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Extract from the Play
Summary in Bullet Points
- Dev Datt stays calm and says that the four men are ready to meet the King.
- The Merchant does not trust them. He is afraid that they may quietly leave if he goes away.
- The four men agree to go with him instead of arguing or trying to escape.
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At the palace, the Merchant speaks to a guard, who takes him inside.
yonder
= over there
slip away = leave quietly or secretly
Sentry = a guard
View Answer
Answer: They are willing to go because they know they are innocent and can explain how they learnt about the camel. They trust that a fair hearing will clear them.
View Answer
Answer: Scene I ends with the Merchant taking the four men to the palace. The accusation has not been settled, and the camel is still missing. Scene II must therefore decide whether the men are thieves or wise observers.
Four young men travelling to Ujjain notice fresh camel tracks and each learns something different about the animal. A Merchant looking for the camel confirms every detail, but when the men say they have never seen it, he assumes they are thieves. The scene ends with all of them going to the King for judgement.
View Answer
Answer: Scene I begins with four tired but hopeful men travelling to Ujjain for work. Their careful study of camel tracks reveals four facts about a missing camel. When the Merchant arrives, their exact knowledge first amazes him and then makes him suspicious. Because they say they have never seen the camel, he accuses them of theft and takes them to the King.
View Answer
Answer: The four young men observe quietly, study details and speak calmly. The Merchant arrives distressed and quickly moves from surprise to anger. The young men rely on evidence, while the Merchant relies on assumption. This contrast prepares the play’s main lesson about wisdom and judgement.
View Answer
Answer: The audience hears the four men describe the camel accurately but does not yet hear their full explanations. The Merchant believes this knowledge proves theft, while the men calmly insist they have never seen the animal. Scene I ends before the truth is tested. This creates suspense because Scene II must reveal whether observation can explain the mystery and save the men.
