He started running down the hill. I wanted to shoot him in the leg but then decided against shooting at an unarmed man. We ran after him but the distance between us was too great. We watched him till he disappeared. We sat down on a rock to rest. At that moment a very strange thing happened.
1. Who are the ‘us’ mentioned in the passage? Who is ‘he’?
2. Where were they? Why were they there?
3. Why was ‘he’ running? Why didn’t the narrator shoot at him?
4. What was the ‘strange thing’ the narrator noticed then?
5. Did they pursue ‘the strange thing’ immediately? Why/why not?
Answers:
1. The ‘us’ mentioned in the passage are Dr Watson and Sir Henry. ‘He’ is Selden, the escaped convict.
2. They were on the moor. They had come to catch Selden.
3. He was trying to escape being caught. Dr Watson didn’t want to shoot at an unarmed man.
4. Dr Watson noticed a man standing like a statue on the hill, his legs apart and head bowed, as if brooding on the moor.
5. Watson wanted to find who the man was, but Sir Henry didn’t seem to be in a mood for a new adventure, so they returned to Baskerville Hall.
Important questions from the chapter:
1. What is the relationship between the Barrymores and Selden?
A: Selden is the brother of Mrs. Barrymore, the Nottinghill murderer and the escaped convict. He was spoilt as a child and as he grew up, he fell into bad company and became a criminal.
The Barrymores took him in when he escaped from the prison, but sent him away to the moor, as Sir Henry was arriving.
They supplied him food on alternate nights and the candle was a signal that food was ready.
2. What explanation does Stapleton give to Sir Henry for his rude behaviour? (OR)
Why was Stapleton so angry to find Miss Stapleton and Sir Henry together on the moor ?
A: Stapleton apologizes to Sir Henry for his rude behaviour, and explains that his sister, Miss. Stapleton is everything for him, and therefore he cannot bear the thought of losing her.
He says that when he saw Sir Henry with her, he was shocked and abused him. Yet he understands that he cannot keep a beautiful woman like Miss Stapleton unmarried for a long time, hence it would be better if she married a neighbour like Sir Henry.
He requests Sir Henry not to claim her love for a period of three months during which he would get used to the idea.
3. What was the mystery behind Barrymore’s night walks? (OR)
Why did Barrymore stand at the window at night with a candle held against the glass?
A: Selden, the Nottinghill murderer was Mrs. Barrymore’s brother.
They supplied him food on alternate nights and the candle was a signal that food was ready.
2. What explanation does Stapleton give to Sir Henry for his rude behaviour? (OR)
Why was Stapleton so angry to find Miss Stapleton and Sir Henry together on the moor ?
A: Stapleton apologizes to Sir Henry for his rude behaviour, and explains that his sister, Miss. Stapleton is everything for him, and therefore he cannot bear the thought of losing her.
He says that when he saw Sir Henry with her, he was shocked and abused him. Yet he understands that he cannot keep a beautiful woman like Miss Stapleton unmarried for a long time, hence it would be better if she married a neighbour like Sir Henry.
He requests Sir Henry not to claim her love for a period of three months during which he would get used to the idea.
3. What was the mystery behind Barrymore’s night walks? (OR)
Why did Barrymore stand at the window at night with a candle held against the glass?
A: Selden, the Nottinghill murderer was Mrs. Barrymore’s brother.
When he escaped from Princetown prison, they took him in, but sent him off to the moor on Sir Henry’s arrival.
On his wife’s request, Barrymore was supplying food to his brother-in-law, who was starving on the cold moor. The candle was a signal that food was ready.
4. Why does not Sir Henry want Dr. Watson to accompany him when he goes for a walk on the moor?
A: Sir Henry had planned to meet Miss Stapleton on the moor and talk to her in private. Hence he did not want Watson to accompany him when he went out to meet her.
5. What was the explanation behind the mysterious sobbing that Dr. Watson heard on his first night at Baskerville hall?
A.The Nottinghill murderer Selden was Mrs. Barrymore’s brother.
When he escaped from prison they took him in, but sent him off to the moor on the arrival of Sir. Henry.
Every alternate night Barrymore signalled with a candle and took him food.
It was Mrs.Barrymore who was sobbing for her unhappy brother who was starving on the cold moor and could be caught by the police anytime.
6. Why did Barrymore refuse to tell Sir Henry the truth about the candle at the window?
A. The Nottinghill murderer Selden was Mrs. Barrymore’s brother.
When he escaped from prison they took him in, but sent him off to the cmoor on the arrival of Sir. Henry.
Every alternate night Barrymore signalled with a candle and took him food.
Barrymore refused to reveal the truth as it wasn’t his secret.
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