Page 113 - English Class 07

swam low in the water and glided smoothly through the tall grasses near the river.

Sometimes, he came out on the river bank to bask in the sun. He did not care for people,
especially cricketers. He disliked the noise they made, frightening away the water-birds and
other creatures required for an interesting menu and it was also alarming to have cricket
balls plopping around in the shallows where he liked to rest.

The following Sunday morning, Ranji hurried out of the house with Nathu carrying his bat
and a thermos of lime juice thoughtfully provided by his mother.

“Have you got the stumps?” he asked Nathu
who was at the gate.

“Sunder has them.”

“And the ball?”

“Yes. And Anil’s father is bringing one too,
provided he opens the batting.”

Nathu rode, while Ranji sat on the crossbar
with the bat and the thermos. Anil was waiting
for them outside his house.

When the boys reached the slopes of the river
bank, they were astonished by what they saw.

They gaped in awe at their cricket pitch.
Across it, basking in the soft warm sunshine
was Nakoo, the crocodile!

“I don’t think it wants us to play,” said Sheroo.

“We’ll have to get him off,” said Ranji.

“You’d better keep out of the reach of his tail
and jaws!” said Sheroo.

“We’ll wait until he goes away,” said Prem.

But, Nakoo showed no signs of wanting to
leave. The pebbles the boys threw at
Nakoo had no effect. They simply bounced
off his tough hide. They tried mud balls

and an orange. Nakoo twitched his tail and gaped in awe : started with their mouths open
because they were most surprised
opened one eye, but refused to move on.
twitched : made a sudden quick movement
Then Prem took a ball and bowled a fast
one at the crocodile. It bounced just short of Nakoo and caught him on the snout. Startled

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