing his accounts. Suraj sat at an open window staring out at the darkness. His father was going to Delhion a business trip and had decided to take the boy along. (“I don’t know where he gets to, most of the time,” he’d complained. “I think it’s time he learnt something about my business.”)
The night mail rushed through the forest with its hundreds of passengers. The carriage wheels beat out a steady rhythm on the rails. Tiny flickering lights came and went, as they passed small villages on the fringe of the jungle. Suraj heard the rumble as the train passed over a small bridge. It was too dark to see the hut near the cutting, but he knew they must be approaching the tunnel. He strained his eyes looking out into the night; and then, just as the engine let out a shrill whistle, Suraj saw the lamp.
He couldn’t see Sunder Singh, but he saw the lamp, and he knew that his friend was out there. The train went into the tunnel and out again; it left the jungle behind and thundered across the endless plains. Suraj stared out at the darkness, thinking of the lonely cutting in the forest and the watchman with the lamp, who would always remain a firefl for those travelling thousands as he lit up the darkness for steam engines and leopards.
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