The Wind on

Haunted Hill

A hoo, whoo, whoo, cried the wind as it swept

down from the Himalayan snows. It hurried
over the hills and passed and hummed and moaned
through the tall pines and deodars. There was
little on Haunted Hill to stop the wind - only a few

stunted trees and bushes and the ruins of a small

settlement.
On the slopes of the next hill was a village. People
kept large stones on their tin roofs to prevent them
from being blown off. There was nearly always a
 strong wind in these parts. Three children was always being
struck by lightning, so
were settlement
spreading clothes out to dry on a low stone wall they moved away.'
is the place visited by
putting a stone on each piece. But if they left, why
Eleven-year-old Usha, dark-haired and rose- ghosts?
Grandfather says
-

during a terrible
cheeked, struggled with her grandfather's long, loose
-

Because
w a s hit by lightning,
annd
shirt. Her younger brother, Suresh, was doing his storm, one
of the houses
it w a s killed. Even the children.
best to hold down a bedsheet, while Usha's friend, everyone in
How many children?"
Binya, a slightly older girl, helped.
his sister. Grandfather saw themn
Once everything was firmly held down by stones, Two. A boy and
they climbed up on the flat rocks and sat there playing there in the moonlight.'"
the fields at the ruins Wasn't he frightened?"
sunbathing and staring across don't mind ghosts.'
on Haunted Hil. No. Old people
Usha set out for the bazaar at two in
the afternoon.
I must go to the bazaar today,' said Usha.
went through
I wish I could come too,' said Binya. But I have It was about a n hour's walk. The path

to help with the cows.' yellow fields of flowering mustard, then along the
saddle of the hill, and up, straight through the ruins.
I can come!' said eight-year-old Suresh. He was bazaar
Usha had often gone that way to shop at the
always ready to visit the bazaar, which was three
or to see her aunt, who lived in the town nearby.
miles away, on the other side of the hill.
Wild flowers bloomed on the crumbling walls of
No, you can't,' said Usha. You must help
the ruins, and a wild plum tree grew straight out
Grandfather chop wood.'
of the floor of what had once been a hall. It was
Won't you feel scared returning alone?' he asked.
covered with soft, white blossoms. Lizards scuttled
There are ghosts on Haunted Hill!'
over the stones, while a whistling thrush, its deep
111 be back before dark. Ghosts don't appear
in the sunshine, sat on
during the day.'
purple plumage glistening
a window-sill and sang its heart out.
Are there lots of ghosts in the ruins?' asked
Usha sang too, as skipped lightly along the
she
Binya. path, which dipped steeply down to the valley
and
Grandfather says so. He says that over a hundred
led to the little town with its quaint bazaar.
years ago, some Britishers lived on the hill. But the

ON HAUNTED HILL
43
THE WIND
42 GREAT STORIES FOR CHILDREN
 Moving leisurely, Usha bought spices, sugar and brow of the hill. There was another flash of
to the
matches. With the two
rupees she had saved from peal of thunder. The ruins
lightning, followed by a
her pocket-money, she chose a necklace of and forbidding.
amber. loomed before her, grim
coloured beads for herself and some marbles old roof that would
for Usha remembered part of an
Suresh. Then she had her mother's slippers shelter. It would be better than trying
repaired give some
at a cobbler's shop.
to go on. In the dark, with the howling wind, she
Finally, Usha went to visit Aunt Lakshmi at her off the path and fall over the edge of
flat above the might stray
shops. They were talking and drinking the cliff.
cups of hot, sweet tea when Usha realised that dark
clouds had Whoo, whoo, whoo, howled the wind. Usha saw
gathered the mountains. She
over
quickly the wild plum tree swaying, its foliage thrashing
picked up her things, said goodbye to her aunt, and
set out for the against the ground. She found her way into the
village. ruins, helped by the constant flicker of lightning.
Strangely, the wind had
dropped. The trees were Usha placed her hands flat against a stone wall
still, the crickets silent. The crows flew round in and moved sideways, hoping to reach the sheltered
circles, then settled on an oak tree.
I must get home corner. Suddenly, her hand touched something soft
before dark,' thought Usha,
and furry, and she gave a startled cry. Her cry was
hurrying along the path. answered by another - half snarl, half screech - as
But the sky had darkened and deep rumble
a
echoed over the hills. Usha
felt the first heavy drop something leapt away in the darkness.
of rain hit her With a sigh of relief Usha realised that it was the
cheek. Holding the
to her shopping bag close
body, she quickened her pace until she was cat that lived in the ruins. For a moment she had
almost running. The been frightened, but now she moved quickly along
faster now raindrops were coming down the wall until she heard the rain drumming on a
cold, stinging pellets of
lightning sharply outlined the ruins onrain. A flash or remnant of a tin roof. Crouched in a corner, she
then all was
the hill, and
dark again. 1Ound some shelter. But the tin sheet groaned and
11 have to Night had fallen.
shelter in the clattered as if it would sail away any moment.
began to run. ruins,'Usha thought ana
but she did not Suddenly
the wind Usha remembered that across this empty room
have to fight it. sprang up again, stood an old fireplace. Perhaps it would be drier
now, helping her It was behind her
along, up the steep there under the blocked chimney. But she would
onpath and
44 GREAT STORIES FOR
CHILDREN THE WIND ON HAUNTED HILL 45
not attempt to find it just now -

she might lose her

-
fell against
-
someone

something
when into
way altogether. open space
up,
and again bumped
stumbled, got
Her clothes were soaked and water Usha Someone
streamed her.
She gave a frightened
scream.

down from her hair, forming a puddle at her something. a shout, a boy's
feet.
feet screamed. And
t h e n there
was

She thought she heard a the voice.

faint cry the cat again
else
Usha instantly
recognised
or an owl? Then the storm blotted and
out all othe shout,
sounds. Suresh!
There had been no tinme to think of Usha!'
ghosts.
but now that she was settled in one
place, Usha Binya! other's a r m s , so surprised and
fell into each
remembered Grandfather's story about the They
laugh and giggle
lightning. relieved that all could do w a s
they
blasted ruins. She hoped and prayed that
would not strike her.
lightning and repeat
each other's
names.

w e r e ghosts.'
Then Usha said, I thought you
Thunder boomed over the hills, and the Suresh.
lightning were a ghost,' said
We thought you
came quicker now. Then there was a bigger flash, the roof,' said Usha.
Come back under
and for moment the entire ruin was lit up. A streak
a
huddled in the corner, chattering
together
of blue sizzled along the floor of the They
building. Usha with excitement and relief.
was
staring straight ahead, and, as the opposite wall
dark, we came looking for you,'
When it grew
lit up, she saw,
crouching in front of the unused
said Binya. 'And then the storm broke.'
fireplace, two small figures - children! Usha. 1 don't
Shall we r u n back together?' asked
The ghostly figures
seemed to look up and
want to stay here any longer.
stare back at Usha. And then
everything was dark Well have to wait,' said Binya. The path has
again.
safe in the
Usha's heart
tallen away at one place. It won't be
was in her mouth. She had seen
dark, in all this rain.'
without doubt, two ghosts on the other side of the Wel have to wait till morning,' said Suresh, 'and
room. She wasn't going to remain in the ruins one I'm so hungry!'
minute longer.
She The storm continued, but they were not afraid
towards the big gap in the wall
ran
which she had entered. She
througn now. They gave each other warmth and confidence.
was halfway across the
Even the ruins did not seem so
forbidding
46 GREAT STORIES FOR CHILDREN THE WIND ON HAUNTED HILL 47
 After an hour the rain stopped, and the
grew more distant. thund
Towards dawn the whistling thrush began
sing. Its sweet, broken notes flooded the ruins wi
to
ith
music. As the sky grew lighter, they saw that
th
plum tree stood upright agan, though it had lost
all its blossoms.
Let's go,' said Usha.
Outside the ruins, walking along the brow of
the
hill, they watched the sky grow pink. When
they
Romi and the Wilafire
were some distance
away, Usha looked back and
said, 'Can you something
see behind the wall? It's
like a hand waving.
It's just the top of the plum tree,' said Binya.
Goodbye, goodbye... They heard voices.
Who said
"goodbye"?' asked Usha.
Not I,' said Suresh. 1
Nor I,' said Binya. he
about to m o u n t his bicycle,
1 heard s Romi was
someone
calling,' said Usha.
smoke rising from
behind the distant
line
Tt's only the wind,' assured Binya. saw
Usha looked back at the ruins. of trees.
The sun had come forest fire,' said Prem, his friend
up and was touching the It looks like a
top of the wall. and classmate.
Come on,' said Suresh. T'm Nowhere neaar
hungry. It's well to the east,' said Romi.
They hurried along the path to the village. the road.
Goodbye, goodbye... Usha heard them calling There's strong wind,' said Prem, looking
a
at the
Or was it
just the wind? dry leaves swirling across the road. rained in
t was the middle of May, and it hadn't
the Terai for several weeks. The grass was brown, the

48 GREAT STORIES FOR CHILDREN

 Prem had it
leaves of the trees covered with dust. Even the night with
have stayed
it was getting on to six o'clock
in the though
evening,
He might
for the
which the Vaid
tablets
the village -
boys' shirts were damp with sweat. the not been
not been
him for his
father.
had given and the
It will be getting dark doctor back trouble,
soon, said Prem. Youta Romi's
father w a s having
prepared from local1
better spend the night at my house. been specially
had
medicine
No, I said I'd be home tonight. My father
isn herbs. fine bicycle, Romi
felt
keeping well. The doctor has given me some been given
such a

for him.'
tablets Having in r e t u r n w a s to get
those
could do
least he
that the possible.
You'd better hurry, then. That fire seems to to his
father a s early
as

be tablets rode swiftly out of

and
spreading." He put his
head down
from the
the smoke rose
Oh, it's far off. It will take me only forty minutes Ahead of him,
village.
the red.
to ride through the forest. Bye, Prem - see you forest and the sky glowed
burning
tomorrow!'
2
Romi mounted his bicycle andpedalled off down
far behind. There
was a
the main road of the
village, scattering stray hens, He had soon left the village
harder on the
stray dogs and stray villagers. Romi had to push
slight climb, and the top, the
Once over
Hey, look where you're going!' shouted a n angry pedals get o v e r the rise.
to
the edge of the sub-
villager, leaping out of the way of the oncoming road went windirng down to
bicycle. Do you think you own the road? tropical forest.
He relaxed,
Of course I own it,' called
Romi cheerfully, and This was part Romi enjoyed most.
the
to glide
cycled on. stopped pedalling, and allowed the bicycle
w a s rushing
His own
village lay about seven miles distant, gently down the slope. Soon the wind
on the other side of the
forest; but there was only past him, blowing his hair about his face and making
a
primary school in his village, and Romi was now
his shirt billow out behind. He burst into song.
in High School. His father, who was a fairly wealthy A dog from the village ran beside him, barking
sugarcane farmer, had only recently furiously. Romi shouted to the dog, encouraging
bought him the
bicycle. Romi didn't care too much for school and felt him in the race.
there weren't
enough holidays; but he enjoyed the long Then the road straightened out, and Romi began
rides, and he got on well with his classmates. pedalling again.
50 GREAT STORIES FOR CHILDREN ROMI AND THE WILDFIRE 51
 his knee. Then he
The dog, seeing the forest ahead, turned bace and bandaged
the village. It was afraid of the forest. back to his
handkerchief
again.
the bicycle birds and
mounted because
The smoke thicker now, and Romi
was bit slower now,

the smell of burning timber. But ahead of him

caught He rode
a

coming out
of the bushes.
the animals kept birds, too, were
road was clear. He rode on. but smaller
pheasants
Not only jungle crows,
the road parrots,
It was a rough, dusty road, cut straight
-

through streaming
across

was filled with their

the forest. Tall trees grew on either side, cutting o and the air
owls, magpies
the last of the daylight. But the spreading glow of
cries. Romi. It must
the fire on the right lit up the road, and giant the move,' thought
tree Everyone's on

shadows danced before the boy on the bicycle. really big

fire.
be a out from
Usually the road was deserted. This evening it the flames now, reaching
He could see
hear
and he could
was alive with wild creatures fleeing from the forest the trees o n his right,
behind fire. The air
fire. as the dry leaves caught
the crackling o r turning
The first animal that Romi saw was a hare, leaping his face. Leaves, still alight
was hot o n

across the road in front of him. It was followed by floated past.

to cinders,
several more hares. Then a band of monkeys streamed crossed the road,
and Romi had
A herd of deer
he mounted
across, chattering excitedly. until they had passed. Then
to stop
first time, he
Theyll be safethe other side, thought Rom
on but now, for the
and rode on;
The fire won't again
cross the road. was feeling afraid.
But it was
coming closer. And realising this, Rom
pedalled harder. In half-an-hour he should be out
of the forest.
It wasn't ann
From ahead faint clanging sound.
came a
Suddenly, from the side of the road, seveia of that. A fire-engine?
pheasants animal sound, Romi w a s s u r e
rose in the air,
low across the and
with whoosn,
a
There w e r e n o fire-engines
within fifty miles.
path, just in front of the oncomiis and Romi
discovered
bicycle. Taken by The clanging c a m e nearer,

picked himself up surprise, Romi fell off. When ne who was

that the noise came from a small boy
ne saw
and began brushing his clattering
that his knee was clothe Tunning along the forest path,
two milk-cans
cut, but he
allowed it to
bleeding. It wasn't a aco
eep
at his side
bleed a
little, took out
ou"
52 GREAT STORIES 53
FOR ROMI AND THE WILDFIRE
CHILDREN
 smarting and
his hair and
Teju!' called Romi, recognising the boy from Romi's eyes
were

but he
He w a s feeling tired
a neighbouring village. What are you
doining out eyebrows felt s c o r c h e d .
eyebrows
had to get beyond
the range
stop now, he
here? couldn't minutes of steady
o r fifteen
of A n o t h e r ten
Trying to get home, course, said Teju, panting of the
fire.
them to the
small wooden bridge
along beside the bicycle. would get forest
riding separating the
the little river
Jump on,' said Romi, stopping for him. that spanned
fields.
sugarcane
Teju was only eight or nine -

a couple of vears from the would be safe. The

across the river, they
younger than Romi. He had come to deliver milk to Once
other side, because
not touch them o n the
some road-workers, but the workers had left at fire could But could they
the ended at the river's edge.
first signs of the fire, and Teju was hurrying home the forest
in time?
with his cans still full of milk. get to the river

He got up the cross-bar of the 4

on
bicycle, and
Romi moved on again. He was quite used to carrying milk-cans. But the
went Teju's
friends on the crossbar. Clang, clang, clang,
louder too.
sound of the fire grew
Keep beating your milk-cans,' said Romi. Like its branches leaning across

A tall silk-cotton tree,

that, the animals will know we are coming. My bell almost beneath
had caught fire. They
were
the road,
doesn't make enough noise. I'm to branch fell
going get a hom
it when there was a crash and a burning
for, my cycle!
few yards in front of them.
T never to the ground a
knew there animals in the
were so and leave the
many
boys had to get off
The bicycle the
Jungle, said Teju. I saw a python in the middle of a tangle of thorny
the road. It road, forcing their way through
stretched right across!' at the
What did you bushes on the left, dragging and pushing
do? s o m e distance
Just kept running bicycle and only returning to the road
and jumped right
Teju continued
over
it! ahead of the burning tree.
to
chatter but Romi's thoughts back on the
were on the We won't get out in time,' said Teju,
fire, which was much closer now. Flameo
shot up from cross-bar but feeling disheartened.
the dry
grass and ran up the trunk* with all his
of trees and
along the branches. Yes, we will,' said Romi, pedalling
out above
the forest.
Smoke billowe might. The fire hasn't crossed the
road as yet.

54 GREAT ROMI AND THE WILDFIRE

55
STORIES FOR CHILDREN
 he spoke, he saw a small flame lean 5
Even as ap up
the left. lt wouldnt be long befa.
milk-cans and pulled himself
on
from the grass fore about his
more sparks and burning leaves were blown across Teju forgot
Romi r a n forward with the
the cross-bar.
the other side. up on
the road to kindle the grass
on
and mounted swiftly. He kept
Oh, look!' exclaimed Romi, bringing the bicycle bicycle, to gain speed,
to the left of the road, trying to
as far as possible
to a sudden stop. the crackling, the smoke and the
ignore the flames,
What's wrong now? asked Teju, rubbing his sore scorching heat.

then, through the smoke, he saw what the animals who could get
eyes. And It seemed that all
a c r o s s the road had
was stopping them. done s o . The exodus
away had
An elephant was standing in the middle of the
stopped.
his
road. We won't stop again,' said Romi, gritting
Teju slipped off the cross-bar, his cans rolling teeth. Not e v e n for an elephant!'

spilling their We're nearly there!' said Teju. He was perking

on the ground, bursting open and
contents. up again.
The elephant was about forty feet away. It moved A jackal, overcome by the heat and smoke, lay in
about restlessly, its big ears flapping as it turned the middle of the path, either dead or unconscious.
its head from side to side, wondering which way to Romi did not stop. He swerved round the animal.

g0.
Then he put all his strength into one final effort.
He covered the last hundred yards at top speed,
From far to the left, where the forest was still
and then they were out of the forest, free-wheeling
untouched, a herd of elephants moved towards
river. The leader of the
down the sloping road to the river.
herd raised his trunk an fire!'
trumpeted a call. Hearing it, the elephant in the roau
Look!' shouted Teju. The bridge is on

to the small
raised its own Burning embers had floated down on
trunk and trumpeted a reply. Then it
shambled off into the WOoden bridge, and the dry, ancient timber had
forest, in the direction ot tno
herd, leaving the way quickly caught fire. It was now burning fiercely.
clear. Romi did not hesitate. He left the road, riding
the
Come, Teju, jump on!'
here much longer!' urged Romi. We can't stay D1cycle oversand and pebbles. Then with a rush they
Went down the river-bank and into the water.
56 GREAT STORIES ROMI AND THE WILDFIRE
57
FOR CHILDREN
 knew they in the middle. But having
thing they were swift
splashing
sni
The next it was quite
in the
so,
forest, Romi was in no
darkn
even

trying to find each other of the burning

around, rkness. nt
got
safely
out
defeat him.
Help!' cried Teju. T'm drowning!' let a little river
mood to they would be
off his shoes, knowing
6 He kicked stones of the
the smooth
and then gripping
lost; c o n c e n t r a t e d on keeping
Don't be silly,' said Romi. The water isn't deep . with his toes, he
river-bed and Teju through
it's only up to the knees. Come here and grab hold balance and getting the bicycle
his
The water here c a m e up
of me.' middle of the stream.
the would have been too
Teju splashed across and grabbed Romi by the waist, and the current
to his
But when they reached the shallows,
belt. strong for Teju.
the bicycle.
down and helped Romi push
The water's so cold,' he s aid, his teeth Teju got and sank down
the opposite bank,
chattering. They reached
Do you want to go back and warm yourself? on the grass.
Romi. But not all night.
We can rest now,' said
asked Romi. 'Some people are never satisfied. Come
to my father.' He felt
medicine to give
on, help me get the bicycle up. It's down here, just
Ive got some

that the tablets in their

where in his pockets and found
standing.
we are
m e s s . "Oh well,

Together they managed to heave the bicycle out. envelope, had turned into a soggy
he said.
of the water and stand it he had to take them with water anyway,'
upright. continued to spread
Now sit on it,' said Romi. Tl push They watched the fire a s it
you across. road down
We'll be swept away,' said through the forest. It had crossed the
Teju. which they had come. The sky was a bright red,
No, we won't. There's not much water in the river
and the river reflected the colour of the skky.
at this time of the
year. But the current is quite Several elephants had found their way down to
strong the middle, so sit still. All right?
in
They were cooling off by spraying water
on
the river.
All right,' said
Teju nervously. each other with their trunks. Further downstreamn
Romi began guiding the bicycle across the river, there were deer and other animals.
one hand on the seat and one hand
The river
on the handlebar. Romi and Teju looked at each other in the glow
was shallow and sluggish in
midsummer, Irom the fire. They hadn't known each other very

58 GREAT STORIES FOR CHILDREN ROMI AND THE WILDFIRE 59

well before. But now they felt they had been friends
for years.
What are you thinking about?" asked Teju.
Tm thinking,' said Romi, that even if the fire is
out in a day or two, it will be a long time before the
bridge is repaired. So it will be a nice long holiday
from school!'
But you can walk across the river, said Teju.
You just did it.'
Impossible,' said Romi. It's much too swift.
swift.