Aayush

Baldeo the watchman was responsible for signalling whether or not the tunnel was clear of obstruction, at night it was his duty to see that the lamp was burning, and that the overland mail passed through safely. Tembu, the boy lay in the station. They lived in a small tribal village on the outskirts of the forest, about three miles from the station. Their small rice fields did not provide them with more than a bare living, and Baldeo considered himself lucky to have got the job of Khalasi at this small wayside signal stop.

The signal light was out. Baldeo set to work on haul the lamp down by its chain. If the oil had finished, he would have to return to the hut for more. The mail train was due in five minutes; having made sure that the line was clear, he returned to the entrance and sat down to wait for the mail train.

Baldeo heard an animal sound, listening as he had never listened before, wondered if it was making for the tunnel or the opposite direction-the direction of the hut, in which Tembu would by lying unprotected. Before a minute had passed he made out the huge body of the tiger trotting steadily towards him.

Baldeo and the tiger fought but although he injured the tiger, Baldeo was unfortunately killed. The overland mail was now approaching. The tiger raised its head, then slowly got to its feet. It found itself trapped like Baldeo. Flight along the cutting was impossible. It entered the tunnel, running as fast as its wounded leg would carry it.

At the next station the driver slowed down and stopped his train to water the engine. Above the cowcatcher lay the major portion of the tiger, cut the half by the engine.
There was considerable excitement and conjecture at the station, but back at the cutting there was no sound except for the sobs of the boy as he sat beside the body of his father.

Tembu and his sister and mother were plunged in grief for two whole days; but life had to go on, and a living had to be made, and all the