The School Among

the Pines

leopard, lithe and sinewy, drank at the

mountain stream, and then lay down on the

grass to bask in the late February sunshine. Its tail

twitched occasionally and the animal appeared to be
sleeping. At the sound of distant voices it raised its
head to isten, then stood up and leapt lightly over
the boulders in the stream, disappearing among the
trees on the opposite bank.
 A minute or two later, three children came walking
down the forest path. They were a girl and two boys,
and they were singing in their local dialect an old
song they had learnt from their grandparents.

Five more miles to go!

We climb through rain and snow.
A river to cross...
A mountain to pass...
Now we've four more miles to go!
Their school satchels looked new, their clothes had
been washed and pressed. Their loud and cheerful
singing startled a Spotted Forktail. The bird left
its favourite rock in the stream and flew down the
dark ravine.
Well, we have only three more miles to go, said
the bigger boy, Prakash, who had been this way
hundreds of times. But first we have to cross the
stream.
He was a sturdy twelve-year-old with eyes 1like
raspberries and a mop of bushy hair that refused
to settle down on his head. The girl and her small
brother were taking this path for the first time.
Tm feeling tired, Bina,' said the little boy.
Bina smiled at him, and Prakash said, Don't worry,
Sonu, youll get used to the walk. There's plenty of
time.' He glanced at the old watch he'd been given
by his grandfather. It needed constant winding. We
can rest here for five or six minutes.'

THE SCHOOL AMONG THE PINES 11

 smooth boulder and watches
They sat down
on a

tumbli been decided that Sonu would also shift to the

of the shallow stream
the clear water ing new school, to give Bina company. Prakash,
their
downhill.Bina examined the old watch on Prakash' at the Nauti
neighbour in Koli, was already a pupil
wrist. The glass badly
was scratched and could she
school. His mischievous nature, which sometimes
on the dial. Are you
barely make out the figures got him into trouble, had
resulted in his having to
sure it still gives
the right time?' she asked.
repeat a year.
Well, it loses five minutes every day, so I put it bother him. What's the
But this didn't seem to
ten minutes forward at night. That means by morning You're not
hurry?' he had told his indignant parents.
it's quite accurate! Even our teacher, Mr Mani, asks when I finish school.
sending me to a foreign land
me for the time. If he doesn't ask, I tell him! The are they?
And our c o w s aren't running away,
wouldn't
clock in our classroom keeps stopping You would prefer to look after the cows,

They removed their shoes and let the cold mountain you?' asked Bina, as they got up to
continue their

water run over their feet. Bina was the same age
walk.
as Prakash. She had pink cheeks, soft brown eyes, till you see old Mr
Oh, school's all right. Wait
and hair that was just beginning to lose its natural mixed up, as well
Mani. He always gets our n a m e s
curls. Hers was a gentle face, but a determined little to be teaching. At
as the subjects he's supposed
chin showed that she could be a strong person. instead of maths, he gave us a
out last lesson,
Sonu, her younger brother, was ten. He was a thin geography lesson!'
boy who had been sickly as a child but was nOw
More fun than maths,' said Bina.
beginning to fill out. Although he did not look very teacher this year. She's
Yes, but there's a n e w
athletic, he could run like the wind. out of college. I wonder
very young, they say, just
what shell be like.'
Bina had been going to school in her own village of had s o m e trouble
Bina walked faster and Sonu
Koli, on the other side of the mountain. But it had excited about the n e w
been keeping up with them. She was
a
Primary School, finishing
Class Five. Now,
at
school and the prospect of
different surroundings.
in order to
study in the Sixth, she would have to her o w n village, with
She had seldom been outside
walk several miles
every day to Nauti, where there ration shop. The day's
its small school and single
was a
High School going up to the Eighth. It had
PINES 13
12 THE SCHOOL AMONG THE
GREAT STORIES POR CHILDREN
 helping her mother
ner in
in the would announce, glancing
never varied
-

routine It's nine o'clock,' he

household tasks like fetching water today?"
or with Isn't your bus leaving
fields at his wrist. 111
th bus-driver would respond,
from the spring or cutting grass and fodder for Off with you!l'
the
who was a soldier, was away for ready.'
cattle. Her father, leave when lI'm
the small flat
and Sonu was still too Small approached Nauti,
nine months in the year
children
As the outskirts of
c a m e into
view on the
for the heavier tasks. school buildings
with a line of long-leaved pines.
they neared Nauti village, they were joined by
As the village, fringed
assembled o n the playing field.
other children coming from different directions. Even had
A small crowd have happened.
unusual seemed to
where there were no major roads, the mountains Something all about.
forward to see what
it was

were full of little lanes and short cuts. Like a game Prakash ran
of
in a patch
stood aside, waiting
Bina and Sonu
of snakes and ladders, these narrow paths zigzagged wall.
n e a r the boundary
around the hills and villages, cutting through fields sunlight back to them. He
Prakash soon
came running
and crossing narrow ravines until they came together over with excitement.
was bubbling
to form fairly busy road along which mules,
a cattle He's disappeared! People
Tt's Mr Mani!' he gasped.
and goats joined the throng. have carried him
offl'
must
are saying a leopard
Nauti was a fairly large village, and from here
2
a broader but dustier road started for Tehri. There
was a small bus, several trucks and old. He was about fifty-five
(for part of the Mr Mani wasn't really
way) road-roller. The road hadn't been completed
a to retire soon. But for the children,
and was expected
ancient! And Mr Mani
had
because the heavy diesel roller couldn't take the adults over forty seemed
as a young
steep climb to Nauti. It stood on the roadside halt always been a bit absent-minded, even

way up the road from

Tehri man.
Prakash knew almost He had gone out for his early morning walk, saying
everyone in the area, and to have his
exchanged greetings and gossip with other children he'd be back by eight o'clock, in time
wasn't married,
as well as with breakfast and be ready for class. He
and labourers
muleteers, bus-drivers, milkmen with him.
working on the road. He loved telling but his sister and her husband stayed
sister presumed
everyone the time, even if When it w a s past nine o'clock his
they weren't interested. house for breakfast
he'd stopped at a neighbour's
14 GREAT 15
TORIES FOR CHILDREN THE SCHOOL AMONG THE PINES
 other people's breakfast little too old to
(he loved tucking into and been in her early
twenties -

just a

o n to
s c h o 0 l from there. But w h kind expressive face
another student. She had
a
that he had gone and everyone ha
be had
concerned by all that
the school
bell rang at ten oclock, t
and she seemed a little
questions were asked .
Mr Mani was
present, and been happening.
had lovely hands; it
was
guesses were made.
Bina noticed that she
had seen him return trom his walk and teacher hadn't milked
c o w s or
No one
obvious that the n e w
showed that he had
enquiries made in the village worked in the fields!
not stopped at anyone's
house. For Mr Mani to
You must be new here,' said the teacher, smiling
him to disappear without
disappear was puzzling; for at Bina. And is
this your little brother?'
We were at
his breakfast was extraordinary.
Yes, we've come from Koli village.
Then a milkman returning from the next village school there.'
said he had seen a leopard sitting on a rock on the walk from Koli. You didn't
see any
Tt's a long
outskirts of the pine forest. There had been talk of did you? Well,I'm n e w too. Are you in
leopards,
a cattle-killer in the valley, of leopards and other the Sixth class?'
animals being displaced by the construction of a Sixth.'
Sonu is in the Third. I'm in the
Tania
dam. But as yet no one had heard of a leopard Then Im your n e w teacher. My n a m e is
attacking a man. Could Mr Mani have been its first Ramola. Come along, let's see if we can settle down
victim? Someone found a strip of red cloth
entangled in our classroom.
in a blackberry bush and went the
running through
village showing it to everyone. Mr Mani had been Mr Mani turned up at twelve o'clock, wondering
known to wear red what all the fuss about. No, he snapped, he
pyjamas. Surely, he had been was
Seized and eaten! But where
were his remains? And had not been attacked by a leopard, and yes, he
why had he been in his had lost his pyjamas and would someone kindly
pyjamas?
Meanwhile,Bina and Sonu and the rest of the return them to him?
children had followed
their teachers into the school How did you lose your pyjamas, Sir? asked
playground. Feeling alittle lost, Bina looked Prakash.
forPrakash. She found around
herself facing a dark slender They were blown off the washing line!' snapped
young woman
wearing spectacles, who must nav Mr Mani.

16 GREAT STORIEs
FOR THE SCHoOL AMONG THE PINES 17
CHILDREN
 Mr Mani admitted much
questioning, +L did not require
After much that it w a s full
of potatoes, which
further than he had intended, a n d for growing dahlias,
he had gone that looking after; but he had plans
flowers.
back. He had beer other fruits and
he had lost his way coming a roses,
French beans, and
himself,
because the new teacher, a slip of a pirt visited Tehri, he promised
bit upset The next time he
r o s e cuttings.
had been given charge of the Sixth, while he was dahlia bulbs and
as he would buy some
time to put
still with the Fifth, along with that troublesome boy monsoon season would be a good
The were still
Prakash, who kept on reminding him of the timel meanwhile, his potatoes
them down. And
The headmaster had explained that as Mr Mani was flourishing.
due to retire at the end of the year, the school did
3
not wish to burden him with a senior class. But Mr
at the n e w school. She felt
Mani looked upon the whole thing a s a plot to get Bina enjoyed her first day
a s did most of
the boys
rid of him. He glowered at Miss Ramola whenever at e a s e with Miss Ramola,
Ramola had been to
he passed her. And when she smiled back at him, and in her class. Tania
girls
Delhi and Lucknow places -

he looked the other way! distant towns such a s

that
about - and it w a s said
Mr Mani had been
getting even more absent they had only read
was a pilot and
flew planes
minded of late putting on his shoes without his
-

she had a brother who

he'd fiy over Nauti somne
socks, wearing his homespun waistcoat inside out, all over the world. Perhaps
mixing up people's names, and of course, eating day!
other Most of the children had, of course, seen planes
people's lunches and dinners. His sister had
made them had seen a ship,
a
special mutton broth (paî for the flying overhead, but n o n e of
who was down with fAu' and postmaster, and only a few had been in a
train. Tehri mountain
had asked Mr Mani,
to take it
over in a was far from the railway
and hundreds of miles from
thermos. When the
opened the thermos, he
found only a few drops o
postmaster the s e a . But they all knew about
the big dam that
broth at the miles away.
bottom Mr Mani had
-
w a s being built at Tehri, just forty
somewhere along the drunk the rest and Prakash had company
of
for part
way. Bina, Sonu
When children went
sometimes Mr Mani the way home, but gradually the other
retirement, it was to describe spoke of his coming off in different directions. Once they
had crossed the
field he his plans for the
owned just sma w e r e on their o w n again.
behind the house. stream, they
18
Right now,
GREAT STORIES THE SCHOOL AMONG THE
PINES 19
FOR
CHILDREN
 climb all
the way back to
to their outside
It was a
steep
of peanuts
Stuffed tomatoes,' said Sonu, sniffingjust
Prakash
had a supply which he the front door.
village. with Bina and onu, and at a small spring
shared
pickle,' said Bina, who had helped
And lemon
their thirst. salt the lemons a month previously.
they
quenched cut, sun and
less than a mile from home, lighting the kitchen They stove.
When they were Their mother was

his rom d demands for a n

a postman
who had finished
of greeted her with great hugs and
they met cook who could
the area and was now returnina immediate dinner. She
was a good
the villages in to
the simplest of dishes taste delicious.
make even
Nauti. Home-made pai is better
Don't waste time along the way,' he told them
m. Her favourite saying was,
Sonu
in Delhi,' and Bina and
home before dark. than chicken soup
Try to get
What's the hurry? asked Prakash, glancing at had to agree.

Electricity had yet to reach their village, and they

his watch. It's only five o'clock.'
After
There's a leopard around. I saw it this morning, took their meal by the light of a kerosene lamp.
do a little homework,
not far from the stream. No one is sure how it got the meal, Sonu settled down to
Bina stepped outside to look at the
stars.
here. So don't take any chances. Get home early. while
fields, s o m e o n e w a s playing a flute.
It
Across the
So there really is a leopard,' said Sonu.
must be Prakash,' thought Bina. He always breaks
They took his advice and walked faster, and Sonu
off on the high notes. But the fiute music was
forgot to complain about his aching feet. and appealing, and she began singing softly
simple
They were home well before sunset.
to herself in the dark.
There was a smell of cooking in the air and they
were hungry.
Cabbage and roti,' said Prakash gloomily. 'But Mr Mani was having trouble with the porcupines.
I could eat anything today.' He stopped outside his
small
They had been getting into his garden at night and
slate-roofed house, and Bina and Sonu waved
him
digging up and eating his potatoes. From his bedroom
goodbye, then carried on across
ploughed fields until they reached
a couple or
window left open, now that the mild-April weather
their small stone had arrived he could listen to them enjoying the
house.
vegetables he had worked hard to grow. Scrunch,

20 GREAT STORIEs FOR THE SCHOL AMONG THE PINES 21

CHILDREN
 scrunch! Katar, katar, as their sharp teeth ol:. Prakash who came up with the idea of a
It was
through the largest and juiciest of potatoes. R
o moat or waterditch. Porcupines don't like water,' he
Mr Mani it was as though they were
biting
his own flesh. And the sound of them diggino
rough said knowledgeably.

industriously as they rooted up those healthy, leaf

ing How do you know?' asked one of his friends.
Throw water on one and see how it runs! They
plants, made him tremble with rage and indignation
don't like getting their quills wet.'
The unfairness of it all!
There was no one who could disprove Prakash's
Yes, Mr Mani hated porcupines. He prayed for
theory, and the class fell in with the idea'of building
their destruction, their removal from the face of the meant getting most of the
a moat, especially as it
earth. But, as his friends were quick to point out,
day off.
Bhagwan protected porcupines too,' and in any case said the
'Anything to make Mr Mani happy,'
you could never see the creatures or catch them, headmaster, and the rest of the school watched
they were completely nocturnal.
with envy as the pupils of Class Five, armed with
Mr Mani got out of bed every night, torch in
stick in the other, but as soon spades and shovels collected from all parts of the
one hand, a stout
he stepped into the village, took up their positions around Mr Mani's
as
garden the crunching and
digging stopped and he was greeted by the most potato field and began digging a ditch.
infuriating of silences. He would grope around in By evening the moat was ready, but it was still
the dark, swinging
wildly with the stick, but not a dry and the porcupines got in again that night and
had a great feast.
single porcupine was to be seen or heard. As soon
as he was back in bed At this rate,' said Mr Mani gloomily there won't
the sounds would start all
-

over again. be any potatoes left to save.'

Scrunch, scrunch, katar, katar..
Mr Mani his class tired and dishevelled,
came to But next day Prakash and the other boys and
with rings beneath his girls managed to divert the water from a stream that
eyes and a permanent frown
on his face. It
took some time for his flowed past the village. They had the satisfaction
discover the reason for his pupils to of watching it flow gently into the ditch. Everyone
did, they felt sorry for theirmisery,
but when they
went home in a good mood. By nightfall, the ditch
teacher and t0OK
discussingways and means of had overflowed, the potato field was flooded, and
from the porcupines. saving his potatoes Mr Mani found himself trapped inside his house.

22 GREAT STORIEs FOR THE SCHOOL AMONG THE PINES 23

CHILDREN
 and his friends had won the dav.
day. The
.
could have done
But Prakash Only a leopard this,' said
porcupines stayed away that night! Prakash.

Let's get away, then,' said Sonu. It might still

A month had passed, and wild violets, daisies and be around!'

the hill
buttercups now sprinkled slopes, and on No, there's nothing left to eat. The leopard will
her way to school Bina gathered enough to make be hunting elsewhere by now. Perhaps it's moved
a little posy. The bunch of fiowers fitted easily into on to the next valley.'
an old ink-well. Miss Ramola was delighted to find Still, I'm frightened, said Sonu. There may

this little display in the middle of her desk. more leopards!

Who put these here?" she asked in surprise. Bina took him by the hand. Leopards don't attack
Bina kept quiet, and the rest of the class smiled humans!' she said.
taste for people!' insisted
secretively. After that, they took turns bringing flowers They will, if they get a

for the classroom. Prakash.

On her long walks to school and home again, Well, this one hasn't attacked any people as yet,'
Bina became aware that April was the month of new said Bina, although she couldn't be sure. Hadn't

leaves. The oak leaves were bright green above and there been rumours of a leopard attacking some

silver beneath, and when they rippled in the breeze workers near the dam? But she did not want Sonu

they were like clouds of silvery green. The path was to feel afraid, so she did not mention the story. All
strewn with old leaves, dry and crackly. Sonu loved she said was, Tt has probably come here because

kicking them around. of all the activity near the dam.'

Clouds of white butterflies floated across the All the same,they hurried home. And for a few
stream. Sonu was chasing a
butterfly when he days, whenever they reached the stream, they crossed
stumbled over something dark and over very quickly, unwilling to linger too long at that
repulsive. He went
sprawling on the grass. When he got to his feet, he lovely spot.
looked down at the remains of a small
animal. 5
Binal Prakash! Come he quickly!' shouted.
its way to
It was part of A few days later, school party was on
a
sheep, killed some days earlier a

by a much larger animal. Tehri to see the new dam that was being built.

24 GREAT STORIES THE SCHOOL AMONG THE PINES 25

FOR CHILDREN
 had arranged to take her
ol Prakash o n the road-
Miss Ramola s, and -
or that she had joined
come
to be left out, insisted onn taking
Mr Mani, not wishing roller instead!
notice
here
the were about Mani didn't s e e m to
Ramola and Mr
meant
well. That
his class as

outing. The 1.
fifty Miss
the old bus. They
had
and groaning of
the
boys and girls
taking part in
the lurching
A friendly truck-driiver times. They w e r e busy arguing
bus could only take thirty. made this journey
many
agreed to take some children if they were prepared disadvantages of large
advantages and
about the continue on and off
And Prakash persuadad t h a t w a s to
to sit on sacks of potatoes. aded dams a n argument
in Hindi,
sometimes

the owner of the diesel-roller to turn it round an

and for much
of the day; sometimes

dialect!
head it back to Tehri - with him and a couple of sometimes in the local
in English, reached
seat. and his friends had
friends up on the driving Meanwhile,
Prakash

hadn't turned up,

but they
Prakash's small group set off at sunrise, as they The driver
the roller. direction
had to walk some distance in order to reach the r e v e r s e it and get
it going in the
managed to
o v e r t a k e n by both the
bus
stranded road-roller. The bus left at 9 a.m. with were soon
of Tehri. They
at a steady
Miss Ramola and her class, and Mr Mani and some the truck but kept moving along
and
Bina at the window
of the
of his pupils. The truck was to follow later. Prakash spotted
chug. feebly.
It was Bina's first visit to a large town and her bus and waved cheerfully. She responded
the road levelled out
near
first bus ride. Bina felt better when
o v e r the wide
The sharp curves along the winding, downhill a n old bridge
Tehri. As they crossed
made
Toad made several children feel sick. The bus-driver startled a loud bang which
by
river, they were
seemed to be in above the
tearing hurry. He took them along
a
the bus shudder. A cloud
of dust rose

at rolling,
rollicking speed, which made Bina feel town.
quite giddy. She rested her head on her arms and the mountain,' said Miss
refused to look out of the window.
They're blasting
Hairpin bends Ramola.
and cliff
edges, pine forests and snowcapped peaks, mountain,' said Mr Mani mournfuly.
all End of a
swept past her, but she felt too ill to want to tea at the bus
look at
anything. Itwas just as well
they w e r e drinking cups of
While
those suddena
-

truck and the road-

drops, hundreds of feet to the stop, waiting for the potato
quite valley below, were Miss Ramola and Mr Mani
continued their
frightening. Bina began to wish
that she hadnt
roller,

26 GREAT STORIES 27
FOR THE SCHOOL AMONG THE PINES
CHILDREN
 dam. Miss Ramola
argument
about the
and
aintained
maint.

had ever ridden mules; but they had saved at least

that it would bring

electric power wate for an
h o u r o n the
road.
rest of the
to large areas of the country, including the around the bus stop for the
irrigation Looking
declared that it wae one from their school. And
area. Mr Mani was a they could find no
surrounding party,
in an earthquake 20ne should have been waiting for them,
was situated zon who
menace, as it Mr Mani,
terrible disaster if the dam burst had vanished.
There would be a
And what about
Bina found it all very confusing. 6

the animals in the area, she wondered,

what would
had taken the steep
Ramola and her group
happen to them? Tania H a l f - a n - h o u r ' s climbing
to the hill above Tehri.
heated when road overlooked
The argument was becoming quite plateau which
them to a little
of the brought
the potato truck arrived. There was no sign the river and
the dam-site.
the town, coming
road-roller, so it was decided that Mr Mani should for the dam w e r e only just
earthworks
The
bored through the
wait for Prakash and his friends while Miss Ramola's wide tunnel had been
but a channel.
up, into another
group went ahead. mountain to
divert the river
out
w a s still spread
nine miles before Tehri the road- the old town
Some eight or Down below,
distance it looked quite
and from a
roller had broken down, and Prakash and his friends across the valley
charming and picturesque.
were forced to walk. They had not gone far, however, swallowed up by the
town be
five six mules Will the whole
when a mule train came along -
or
asked Bina.
of the dam?'
delivering sacks of grain in Nauti. A
waters tower
that had been Ramola. The clock
said Miss
the first mule, but the others had no Yes, all of it,' and the temples,
boy rode on
The long bazaar,
and the old palace. of houses,
loads. and h u n d r e d s
the schools and the jail,
Can you give us a ride to Tehri? called those people will1
the valley. All
for many miles up c o u r s e , theyl
Prakash. of them! Of
have to go - thousands
Make yourselves comfortable,' said the boy. be resettled elsewhere. hundreds of years,
There were no saddles, only gunny sacks strappe town's been here for
But the without the damn,
on to the mules with
rope. They had a rough but said Bina. They were quite happy
jolly ride down to the Tehri bus
stop. None of them werent they?
PINES 29
AMONG THE
THE SCHOOL
28 GREAT STORIES FOR CHILDREN
 But
isn't the dam
1 suppose they
were.
to add to the general
for them - it's for the millions who live further just horns.
Sonu bought a whistle

it away. Bina
Miss Ramola told
him to put
across the plains.' din, but she used it to
downstream, and now
ten rupees aside,
And it doesn't matter what happens to this had kept mother.
h e a d - s c a r f for her
cotton
buy a small restaurant
place? were about to enter a

The local people will be given new homes As they Prakash and his
meal, they
were joined by
somewhere else.' Miss Ramola found herself on tha
for a
there was still no
but of Mr Mani
companions;
defensive and decided to change the subject. 'Everyone
must be hungry. It's time we had our lunch. sign. met one of his relatives,'
said
He must have
Bina kept quiet. She didn't think the local people everywhere."
has relatives
Prakash. He
would want to go away. And it was a good thing, she meal of rice and lentils,
they walked
a simple
After
a small stream and not Mr Mani. At
mused, that there was only of the bazaar
without seeing
the length
a big river running past her village. To be uprooted about to give up the search,
last, when they were
sack
like this - a town a n d h u n d r e d s o f v i l l a g e s - a n d put
by-lane, a large
him emerge from
a
saw
seemed they
down somewhere on the hot, dusty plains -

shoulder.
slung o v e r his asked Prakash.
We
to her unbearable. have you been?'
Sir, where
Well, I'm glad I don't live in Tehri,' she said. for you everywhere.
have been looking
She did not know it, but all the animals and most face w a s a look of triumph.
On Mr Mani's
of the birds had already left the area. The leopard with this bag,' he said breathlessly.
Help me
said Prakash.
had been among them. more potatoes, sir,'
Youve bought
Dahlia bulbs!"
Not potatoes, boy.
They walked through the colourful, crowded bazaar,
where fruit-sellers did business beside silversmiths, 7
and pavement vendors sold umbrellas all back in
Nauti.
everything from the time they were
to glass bangles. Sparrows attacked sacks of grain, It was dark by from his sack
of
to be separated
monkeys made off with bananas, and stray cows and Mr Mani had refused
sit in the back
and had been forced to
dogs rummaged in refuse bins, but dahlia bulbs,
m o s t of the boys.
notice. Music blared from
nobody took any Prakash and
of the tuck with
radios. Buses blew their
31
THE PINES
30 SCHOOL AMONG
GREAT STORIES FOR
THE
CHILDREN
 Bina did not feel so ill on the return journey, Going 3
and dusty, and
better than going downhill hills w e r e dry
uphill was definitely But June the
shrubs and trees,
Nauti it was ton In early
time the bus reached late broke out, destroying
by the forest fires resin in the
animals. The
children to walk back to the birds and
small
for most of the killing fiercely, and the
put up in different burn more
The boys were these trees
distant villages. pines
made and carry
trom the trees
homes, while the girls were given beds in the schol take sparks
wind would and leaves, so
that n e w fires
the dry grass
verandah. them into o n e s had died
out.
before the old
The night was warm and still. Large moth would spring up
village was not in the pine belt;
futtered around the single bulb that lit the verandah Fortunately,
Bina's
surrounded
not reach it.
But Nauti w a s
Counting moths, Sonu soon asleep. But Bina
fell the fires did
children
for three days, and the
stayed awake for some time, listening to the sounds by a fire
that raged
from school.
of the night. A nightjar went tonk-tonk in the bushes, had to stay away
the end of June, the
monsoon

and somewhere in the forest an owl hooted softly. And then, towards
forest fires.
there was an end to
The sharp call of a barking-deer travelled up the rains arrived and
lower
three months and the
valley, from the direction of the stream. Jackals kept The m o n s o o n lasts
drenched in rain, mist
and
howling. It seemed that there were more of them Himalayas would be
months.
than ever before. cloud for the next three
Prakash and
Bina was not the
only one to hear the The first rain arrived while Bina,
barking- Those first
deer. The
leopard, stretched full length on a rocky
Sonu werereturning home from school.
ledge, heard them cry out
it too. The
leopard raised its head ana few drops on the dusty path made
then got up and
with excitement. Then the rain grew heavier
a
slowly.
The deer was its
natural prey
But there
weren't many from the earth.
left, and that was why tne wonderful aroma rose
leopard, robbed of its forest The best smell in the world!' exclaimed
Bina.
to
attacking dogs and cattle by the dam, had taken the
As the near the Everything suddenly came to life. The grass,
cry of the villages. crops, the trees, the birds. Even the leaves
of the
the barking-deer
leopard left its look-out sounded nearer,
through the point
shadows towards and moved swiftuy
trees glistened and looked new.
the stream. That first wet weekend, Bina and Sonu helped
2 GREAT uer mother plant beans, maize and cucumbers.
STORIES FOR
CHILDREN THE SCHOOL AMONG THE PINES 33
 was very heavy, they had when the children crossed the stream, they
the rain
Sometimes, when Now,
worked in the rai water-level had risen by about a foot.
to r u n
indoors. Otherwise they ain, found that the
waterfalls. Ferns had
bare legs. cascades had turned into
the soft mud clinging to their Small
chanted.
black dog with one ear up on the banks. Frogs
Prakash now owned sprung up
a
dashed across the stream.
ear down. The dog ran around getting in Prakash and his dog
and one
at cows, goats, hens and followed m o r e cautiously. The c u r r e n t
everyone's way, barking Bina and Sonu
and the water w a s almost
any of them. Prakash was much
stronger n o w
humans, without frightening crossed thc stream,
clever dog, but no one else seemed to their knees. Once they had
said it was a very up
anxious not to be caught
also said it would protect the hurried along the path,
to think so. Prakash they
but others said the dog sudden downpour.
village from the leopard, he'd r u n straight
in a
reached school, each of them
would be the first to be
taken - By the time they
leeches clinging to their legs. They
into the jaws of Mr Spots! had two o r three
them. The leeches
were
was trying to find a dry salt to remove
In Nauti, Tania Ramola had to use
s e a s o n . Even
old of the rainy
she'd been given. It w a s a n troublesome part
spot in the quarters the most
lie in
like them. It could
not
w a s leaking in
several places.
the leopard did
not
building and the roof its paws
w e r e scattered
about the floor in without getting leeches o n
Mugs and buckets the long grass
order to catch the drip. and face. were
and presented Prakash and Sonu
Mr Mani had dug up all his potatoes One day, when Bina,
who had given heard a low rumble,
them to the friends and neighbours about to cross the stream they
time of at the
He w a s having the second. ooking up
him lunches and dinners. which grew louder every tilt
bulbs all o v e r his garden. trees shudder,
several
his life, planting dahlia opposite hill, they
saw
dahlias!' he and rocks bulged
T11 have a field of many-coloured outwards and begin to fall. Earth
crashing down
announced. Just wait till the end of August!' then came

his out fronm the mountain,

warned
Watch out for those porcupines,' into the ravine.
sister. They eat dahlia bulbs too! Landslide!' shouted Sonu.
no Don't go
tour of his moat, said Bina.
Mr Mani made a n inspection Tt's carried away
the path,'
in good order.
longer in flood, and found everything
any further.'
Prakash had done his job well.
35
PiNES
AMONG THE
THE SCHOOL

34 GREAT STORIES FOR CHILDREN

 roar as more ro mile, but Bina did not
There was a tremendous
ocks, made their
walk longer by a

bushes fell away and crashed down much cooler that the rains
trees and the mind. It was
now were

hillside. in full swing.

Prakash's dog, who had gone ahead, came
ning The only trouble with the new route was that it
back, tail between his legs. close to the leopard's lair. The animal had
passed
They remained rooted to the spot until the rocks own since being forced to leave
had stopped falling and the dust had settled. Birde made this area its
the dam area.
circled the area, calling wildly. A frightened barking. One day Prakash's dog ran ahead of them, barking
deer ran past them.
furiously. Then he ran back, whimpering.
We can't go to school now,' said Prakash. There's
no way around. He's always running away from something.
observed Sonu. But a minute later he understood
They turned and trudged home
through the the reason for the dog's fear.
gathering mist.
In Koli, Prakash's They rounded bend and Sonu saw the
a
leopard
parents had heard the roar in their way. They were struck dumb
of the landslide.
They were setting out in search standing too -

the children when of terrified to run. It was a

strong, sinewy creature.
they saw them emerge from the A
mist, waving cheerfully. low growl rose from its throat. It seemed ready to
spring.
They stood perfectly still, afraid to move or
They had to miss a word. And the say
and Bina was
school for another three leopard must have been equally
afraid they might not be able to days, surprised. It stared at them for a few
their final exams. take bounded across the seconds, then
troubled Although Prakash was not path and into the oak forest.
Sonu was
thought of missing exams, hereally
at the
not like shaking. Bina could hear her heart
feeling helpless just
been swept because their
did hammering. Prakash could only stammer:
path had see the Did you
he found a away. way he
So he
explored the hillside until sprang? Wasn't he
He beautiful?
joined upgoat-track
It going around the forgot to look at his watch for the rest of the
with another path mountain. day.
near Nauti. This A few
days later Sonu
36 GREAT STORIES large outcrop of rock stopped and pointed to a
FOR on the next hill.
CHILDREN
THE SCHOOL
AMONG THE PINES 37
 d aagainst
stood far above them, outlined o
they found small crowd in front
The leopard One morning a

the sky. It looked strong, ng ho.

majestic. Standing beside of Mr Mani's
house.

it were two young

cubs.
What could have happened wondered Bina. T
ones!' exclaimed Sonu
Look at those little hope he hasn't got lost again.'
a male,' said Prakash
So it's a female, not Maybe he's sick, said Sonu.
That's why she was killing so often,' said Bina
a Maybe it's the porcupines,' said Prakash.
She had to feed her cubs too. But it was none of these things.
They remained still for several minutes, gazino in
Mr Mani's first dahlia was bloom, and half
up at the leopard and her cubs. The leopard family had turned out to look at it! It
the village was a

took no notice of them. heavy that it had to be

huge red double dahlia, so
She knows we are here,' said Prakash, but she supported with sticks. No one had ever seen such
doesn't care. She knows we won't harm them. a magnificent flower!
We are cubs too!' said Sonu. Mr Mani was a happy man. And his mood only
Yes,' said Bina. 'And there's still plenty of space improved the
coming week, as more and more
over
for all of us. Even when the dam is
ready there ill dahlias flowered crimson, yellow, purple, mauve,
still be room for
leopards
and humans.' white button dahlias, pompom dahlias, spotted

10
dahlias, striped dahlias.. Mr Mani had them all!
A dahlia even turned up on Tania Romola's desk
The school exams were over. The rains were nearly -

he got on quite well with her now and another -

over too. The landslide had been cleared, and Bina, brightened up the headmaster's study.
Prakash and Sonu were once A week later, on their
stream. again crossing the way home it was almost -

the last day of the school term

There Prakash
-

Bina, andd
was a chill in the air, for it Sonu talked about what
of September. was the end they might do when they
grew up.
Prakash had learnt to
and he play the fiute quite well, I think I'l1 become a
teacher,' said Bina. Tl
played on the way to
school and then again teach children about animals and birds, and
on the way home. As trees
watch so often.
a result he did not look at his and flowers.'
Better than maths!' said Prakash.
38 GREAT
STORIEs FOR
CHILDREN THE SCHOOL AMONG THE PINES 39
 T1 be a pilot,' said Sonu. I want to fly a
like Miss Ramola's brother.' pla
And what about you, Prakash? asked Bina
Prakash just smiled and said, "Maybe Il be a

flute-player,' and he put the fiute to he lips an

played a sweet melody.
Well, the world needs flute-players too,' said Bina
as they
fell into step beside him.
The leopard had been
stalking a barking-deer.
She paused when she heard the
flute and the voices
of the children. Her own
young ones were growing
quickly, but the girl and the two boys did not look
much older.
They had started singing their
favourite song
again.

Five moremiles to go!

We climb
through rain and snow,
A river to
cross...
Amountain to pass...
Now we've
four more miles to go!
The leopard waited until they had efore

returning to the trail of the passea,

barking-deer.

40 GREAT STORIES FOR CHILDREN