JKBOSE 10th Class English Solutions chapter – 1 Footprints Without Feet

Footprints Without Feet Summary in English

Griffin was a scientist. He discovered a rare drug. This could make an unclothed person invisible. Griffin and his landlord didn’t like each other . One day, Griffin set his landlord’s house on fire. Then he swallowed his rare drug. He took off his clothes. He could see everyone. But none could see him. So he couldn’t be caught. It was very cold. To save himself from the cold, he slipped into a store. He stole some food and clothes. Next morning, he went to the shop of a theatrical company. There he stole some things for him. He hit the shopkeeper and ran away with his money. Then he went to a village inn. There he stole a clergyman’s money. A policeman was called. Griffin took off all the bandages from his face. He took off his glasses and his hat also. Now he looked headless. People were horrified. Griffin hit the policeman when he tried to catch him. He started taking off his clothes. He became more and more invisible. At last, he got free from everyone and ran away.

Footprints Without Feet Summary in Hindi

ग्रिफिन एक वैज्ञानिक था। उसने एक दुर्लभ औषधि का आविष्कार कर लिया। यह किसी वस्त्रहीन व्यक्ति को अदृश्य बना सकती थी। ग्रिफिन और उसका मकान मालिक एक-दूसरे को पसन्द नहीं करते थे। एक दिन ग्रिफिन ने अपने मकानमालिक के मकान को आग लगा दी। फिर उसने अपनी दुर्लभ औषधि निगल ली। उसने अपने वस्त्र उतार दिए । वह हर किसी को देख सकता था। किन्तु उसे कोई नहीं देख सकता था। इसलिए वह पकड़ा न जा सका। मौसम बहुत ठण्डा था। सर्दी से बचने के लिए वह एक स्टोर (बड़ी दुकान) में घुस गया। वहां उसने वस्त्र और खाने की चीजें चुराईं। अगली प्रातः वह एक ड्रामा कम्पनी की दुकान में गया। वहां से उसने अपने लिए कुछ चीजें चुराईं। उसने दुकानदार पर प्रहार किया और उसके पैसे चुराकर भाग गया । फिर वह एक गांव की सराय में पहुँचा। वहां उसने एक पादरी के पैसे चुरा लिए । एक पुलिस वाले को बुलाया गया। ग्रिफिन ने अपने चेहरे की सब पट्टियां उतार दीं। उसने अपनी ऐनक और अपना टोप भी उतार दिए । अब वह बिना सिर वाला आदमी लगने लगा। लोग भयभीत हो गए। ग्रिफिन ने पुलिस वाले की पिटाई कर दी, जब वह उसे पकड़ने के लिए आया। उसने वस्त्र उतारने शुरू कर दिए। वह अधिकाधिक अदृश्य होता गया । अन्त में उसने स्वयं को सभी से छुड़वा लिया और भाग गया।

The two boys started in surprise at the fresh muddy imprints of a pair of bare feet. What was a barefooted man doing on the steps of a house, in the middle of London ? And where was the man ?

As they gazed, a remarkable sight met their eyes. A fresh footmark appeared from nowhere !

Further footprints followed, one after another, descending the steps and progressing down the street. The boys got fascinated and followed, until the muddy impressions became fainter and fainter, and at last disappeared altogether.

The explanation of the mystery was really simple enough. The bewildered boys had been following a scientist who had just discovered how to make the human body transparent .

Griffin, the scientist, had carried out experiment after experiment to prove that the human body could become invisible. Finally, he swallowed certain rare drugs and his body became as transparent as a sheet of glass though it also remained as solid as glass.

Brilliant scientist though he was, Griffin was rather a lawless person. His landlord disliked him and tried to eject him. In revenge Griffin set fire to the house. To get away without being seen, he had to remove his clothes. Thus it was that he became a homeless wanderer; without clothes, without money, and quite invisible until he happened to step in some mud and left footprints as he walked.

दो लड़के कीचड़ से भरे दो नंगे पैरों के निशानों को देख कर हैरानी से चौंक उठे। लन्दन नगर के मध्य में उस घर की सीढ़ियों पर नंगे पांवों वाला व्यक्ति क्या कर रहा था ? और वह व्यक्ति कहाँ था ?

जब वे देख रहे थे, तो उनकी आंखों को एक असाधारण दृश्य देखने को मिला। पैरों का एक नया निशान पता नहीं कहां से आ बना !

इसके पश्चात् पैरों के और भी निशान एक के बाद एक करके सीढ़ियों से नीचे की ओर जा रहे थे और सड़क की दिशा में बढ़ रहे थे। लड़के आकर्षित हुए पीछे-पीछे चलते गए जब तक कीचड़ से भरे वे निशान मद्धिम तथा और मद्धिम न होते गए और अन्ततः पूरी तरह लुप्त न हो गए।

रहस्य का स्पष्टीकरण वास्तव में बहुत सरल था । हक्केबक्के हुए लड़के एक वैज्ञानिक का पीछा कर रहे थे, जिसने अभी-अभी यह खोज की थी कि मानव शरीर को पारदर्शी कैसे बनाया जा सकता है।

वैज्ञानिक ग्रिफिन ने अनेक प्रयोग किए थे यह सिद्ध करने के लिए कि मानव शरीर पारदर्शी बन सकता था । अन्त में उसने कुछ दुर्लभ दवाइयां निगल लीं और उसका शरीर शीशे की एक पट्टी की भान्ति पारदर्शी हो गया – यद्यपि यह शीशे की भान्ति ठोस भी बना रहा ।

यद्यपि ग्रिफिन एक प्रतिभाशाली वैज्ञानिक था, वह कुछकुछ अवैध काम करने वाला व्यक्ति था । उसका मकानमालिक उसे पसन्द नहीं करता था और उसने उसे (अपने मकान से) बाहर निकालने की कोशिश की । बदला लेने के लिए ग्रिफिन ने मकान को आग लगा दी। बिना दिखाई दिए भाग निकलने के लिए उसे अपने वस्त्र उतार देने पड़े। इस प्रकार वह एक बेघर घुमक्कड़ बन गया जिसके पास न वस्त्र थे, न ही कोई पैसा, और वह बिल्कुल अदृश्य था जब तक कि उसके पांव किसी कीचड़ में नहीं पड़ गए और फिर वह चलता हुआ अपने पीछे पैरों के निशान छोड़ने लगा।

He escaped easily enough from the boys who followed his footprints in London. But his adventures were by no means over. He had chosen a bad time of the year to wander about London without clothes. It was mid-winter. The air was bitterly cold and he could not do without clothes. Instead of walking about the streets, he decided to slip into a big London store for warmth.

Closing time arrived, and as soon as the doors were shut, Griffin was able to give himself the pleasure of clothing and feeding himself without regard to expense. He broke open boxes and wrappers and fitted himself out with warm clothes. Soon, with shoes, an overcoat and a wide-brimmed hat, he became a fully dressed and visible person. In the kitchen of the restaurant, he found cold meat and coffee, and he followed up the meal with sweets and wine taken from the grocery store. Finally, he settled down to sleep on a pile of quilts.

If only Griffin had managed to wake up in good time all might have been well. As it was, he did not wake up until the assistants already arrived next morning. When he saw a couple of them approaching, he panicked and began to run. They naturally began to chase him. In the end he was able to escape only by quickly taking off his newly-found clothes. So once more he found himself invisible but naked in the chill January air.

This time he decided to try the stock of a theatrical company in the hope of finding not only clothes but also something that would hide the empty space above his shoulders. Shivering with cold he hurried to Drury Lane, the centre of the theatre world.

He soon found a suitable shop. He made his way, invisible, upstairs and came out a little later wearing bandages round his forehead, dark glasses, false nose, big bushy side-whiskers, and a large hat. To escape without being seen, he callously attacked the shopkeeper from behind, after which he robbed him off all the money he could find.

वह काफ़ी आसानी से उन लड़कों से बच निकला जो लंदन में उसके पैरों के चिन्हों का पीछा कर रहे थे। परन्तु उसकी मुसीबतें अभी किसी भी तरह से समाप्त नहीं हुई थीं। लन्दन में बिना वस्त्रों के मटरगश्ती करने के लिए उसने एक बहुत बुरा समय चुन लिया था । वह मध्य शीतकाल था । हवा कड़क ठंडी थी और वह कपड़ों के बिना नहीं रह सकता था। गलियों में इधर-उधर घूमने की बजाए उसने | गर्मी पाने के लिए लन्दन के किसी बड़े स्टोर में घुसने का निश्चय किया ।

दुकान बन्द होने का समय हो गया और ज्योंही दरवाज़े बन्द हुए ग्रिफिन खर्च की परवाह किए बिना वस्त्र पहनने और अपने पेट भरने के योग्य हो गया। उसने डिब्बों तथा पैकटों को तोड़ कर खोला और गर्म कपड़े पहन कर पूरी तरह तैयार हो गया। शीघ्र ही जूते, ओवरकोट और एक चौड़ा किनारीदार टोप पहन कर वह पूरी तरह वस्त्र पहना हुआ और नज़र आता हुआ व्यक्ति बन गया। रेस्तरां के रसोईघर में उसे ठण्डा मांस (जिसे बिना गर्म किए खाया जा सके) और कॉफी मिल गई और भोजन खाने के बाद उसने किराने के भंडार में जा कर मिठाइयां खाईं और शराब का सेवन किया । अन्त में सोने के लिए वह गद्दों के एक ढेर के ऊपर लेट गया ।

यदि ग्रिफिन केवल समय रहते जाग उठता तो सब ठीक रहना था। किन्तु हुआ ऐसा कि वह तब तक न जागा जब तक कि दुकान के कर्मचारी अगली प्रातः वहां आने शुरू न हो गए । जब उसने उनमें से दो को अपनी तरफ आते देखा तो वह घबरा गया और भागने लगा । स्वाभाविक रूप से उन्होंने उसका पीछा किया। अन्त में वह अपने नए प्राप्त हुए वस्त्रों को जल्दी-जल्दी उतार कर फेंकने से बचने के योग्य हो के गया। इस प्रकार एक बार फिर उसने स्वयं को अदृश्य पाया, किन्तु जनवरी की ठंडी हवा में नंगा हुआ।

इस बार उसने एक नाटक कम्पनी के भण्डार की जांच करने का निर्णय किया, यह आशा करते हुए कि वहां से न केवल वस्त्र प्राप्त हो जाएंगे अपितु अपने कन्धों के ऊपर वाली खाली जगह को छिपाने के लिए भी कुछ-न-कुछ | प्राप्त हो जाएगा । ठण्ड से कांपते हुए वह ड्ररी लेन की तरफ भाग लिया जो नाटक – भण्डारों का केन्द्र था ।

उसने शीघ्र ही एक उपयुक्त दुकान ढूँढ ली । वह अदृश्य रूप से सीढ़ियों से ऊपर गया तथा कुछ ही देर बाद अपने सिर के गिर्द पट्टियां पहने, काला चश्मा, नकली नाक, बड़ी-बड़ी मूंछें तथा एक बड़ा टोप पहने बाहर निकला । बिना दिखाई दिए बच निकलने के लिए उसने निर्दयतापूर्वक दुकानदार पर पीछे से हमला किया तथा बाद में, जितना उसे मिल सकता था, उसका ( दुकानदार का) पैसा लेकर भाग गया।

Eager to get away from crowded London he took a train to the village of Iping, where he booked two rooms at the local inn.

The arrival of a stranger at an inn in winter was in any case an unusual events. A stranger of such uncommon appearance’ set all tongues wagging  Mrs Hall, the landlord’s wife, made every effort to be friendly. But Griffin had no desire to talk, and told her, “My reason for coming to Iping is a desire for solitude . I do not wish to be disturbed in my work. Besides, an accident has affected  my face.”

Satisfied  that her guest was an eccentric scientist, and in view of the fact that he had paid her in advance,

Mrs Hall was prepared to excuse his | strange habits and irritable temper. But the stolen money did not last long, and presently Griffin had to admit that he had no more ready cash. He pretended, however, that he was expecting a cheque to arrive at any moment.

Shortly afterwards a curious episode occurred. Very early in the morning a clergyman and his wife were awakened by noises in the study. Creeping downstairs, they heard the chink of money being taken from the clergyman’s desk.

Without making any noise and with a poker grasped firmly in his hand, the clergyman flung open the door.

“Surrender !”

Then to his amazement he realised that the room appeared to be empty. He and his wife looked under the desk and behind the curtains, and even up the chimney. There wasn’t a sign of anybody. Yet the desk had been opened and the housekeeping money was missing.

“Extraordinary affair !” the clergyman kept saying for the rest of the day.

But it was not as extraordinary as the behaviour of Mrs Hall’s furniture a little later that morning.

The landlord and his wife were up very early, and were surprised to see the scientist’s door wide open. Usually it was shut and locked, and he was furious if anyone entered his room.

The opportunity seemed too good to be missed. They peeped round the door, saw nobody, and decided to investigate The bedclothes were cold, showing that the scientist must have been up for some time; and stranger still, the clothes and bandages that he always wore were lying about the room.

All of a sudden Mrs Hall heard a sniff close to her ear. A moment later the hat on the bedpost leapt up and dashed itself into her face. Then the | bedroom chair became alive. Springing | into the air it charged straight at her, legs foremost. As she and her husband turned away in terror the extraordinary chair pushed them both out of the room and then appeared to slam and lock the door after them.

Mrs Hall almost fell down the stairs in hysterics. She was convinced that the room was haunted by spirits, and that the stranger had somehow | caused these to enter into her furniture.

“My poor mother used to sit in that chair,” she moaned . “To think it should rise up against me now!”

The feeling among the neighbours was that the trouble was caused by witchcraft. But witchcraft or not, when news of the burglary at the clergyman’s home became known, the strange scientist was strongly suspected of having had a hand in it. Suspicion grew even stronger when he suddenly produced some ready cash, though he had admitted not long before that he had no money.

भीड़-भरे लन्दन से दूर चले जाने को उत्सुक हो कर उसने एक रेलगाड़ी पकड़ी जो उसे इपिंग नामक गांव ले गई, जहां उसने स्थानीय सराय में दो कमरे बुक (आरक्षित) करवा लिए ।

सर्दियों में किसी सराय में एक अजनबी का आना किसी भी तरह से एक असाधारण घटना थी । ऐसी असाधारण शक्ल वाला अजनबी सभी लोगों में चर्चा का विषय बन गया। सराय के मालिक की पत्नी श्रीमती हॉल ने मैत्रीपूर्ण बनने का प्रत्येक यत्न किया। परन्तु ग्रिफिन बातें करने की कोई इच्छा नहीं रखता था, तथा उसने उससे कहा, “इपिंग आने का मेरा कारण था एकान्त की इच्छा । मैं नहीं चाहता कि मेरे काम में मुझे कोई परेशान करे । इसके अतिरिक्त एक दुर्घटना के कारण मेरा चेहरा बिगड़ गया है । “

इस बात से सन्तुष्ट होकर कि उसका मेहमान एक सनकी वैज्ञानिक था, तथा इस बात को देखते हुए कि वह उसे पेशगी में पैसे दे चुका था, श्रीमती हॉल उसकी अजीब आदतों तथा उसके चिड़चिड़े स्वभाव को माफ करने के लिए तैयार थी। परन्तु चुराया हुआ धन अधिक देर तक नहीं चला तथा शीघ्र ही ग्रिफिन को यह मानना पड़ा कि उसके पास कोई नकद राशि नहीं थी। फिर भी उसने यह दिखावा किया कि वह एक चैक की उम्मीद कर रहा था जो किसी भी क्षण उस तक पहुंच सकता था ।

उसके थोड़ी ही देर बाद एक अद्भुत घटना घटी। बहुत प्रातः एक पादरी और उसकी पत्नी अपने अध्ययन-कक्ष में शोर सुनकर जाग उठे। सीढ़ियों से नीचे धीरे-धीरे आते हुए उन्हें पैसों की खनखनाहट सुनाई दी जो पादरी के डैस्क में से निकाले जा रहे थे।

बिना कोई शोर किए और अपने हाथ में एक छड़ दृढ़ता से पकड़े हुए, पादरी ने पटाक से दरवाज़ा खोल दिया ।

 “स्वयं को हमारे हवाले कर दो !”

फिर वह यह देख कर चकित हुआ कि कमरा खाली प्रतीत हो रहा था । उसने तथा उसकी पत्नी ने डैस्क के नीचे को देखा, तथा पर्दों के पीछे की तरफ, तथा धुएँ की चिमनी में ऊपर की तरफ भी । वहां किसी का कोई चिन्ह नहीं था । फिर भी डेस्क को खोला गया था, और घर के ख़र्चे के लिए रखे पैसे ग़ायब थे।

“विचित्र बात है !” पादरी शेष दिन भर कहता रहा ।

किन्तु यह बात इतनी विचित्र नहीं थी जितना कि श्रीमती हॉल के फर्नीचर का व्यवहार, उसी प्रातः थोड़ी देर बाद के समय पर ।

सराय का मालिक और उसकी पत्नी प्रातः बहुत जल्दी उठ गये थे और वे वैज्ञानिक के कमरे का दरवाज़ा पूरा खुला देखकर चकित रह गए । प्रायः यह ( अन्दर से) बन्द रहता था और इसमें ताला लगा रहता था और यदि कोई उसके कमरे में प्रवेश करता, तो वह बहुत क्रोधित हो उठता था।

यह अवसर इतना अच्छा था कि वे इसे खोना नहीं चाहते थे। उन्होंने दरवाज़े में से इधर-उधर झांक कर देखा, वहां उन्हें कोई दिखाई न दिया, और उन्होंने छानबीन करने का निश्चय कर लिया। बिछौने वाले वस्त्र ठण्डे थे, जिससे प्रतीत होता था कि वैज्ञानिक काफ़ी समय से उठा हुआ था; और इससे भी विचित्र बात यह थी कि वे वस्त्र और पट्टियां जिन्हें वह सदा पहने रहता था, कमरे में इधर-उधर पड़ी हुई थीं ।

बिल्कुल अचानक श्रीमती हॉल ने अपने कान के पास सांस लेने की सूँ-सूँ सुनी । एक पल बाद चारपाई के पाये पर पड़ा टोप उछला और श्रीमती हॉल के मुंह से जा टकराया। फिर शयन-कक्ष में पड़ी कुर्सी सजीव हो उठी। हवा में उछलते हुए इसने उस पर ( श्रीमती हॉल पर ) सीधा हमला कर दिया, सबसे पहले उसकी टांगों पर । जैसे ही वह और उसका पति भयभीत हुए पीछे हटे, उस असाधारण कुर्सी ने उन दोनों को कमरे से बाहर धकेल दिया, और फिर उनके पीछे दरवाज़ा धड़ाम से बन्द होते हुए और इसमें ताला लगते हुए प्रतीत हुआ ।

श्रीमती हॉल घबरा कर लगभग सीढ़ियों से गिर ही पड़ी। उसे विश्वास हो गया कि कमरे में भूत-प्रेत आ गए थे । और यह बात कि उस अजनबी (ग्रिफिन) ने किसी तरह उन्हें (भूत-प्रेतों को) उसके फर्नीचर में दाखिल करवा दिया था।

“मेरी बेचारी मां उस कुर्सी पर बैठा करती थी, ” उसने विलाप करते हुए कहा । “ और अब सोचो कि वही कुर्सी मेरे विरुद्ध खड़ी हो गई है !”

पड़ोसी सोच रहे थे कि यह मुसीबत अवश्य किसी जादू, टोने के कारण हुई थी। जादू-टोना था अथवा नहीं, परन्तु जब पादरी के घर पर चोरी के बारे में पता चला, तब इसमें अजनबी वैज्ञानिक का हाथ होने पर बहुत अधिक शक किया जाने लगा। शक और अधिक मज़बूत हो गया जब उसने अचानक ही कुछ नकद राशि पेश की, यद्यपि उसने कुछ समय पहले ही यह स्वीकार किया था कि उसके पास कोई पैसा नहीं था ।

The village constable was secretly sent for. Instead of waiting for the constable, Mrs Hall went to the scientist, who had somehow mysteriously appeared from his empty bedroom.

“I want to know what you have been doing to my chair upstairs, ” she demanded. “And I want to know how it is you came out of an empty room and how you entered a locked room.”

The scientist was always quicktempered; now he became furious. “You don’t understand who or what I am !” he shouted. “Very well, I’ll show you. “

Suddenly he threw off bandages, whiskers, spectacles, and even nose. It took him only a minute to do this. The horrified people in the bar found themselves staring at a headless man.

Mr Jaffers, the constable, now arrived, and was quite surprised to find that he had to arrest a man without a head. But Jaffers was not easily prevented from doing his duty. If a magistrate’s warrant  ordered a person’s arrest, then that person had to be arrested, with or without his head.

गांव के सिपाही को चुपके से बुला भेजा गया। सिपाही की प्रतीक्षा करने की बजाए, श्रीमती हॉल वैज्ञानिक के पास चली गई जो किसी तरह रहस्यपूर्ण ढंग से अपने खाली सोने वाले कमरे में से प्रकट हो गया था।

“मैं जानना चाहती हूं कि तुम सीढ़ियों से ऊपर मेरी कुर्सी के साथ क्या करते रहे हो, ” उसने सख्ती से पूछा । “तथा मैं यह जानना चाहती हूँ कि यह कैसे हुआ कि तुम खाली कमरे में से बाहर आ गए और तुम एक ताला लगे कमरे में कैसे प्रवेश कर गए । “

वैज्ञानिक सदा से ही जल्दी गुस्सा करने वाला रहा था; वह अब आग-बबूला हो उठा। “तुम समझती नहीं हो कि मैं कौन हूं और क्या हूँ !” उसने चिल्लाते हुए कहा। “तो ठीक है, मैं तुम्हें दिखा देता हूं।”

अचानक ही उसने अपनी पट्टियां, गलमुच्छे, चश्मा तथा यहां तक कि नाक भी उतार फेंकी । ऐसा करने में उसे केवल एक मिनट लगा । बार में बैठे भयभीत लोगों ने स्वयं को एक सिर – विहीन व्यक्ति को देखते हुए पाया ।

सिपाही मि० जैफर्स अब वहां आ पहुंचा और वह यह देखकर बहुत हैरान था कि उसे एक बिना सिर वाले आदमी को गिरफ्तार करना था । परन्तु जैफर्स को इतनी आसानी से अपना कर्त्तव्य निभाने से नहीं रोका जा सकता था । यदि जज ने किसी व्यक्ति की गिरफ्तारी का आदेश दिया हो तो उस व्यक्ति को सिर के साथ अथवा सिर के बिना (किसी भी हालत में) गिरफ्तार करना ही पड़ना था ।

There followed a remarkable scene as the policeman tried to get hold of a man who was becoming more and more invisible as he threw off one garment  after another. Finally, a shirt flew into  the air and the constable found himself struggling with someone he could not see at all. Some people tried to help him, but found themselves hit by blows that seemed to come from nowhere.

In the end, Jaffers was knocked unconscious as he made a last attempt | to hold on to the unseen scientist.

There were nervous excited cries of “Hold him !” But this was easier said than done. Griffin had shaken himself free and no one knew where to lay hands on him.

एक असाधारण दृश्य पैदा हो गया जैसे सिपाही ने उस व्यक्ति को पकड़ने का यत्न किया जो अधिक-सेअधिक अदृश्य होता जा रहा था, क्योंकि वह एक-एक करके अपने कपड़े उतार कर फेंकता जा रहा था । अन्त में हवा में एक कमीज़ उड़ती हुई गई, और सिपाही ने स्वयं को ऐसे व्यक्ति के साथ संघर्ष करते हुए पाया जिसे वह बिल्कुल भी नहीं देख सकता था। कुछ लोगों ने उसकी सहायता करने की कोशिश की, परन्तु उन्होंने स्वयं पर घूंसे पड़ते देखे जो कहीं से भी नहीं आ रहे लगते थे।

अन्त में जैफर्स घूंसे लगने से बेहोश हो गया जब उसने अदृश्य वैज्ञानिक को पकड़ने के लिए एक अन्तिम प्रयास किया।

वहाँ घबराहटपूर्ण और उत्तेजनापूर्ण आवाज़ें आने लगीं‘उसे पकड़ो !’ किन्तु ऐसा करने की अपेक्षा कहना आसान था। ग्रिफिन ने झटके से स्वयं को मुक्त करवा लिया था, तथा कोई नहीं जानता था कि उस पर हाथ कहाँ डाले ।

Ans. As a scientist, Griffin was successful. He wanted to prove that the human body could become invisible. He did many experiments. At last, he discovered a rare drug. It could make the human body as transparent as glass.

Ans. The two boys saw muddy imprints of a barefooted man. But they could see no man there. Soon the footprints became fainter and then disappeared completely. All this surprised and fascinated the boys.

Ans. It was very cold and Griffin was without clothes. He broke open some boxes and found warm clothes to wear. He also found shoes, an overcoat and a hat. He ate meat and drank coffee. He had sweets and wine also. Then he lay down on a pile of quilts to sleep.

Ans. Griffin ran out of the store. Men in the shop chased him. Griffin started taking off his clothes. He became invisible. He could not be caught. Thus he was able to escape.

Ans. Griffin found clothes for himself. He also found things to hide his empty face. He found bandages to wear round his forehead. He found dark glasses, a false nose and a large hat. Then he hit the shopkeeper and ran away with his money.

Ans. The stranger had come to the village inn in winter. Nobody had ever come there in that cold season. And then there was another reason. The stranger had a very unusual appearance. He had bandages all over his forehead. He had a false nose and a large hat. He had dark glasses on his eyes. Thus the stranger’s arrival was an unusual event in the village.

Ans. He had bandages round his forehead. He was wearing dark glasses. He had a false nose and big bushy whiskers. He wore a wide-brimmed hat.

Ans. Griffin had come to the inn in winter. Nobody came there at that time of the year. He always wore bandages on his forehead. He never talked to anyone. That was why Mrs Hall thought him to be an eccentric scientist.

Ans. The clergyman and his wife heard noises in their study. They heard the chink of money. They opened the door. They found nobody there. But the money was missing. Thus it was a curious thing.

Ans. The scientist always kept his door closed. He got angry if anyone entered his room. But one morning, the landlord and his wife found the door wide open. It was a very unusual thing. So they were surprised.

Mrs Hall could see no one in the room. Yet she heard a sniff close to her ear. Then a hat leapt up and dashed into her face. Thirdly, a chair rose up in the air. It pushed both Mrs Hall and her husband out of the room.

Ans. Mrs Hall was in Griffin’s room. A chair leapt up and dashed into her face. Mrs Hall thought her mother’s spirit had entered the chair. But we know it was Griffin who was doing all that.

Ans. The scientist threw off his bandages. He removed his whiskers, glasses and the false nose. Now he looked a headless person. When the people in the bar saw him, they were horrified.

Ans. The constable tried to catch the scientist. The scientist took off his clothes one by one. He became invisible. He began to hit the constable. But the constable could not see the blows. He fell down unconscious.

Ans. Mrs Hall had seen that the scientist’s room was empty and that it was locked. But then she saw the scientist come out of the same room. She wanted to know from him how he had entered the locked room. At this, the scientist lost his temper and became violent.

J&K class 10th English Footprints Without Feet Important Questions and Answers

Ans. It was very cold and Griffin was without clothes. To save himself from the cold, he slipped into a big store. He was invisible. All went away after the store was closed. Now Griffin broke open some boxes. He found warm clothes for himself and put them on. Thus he became fully dressed. Then he went into the kitchen of the store. There he ate meat and drank coffee. He had sweets and wine also. Now he lay down to sleep on a pile of quilts. When the store was opened in the morning, he was seen sleeping there. Griffin ran out of the store. Men in the shop tried to catch him. Griffin started taking off his clothes. He became invisible. Thus he was able to escape.

Ans. The clergyman and his wife heard noises in their study. They got up and went downstairs. They heard the chink of money. Someone was taking out the money from the clergyman’s desk. The clergyman silently opened the door and went in. But he saw no one there. He and his wife looked under the desk. They searched behind the curtains. They even checked the chimney. There was no sign of anybody. Still the desk had been opened. And the money was missing. It was really a strange thing. The clergyman kept wondering about it all day.

Ans. Griffin set fire to his landlord’s house. To escape being caught, he took off his clothes and became invisible. It was very cold and he slipped into a big store. He broke open boxes and packets. He stole food and clothes. Then he went to another shop. He stole things as well as money. He hit the shopkeeper and ran away. Then he went to a village inn. There he stole money from a clergyman’s house. A policeman was called in to arrest him. Now Griffin took off his clothes. He became invisible. He gave unseen blows to the policeman. The policeman fell down unconscious. All this shows that Griffin was a lawless person.

Ans. Griffin was a scientist. He discovered a drug which could make him invisible. It proved a boon to him. His invisibility came to his help whenever he got into trouble. Griffin was disliked by his landlord. His landlord tried to eject him. Griffin wanted to take revenge on him. He set the landlord’s house on fire. Then he took the drug. He took off his clothes and became invisible. Thus he saved himself from the landlord. Similarly, he saved himself from being caught at the store. Lastly, it was his invisibility that saved him from the constable.

Ans. The two boys in London saw a pair of muddy footprints. The footprints appeared on the steps of a house. But the man was not visible. It was a surprise for the two boys. They could not know where the man was. Soon a fresh footmark appeared from nowhere. The boys gazed and gazed. It was a remarkable scene. Further footprints followed. The footprints moved down the steps into the street. The boys followed them. They became fainter and fainter. At last, they became invisible. All this surprised and fascinated the two boys.

Ans. Griffin came to the inn in winter. Nobody visited the inn in winter. His arrival at the inn in winter was an unusual thing. His appearance was also uncommon. He wore dark glasses, a false nose and a long hat. Mrs Hall tried to be friendly with him. But he got angry with her. He said that he wanted loneliness. He did not want to be disturbed in his work. He didn’t want to talk to anyone. All this made Mrs Hall think that Griffin was an eccentric scientist.

Ans. Griffin’s first adventure was at the clergyman’s house. He stole money from the clergyman’s desk. The clergyman and his wife heard the chink of money. But they saw nobody in the room. It filled them with surprise. Griffin’s next adventure was at Mrs Hall’s inn. Remaining invisible, he threw his hat at Mrs Hall. Then a chair rose and pushed her out of the room. People thought some bad spirit was at work. Griffin’s third adventure was with the constable. When the constable tried to catch him, he started taking off his clothes. He became more and more invisible. He hit the constable with unseen blows. The constable fell down unconscious. Thus Griffin escaped from the village.

Ans. Mr Jaffers was a constable. Mrs Hall had called him to arrest the scientist. When Mr Jaffers came, he saw a headless person. He tried to get hold of the man. It was Griffin. He began to take off his clothes one by one. Thus he became more and more invisible. At last he became completely invisible. The constable tried to fight with the invisible man. Some people came to the constable’s help. But all of them received unseen blows. Mr Jaffers then made the last attempt to get hold of the scientist. He got only a shower of blows. He fell down senseless. Griffin was now a free man.

Ans. As a scientist, Griffin was successful. He wanted to prove that the human body could become invisible. He did many experiments. At last he discovered a rare drug. It could make the human body as transparent as glass. But we can’t call Griffin a good scientist. He misused his discovery. He didn’t use his discovery to do anything good or legal. All his activities were illegal. He set fire to his landlord’s house. To escape being caught, he took off his clothes and became invisible. He slipped into a big store. He broke open boxes and packets. He stole food and clothes. Then he went to another shop. He stole things as well as money. He hit the shopkeeper and ran away. Then he went to a village of Iping. There he stole money from a clergyman’s house. A policeman was called in to arrest him. Now Griffin took off his clothes. He became invisible. He gave unseen blows to the policeman. The policeman fell down unconscious. All this shows that Griffin misused his discovery.

You have been asked to inform students of classes IX to XII about an Inter-school Debate Competition going to be held in your school. Draft a suitable notice for the same.

NOTICE 15 April 20 _ _ INTER-SCHOOL DEBATE COMPETITION An Inter-school Debate Competition is going to be held in our school on the 28th of this month. The topic of the debate will be ‘Aliens can Invade the Earth’. Students of classes IX to XII can take part in the debate. Those who are willing to participate should give their names to the undersigned before the 20th of this month. Nirmal Sharma Secretary Literary Society

(a) One day walking together up the hill, I said to Rahim, “Do you not wish yourself in your own country again ?” “Yes,” he said. “What would you do there?” said I. “Would you turn wild and eat men’s flesh again ?” He looked full of concern and shaking his head, said, “No !”

(b) “Welcome,” he said. “Be seated now. Tell me what brings you here at this late hour ?” “I came to consult you on an important matter,” said the visitor. “Can I confide in you?” “Yes, certainly,” replied he.

(c) “Good morning, boys,” said the mother. “There is some news for you today. Guess what it is.” “I know mother,” said Jack. “You are going to take us all up to London for a treat.” “No,” answered their mother. “You are quite wrong, but it is something about going all the same. Here’s a letter from your uncle, inviting you and Tom to go and spend a month of your holidays with your cousin. How would you, boys, like to stay on a farm ?” “Please, mother, do let us go,” they cried. “It would be fun to stay on a farm.”

(d) “Your son is certainly a boy of ability,” said the headmaster, “but it all depends upon you whether he is to do well at school.” “What an extraordinary statement !” said the father. “How can his progress possibly depend upon me?” “You can see,” replied the headmaster, “that he does his homework carefully.” “Oh yes,” said the father, “I can at least do that much.”

Ans. There can be no doubt that Griffin misused his discovery. He didn’t use his discovery to do anything good or legal. All his activities were illegal. He set fire to his landlord’s house. To escape being caught, he took off his clothes and became invisible. He slipped into a big store. He broke open boxes and packets. He stole food and clothes. Then he went to another shop. He stole things as well as money. He hit the shopkeeper and ran away. Then he went to a village inn. There he stole money from a clergyman’s house. A policeman was called in to arrest him. Now Griffin took off his clothes. He became invisible. He gave unseen blows to the policeman. The policeman fell down unconscious. All this shows that Griffin misused his discovery.

(Page 1) As they gazed a remarkable sight met their eyes. A fresh footmark appeared from nowhere ! Further footprints followed, one after another, descending the steps and progressing down the street. The boys got fascinated and followed, until the muddy impressions became fainter and fainter, and at last disappeared altogether.

(i) Follow

(ii) Descend.

(i) Remarkable

(ii) Fascinated.

(i) ………. sight met their eyes.

(ii) The boys got …………. .

(iii) The ………….. impressions became fainter and ………… .

(a) (i) follow – accompany (ii) descend –  fall.

(b) (i) remarkable – astonishing (ii) fascinated – got deeply attracted to something.

(c) (i) A remarkable (ii) fascinated (iii) muddy, fainter.

(Page 1) Griffin, the scientist, had carried out experiment after experiment to prove that the human body could become invisible. Finally, he swallowed certain rare drugs and his body became as transparent as a sheet of glass. Brilliant scientist though he was, Griffin was rather a lawless person. His landlord disliked him and tried to eject him.

brilliant, eject, invisible, lawless.

(i) Griffin was a ………… scientist.

(ii) He carried out experiments so that human body could become ……….. .

(iii) His landlord disliked him because he was a ……….. .

(iv) He swallowed certain rare …………. and his body became ……….. .

(a) brilliant – genius; eject – throw; invisible – unseen; lawless – unruly.

(b) (i) brilliant (ii) invisible (iii) lawless person (iv) drugs, invisible.

(Page 1) Brilliant scientist though he was, Griffin was rather a lawless person. His landlord disliked him and tried to eject him. In revenge Griffin set fire to the house. To get away without being seen, he had to remove his clothes. Thus it was that he became a homeless wanderer, without clothes, without money, and quite invisible until he happened to step in some mud and left footprints as he walked.

     brilliant, lawless.

1. The name of the chapter is ‘Footprints Without Feet’ and the name of writer is H.G. Wells.

2. Griffin removed his clothes to become invisible so that he could escape without being seen.

3. Because his landlord disliked him and had tried to eject him.

4. intelligent, criminal,

5. footprints.

(Page 2) He escaped easily enough from the boys who followed his footprints in London. But his adventures were by no means over. He had chosen a bad time of the year to wander about London without clothes. It was mid-winter. The air was bitterly cold and he could not do without clothes. Instead of walking about the streets, he decided to slip into a big London store for warmth.

Closing time arrived, and as soon as the doors were shut, Griffin was able to give himself the pleasure of clothing and feeding himself without regard to expense. He broke open boxes and wrappers and fitted himself out with warm clothes. Soon, with shoes, an overcoat and a wide-brimmed hat, he became a fully dressed and visible person. In the kitchen of the restaurant he found cold meat and coffee, and he followed up the meal with sweets and wine taken from the grocery store. Finally, he settled down to sleep on a pile of quilts.

     sufficient, enjoyment, expenditure, heap.

1. The name of the chapter is Footprints Without Feet’ and the name of writer is H.G. Wells.

2. Because it was mid-winter and the air was bitterly cold. It was very difficult to survive without clothes in such weather

3. He slipped into the store when it was closed in the evening. There he clothed himself and fed himself.

4. enough; pleasure; expense; pile.

5. adventure.

(Page 3) The arrival of a stranger at an inn in winter was in any case an unusual event. A stranger of such uncommon appearance set all tongues wagging. Mrs Hall, the landlord’s wife, made every effort to be friendly. But Griffin had no desire to talk, and told her, “My reason for coming to Iping is a desire for solitude. I do not wish to be disturbed in my work. Besides, an accident has affected my face.”

Satisfied that her guest was an eccentric scientist, and in view of the fact that he had paid her in advance, Mrs Hall was prepared to excuse his strange habits and irritable temper. But the stolen money did not last long, and presently Griffin had to admit that he had no more ready cash. He pretended, however, that he was expecting a cheque to arrive at any moment.

(a) departure

(b) solitude

(c) The name of the lesson is Footprints without feet and the poet is ‘H.G. Wells’.

(d) crazy

(e) swaying.

(Page 3) Satisfied that her guest was an eccentric scientist, and in view of the fact that he had paid her in advance, Mrs Hall was prepared to excuse his strange habits and irritable temper. But the stolen money did not last long, and presently Griffin had to admit that he had no more ready cash.

      satisfied, eccentric, excuse, irritable.

(i) Her guest was ………. .

(ii) Mrs Hall was prepared to excuse his ……….. .

(iii) But ………. did not last long.

(iv) Griffin had to admit that ………………..

(a) satisfied = content; eccentric = crazy; excuse = ignore; irritable = peevish.

(b) (i) an eccentric scientist (ii) strange habits and irritable temper (iii) the stolen money (iv) he had no more ready cash.

(Page 4) Mr Jaffers, the constable, now arrived, and was quite surprised to find that he had to arrest a man without a head. But Jaffers was not easily prevented from doing his duty. If a magistrate’s warrant ordered a person’s arrest, then that person had to be arrested, with or without his head. There followed a remarkable scene as the policeman tried to get hold of a man who was becoming more and more invisible as he threw off one garment after another. Finally, a shirt flew into the air and the constable found himself struggling with someone he could not see at all. Some people tried to help him, but found themselves hit by blows that seemed to come from nowhere. In the end, Jaffers was knocked unconscious as he made a last attempt to hold on to the unseen scientist.

      invisible, unconscious.

       remarkable, prevented.

(i) The people who tried to help, found themselves ………… .

(ii) …………. threw off the garments one by one.

(iii) The constable was ……… to find that he had to arrest a man without head .

(iv) As the policeman made a last attempt to hold on to the unseen scientist, he was ……… .

(a) invisible → visible; unconscious → conscious.

(b) remarkable = exceptional; prevented = stopped.

(c) (i) hit by blows that seemed to come from nowhere (ii) The man without a head (iii) surprised (iv) knocked unconscious.