Page 86 - English Expedition Class 6

Bhola Grandpa was periodically sent there to manage the property.
In the Sundarbans of those days nobody would walk alone even in daytime. Tigers apart,
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alligators frequently sneaked in from the swamp . People took care to move about only in groups,
particularly aft er sundown. Oft en, they were led by a necromancer who, from time to time, gave
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out a piercing yell that could not be imitated by the uninitiated . Th e eerie sound was believed to
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drive away or immobilize all beings, natural or supernatural, hostile to man.
Bhola Grandpa was returning from the weekly market in the company of a group of people
belonging to the neighbourhood of our camp. He did not remember when he had fallen behind
the party.
He woke up to the fact that he was alone when, at a distance of about fi ve yards in front of him,
a full-grown Royal Bengal tiger gave a jolly growl, fi xing his bright gaze straight on his face.
Bhola Grandpa, a swift climber, instantly clambered up a banyan tree at hand. Th e tiger roared
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and circled the tree innumerable times. Th en it settled down under a bush and continued in that
position without taking its eyes off its slipping prey even for a moment.

29 sneaked: went in without being seen 32 the uninitiated: people who are without special
30 swamp: a wet or water-covered area overgrown with knowledge or experience
plants, trees, etc. 33 eerie: strange and frightening
31 necromancer: someone who can communicate with the 34 clambered: climbed with great speed
dead through magic
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