Bubbling Well Road (Text Book)
Rudyard Kipling
Objectives of the Lesson
To teach them how to write short stories
To inspire them for a role play session.
To appreciate and understand humour in Rudyard Kipling’s short stories
To enrich vocabulary – Synonyms & Antonyms - Idioms
To give practice on Note making.
To hone Reading skills using the text as Reading Comprehension
To develop writing practice - note making
To enhance spoken skills – conversational skills
1. Why did the writer’s dog go with him into the grass patch?
Ans: The writer’s dog Mr. Wardle, the terrier went with its master into the grass patch. Mr. Wardle
strongly believes that its master was incapable of existing for an hour with out its advice and
countenance.
2. What did the writer see when he pushed his way through a thick clump of grass?
Ans: The writer felt restless in the Arti-goth patch in half-an-hour journey. When he was devoutly
wishing that he had left the big boar alone, he found a narrow path. It seemed to be a compromise
between a native foot path and a pig run. It was barely six inches wide and the author was able to
sidle along it in comfort. There was full of grass all around the path. The grass was dense and the
path was ill defined. Hence, it was essential for the author to crush into the tussoks either with both
hands before the face or to back into it. He left his both both hands to manage his rifle. It was both
confusing and valuable as it gave him a very vague clue to lead to a place.
3. What was the priest’s reaction when the writer suddenly appears at his hut?
Ans: The author felt lost himself in the Arti-goth patch because of its mysteries. He lost his dog for
sometime and was able find it after. Both of them firmly wanted to reach open ground to enjoy the
view. The author was not able to walk and apple in his throat is refused to slide up and down. He
found the path on the other side of the well was a very good one. It led them directly to priest’s hut.
When the priest saw author’s very white face coming out of the grass, he shouted with terror and
embraced his boot. The author reached the bedstead set outside the hut’s door. He fell in sleep
instantly and Mr.Wardle mounted guard over him.
4. Why did the villagers not share their fears about the patch of grass with the writer before
he set out to hunt wild boar?
Ans: The author got shocked to know that the patch of Arti-goth was full of ghosts and devils and all
are in the service of the priest. He was surprised to hear all men, women and children who had
entered it never returned. They further said the priest uses all their livers for witchcraft. When he
finally asked why he was not informed about it before he entered the patch. They replied him that
were afraid of losing their reward for bringing the news of the pig.
5. What was the secret promise the writer made to himself before he left the village?
Ans: The author put his best efforts to set the patch alight. But the grass was too green. Then he
made a secret promise to himself. Some fine summer day, however, if the wind is favourable, a file
of old papers and a box of matches will make clear of the mystery of bubbling well road.
6. Comment on the author’s experiences of hunting a wild boar and meeting the priest of
Arti-goth patch near bubbling well road?
Ans: Rudyard Kipling (1882-1936) is world renowned poet, essayist, novelist, short story writer and
a journalist. Some of his classics are Kim, Jungle Book and Barrockroom Ballads. He was also a
recipient of the Noble prize in 1907 for literature. ‘Bubbling Well Road’ is one of the humorous short
stories.
The author begins it with a reference to the location of Chachuran, a hamlet. Above this hamlet, the
Chenab river falls into the Indus. Five miles west of Chachuran lies the bubbling well road, and the
house of the gosain or priest of the Arti-goth. Though the priest showed him the road he was not
willing to thank him.
The Arti-goth patch was about three to four miles square. It was full of green plumed grass and
whenever wind blows the grass turns over in silver rises from ten feet to twenty feet high. The priest
of Arti-goth is a one-eyed man and carries burnt (the impress of two copper coins) between his
brows. Every time he comes out of the patch he is stoned by the villagers and he runs back to the
patch like a strayed wolf. Some people say that he was tortured by a native prince in the olden
days. He was so old enough that he must have been capable of mischievous deeds during the
days of King Ranjith Singh. His most pressing need is clothing and the help of British Government.
These things happened when the grass was tall and thick. The villagers of Chachuran informed
the author about a sounder of pig with foot long tushes had gone into the Arti-goth patch. Though
entering the jungle grass is always an unwise step he entered it. Although he knew nothing of pig
hunting he accepted the challenge. He decided strongly to ride it down in a fair chase. The writer’s
dog Mr. Wardle, the terrier went with its master into the grass patch. Mr. Wardle strongly believes
that its master was incapable of existing for an hour with out its advice and countenance. He
thought it would be an easy thing to locate one pig in patch of ten square miles. But in twenty
minutes he felt tiresomeness because of the heat and thickness of the grass. He felt as if he were
in the heart of Central Africa. Mr.Wardle was quite often sitting and hanging its tongue very far.
The grass stems held the heat exactly as boiler tubes do.
The writer felt wearied in half-an-hour of his journey. When he was devoutly wishing that he had left
the big boar alone, he found a narrow path. It seemed to be a compromise between a native foot
path and a pig run. It was barely six inches wide and the author was able to sidle along it in
comfort. There was full of grass all around the path. The grass was dense and the path was ill
defined. Hence, it was essential for the author to crush into the tussoks either with both handsbefore the face or to back into it. He left his both hands to manage his rifle. It was both confusing
and valuable as it gave him a very vague clue to lead to a place.
Soon after fifty yards of fair way, the author missed his terrier in the tussoks. He felt that it was a
frivolous and never keeps to its heel. He called it thrice aloud ‘where has the little beast gone to?’
he was shocked to notice that a deep voice under his feet was repeated. Each time he called after,
an echo assisted him. He paid close attention and heard that a man laughing in a peculiarly
offensive tone. The heat made him sweat and laughing made him shake. He felt it was indecent
and impolite. He held his rifle carefully and moved it in all directions as he proceeds. Since the rifle
was heavy, he grunted while moving and the grunt was faithfully repeated. When he stopped to
wipe his face the sound of low laughter was clear beyond doubt.
The author later went it to the tussock and shocked to find a huge black gap in the ground. He was
on his chest when he saw the well which was so deep and had scarcely any water in it. There were
black things in water and the water was as black as pitch with blue scum atop. He found that the
laughing sound came from the little spring. When the trickle from the spring fell on the back of
tightly stretched black things the laughter is changed to a sputter of mirth.
He spent not more than half an hour creeping around the well. He found the path on the other side
of the well was good. The author felt lost himself in the Arti-goth patch because of its mysteries. He
lost his dog for sometime and was able find it after. Both of them firmly wanted to reach open
ground to enjoy the view. The author was not able to walk and apple in his throat is refused to slide
up and down. He found the path on the other side of the well was a very good one. It led them
directly to priest’s hut. When the priest saw author’s very white face coming out of the grass, he
shouted with terror and embraced his boot. The author reached the bedstead set outside the hut’s
door. He fell in sleep instantly and Mr.Wardle mounted guard over him.
The author woke up and ordered the priest to lead him out of the patch. He obeyed it and started
walking in front of them. Though both the author and the dog were angry, the priest was more
afraid of the dog than its master. Mr. Wardle hates the natives. On their way, they reached the
bubbling well road. The author heard the well laughing to itself alone in the thick grass and he was
annoyed and angry. He in a pitch of anger, he wanted to shoot both barrels into priest’s back but
his need of priest’s services prevented him from shooting. The priest led them out of the patch and
immediately ran back into the patch in panic.
The author felt happy on reaching open ground and ground under his feet. He had a drink and
looked at the horizon all around.
Later, the author got shocked to know that the patch of Arti-goth was full of ghosts and devils and
all are in the service of the priest. He was surprised to hear all men, women and children who had
entered it never returned. They further said the priest uses all their livers for witchcraft. When he
finally asked why he was not informed about it before he entered the patch. They replied him that
they were afraid of losing their reward for bringing the news of the pig.The author put his best efforts to set the patch alight. But the grass was too green. Then he made a
secret promise to himself. Some fine summer day, however, if the wind is favourable, a file of old
papers and a box of matches will make clear of the mystery of bubbling well road.
Rudyard Kipling
Objectives of the Lesson
To teach them how to write short stories
To inspire them for a role play session.
To appreciate and understand humour in Rudyard Kipling’s short stories
To enrich vocabulary – Synonyms & Antonyms - Idioms
To give practice on Note making.
To hone Reading skills using the text as Reading Comprehension
To develop writing practice - note making
To enhance spoken skills – conversational skills
1. Why did the writer’s dog go with him into the grass patch?
Ans: The writer’s dog Mr. Wardle, the terrier went with its master into the grass patch. Mr. Wardle
strongly believes that its master was incapable of existing for an hour with out its advice and
countenance.
2. What did the writer see when he pushed his way through a thick clump of grass?
Ans: The writer felt restless in the Arti-goth patch in half-an-hour journey. When he was devoutly
wishing that he had left the big boar alone, he found a narrow path. It seemed to be a compromise
between a native foot path and a pig run. It was barely six inches wide and the author was able to
sidle along it in comfort. There was full of grass all around the path. The grass was dense and the
path was ill defined. Hence, it was essential for the author to crush into the tussoks either with both
hands before the face or to back into it. He left his both both hands to manage his rifle. It was both
confusing and valuable as it gave him a very vague clue to lead to a place.
3. What was the priest’s reaction when the writer suddenly appears at his hut?
Ans: The author felt lost himself in the Arti-goth patch because of its mysteries. He lost his dog for
sometime and was able find it after. Both of them firmly wanted to reach open ground to enjoy the
view. The author was not able to walk and apple in his throat is refused to slide up and down. He
found the path on the other side of the well was a very good one. It led them directly to priest’s hut.
When the priest saw author’s very white face coming out of the grass, he shouted with terror and
embraced his boot. The author reached the bedstead set outside the hut’s door. He fell in sleep
instantly and Mr.Wardle mounted guard over him.
4. Why did the villagers not share their fears about the patch of grass with the writer before
he set out to hunt wild boar?
Ans: The author got shocked to know that the patch of Arti-goth was full of ghosts and devils and all
are in the service of the priest. He was surprised to hear all men, women and children who had
entered it never returned. They further said the priest uses all their livers for witchcraft. When he
finally asked why he was not informed about it before he entered the patch. They replied him that
were afraid of losing their reward for bringing the news of the pig.
5. What was the secret promise the writer made to himself before he left the village?
Ans: The author put his best efforts to set the patch alight. But the grass was too green. Then he
made a secret promise to himself. Some fine summer day, however, if the wind is favourable, a file
of old papers and a box of matches will make clear of the mystery of bubbling well road.
6. Comment on the author’s experiences of hunting a wild boar and meeting the priest of
Arti-goth patch near bubbling well road?
Ans: Rudyard Kipling (1882-1936) is world renowned poet, essayist, novelist, short story writer and
a journalist. Some of his classics are Kim, Jungle Book and Barrockroom Ballads. He was also a
recipient of the Noble prize in 1907 for literature. ‘Bubbling Well Road’ is one of the humorous short
stories.
The author begins it with a reference to the location of Chachuran, a hamlet. Above this hamlet, the
Chenab river falls into the Indus. Five miles west of Chachuran lies the bubbling well road, and the
house of the gosain or priest of the Arti-goth. Though the priest showed him the road he was not
willing to thank him.
The Arti-goth patch was about three to four miles square. It was full of green plumed grass and
whenever wind blows the grass turns over in silver rises from ten feet to twenty feet high. The priest
of Arti-goth is a one-eyed man and carries burnt (the impress of two copper coins) between his
brows. Every time he comes out of the patch he is stoned by the villagers and he runs back to the
patch like a strayed wolf. Some people say that he was tortured by a native prince in the olden
days. He was so old enough that he must have been capable of mischievous deeds during the
days of King Ranjith Singh. His most pressing need is clothing and the help of British Government.
These things happened when the grass was tall and thick. The villagers of Chachuran informed
the author about a sounder of pig with foot long tushes had gone into the Arti-goth patch. Though
entering the jungle grass is always an unwise step he entered it. Although he knew nothing of pig
hunting he accepted the challenge. He decided strongly to ride it down in a fair chase. The writer’s
dog Mr. Wardle, the terrier went with its master into the grass patch. Mr. Wardle strongly believes
that its master was incapable of existing for an hour with out its advice and countenance. He
thought it would be an easy thing to locate one pig in patch of ten square miles. But in twenty
minutes he felt tiresomeness because of the heat and thickness of the grass. He felt as if he were
in the heart of Central Africa. Mr.Wardle was quite often sitting and hanging its tongue very far.
The grass stems held the heat exactly as boiler tubes do.
The writer felt wearied in half-an-hour of his journey. When he was devoutly wishing that he had left
the big boar alone, he found a narrow path. It seemed to be a compromise between a native foot
path and a pig run. It was barely six inches wide and the author was able to sidle along it in
comfort. There was full of grass all around the path. The grass was dense and the path was ill
defined. Hence, it was essential for the author to crush into the tussoks either with both handsbefore the face or to back into it. He left his both hands to manage his rifle. It was both confusing
and valuable as it gave him a very vague clue to lead to a place.
Soon after fifty yards of fair way, the author missed his terrier in the tussoks. He felt that it was a
frivolous and never keeps to its heel. He called it thrice aloud ‘where has the little beast gone to?’
he was shocked to notice that a deep voice under his feet was repeated. Each time he called after,
an echo assisted him. He paid close attention and heard that a man laughing in a peculiarly
offensive tone. The heat made him sweat and laughing made him shake. He felt it was indecent
and impolite. He held his rifle carefully and moved it in all directions as he proceeds. Since the rifle
was heavy, he grunted while moving and the grunt was faithfully repeated. When he stopped to
wipe his face the sound of low laughter was clear beyond doubt.
The author later went it to the tussock and shocked to find a huge black gap in the ground. He was
on his chest when he saw the well which was so deep and had scarcely any water in it. There were
black things in water and the water was as black as pitch with blue scum atop. He found that the
laughing sound came from the little spring. When the trickle from the spring fell on the back of
tightly stretched black things the laughter is changed to a sputter of mirth.
He spent not more than half an hour creeping around the well. He found the path on the other side
of the well was good. The author felt lost himself in the Arti-goth patch because of its mysteries. He
lost his dog for sometime and was able find it after. Both of them firmly wanted to reach open
ground to enjoy the view. The author was not able to walk and apple in his throat is refused to slide
up and down. He found the path on the other side of the well was a very good one. It led them
directly to priest’s hut. When the priest saw author’s very white face coming out of the grass, he
shouted with terror and embraced his boot. The author reached the bedstead set outside the hut’s
door. He fell in sleep instantly and Mr.Wardle mounted guard over him.
The author woke up and ordered the priest to lead him out of the patch. He obeyed it and started
walking in front of them. Though both the author and the dog were angry, the priest was more
afraid of the dog than its master. Mr. Wardle hates the natives. On their way, they reached the
bubbling well road. The author heard the well laughing to itself alone in the thick grass and he was
annoyed and angry. He in a pitch of anger, he wanted to shoot both barrels into priest’s back but
his need of priest’s services prevented him from shooting. The priest led them out of the patch and
immediately ran back into the patch in panic.
The author felt happy on reaching open ground and ground under his feet. He had a drink and
looked at the horizon all around.
Later, the author got shocked to know that the patch of Arti-goth was full of ghosts and devils and
all are in the service of the priest. He was surprised to hear all men, women and children who had
entered it never returned. They further said the priest uses all their livers for witchcraft. When he
finally asked why he was not informed about it before he entered the patch. They replied him that
they were afraid of losing their reward for bringing the news of the pig.The author put his best efforts to set the patch alight. But the grass was too green. Then he made a
secret promise to himself. Some fine summer day, however, if the wind is favourable, a file of old
papers and a box of matches will make clear of the mystery of bubbling well road.
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