The Incredible Journey: Reading Adventure & Quiz

Later on, when darkness fell, the young dog moved over and stretched out closely at his side, and the cat stalked over to lie between his paws; and so, warmed and comforted by their closeness, the old dog slept, momentarily unconscious of his aching, tired body or his hunger.

In the nearby hills a timber wolf howled mournfully; owls called and answered and glided silently by with great outspread wings; and there were faint whispers of movement and small rustling noises around all through the night. Once an eerie wail like a baby's crying woke the old dog and brought him shivering and whining to his feet; but it was only a porcupine, who scrambled noisily and clumsily down a nearby tree trunk and waddled away, still crying softly.

"warmed and comforted by their closeness": The three animals huddle together for warmth and comfort. This shows they depend on each other — they are like a family looking after one another in difficult times.
"momentarily unconscious of his aching, tired body or his hunger": The word momentarily means only for a short time. Even in sleep, the old dog can only briefly forget his pain and hunger — this tells us how hard their journey has been.
"a timber wolf howled mournfully": Mournfully means in a sad, sorrowful way. The wolf's howl adds to the lonely, dangerous atmosphere of the wilderness at night.
"an eerie wail like a baby's crying": The writer uses a simile (a comparison using "like") to describe the porcupine's cry. By comparing it to a baby's crying, the writer makes the sound feel human and unsettling — it frightens the old dog because he doesn't know what it is.

Stalked: Walked in a slow, proud, deliberate way — like cats often do. It doesn't mean hunting here, just the cat's careful, dignified movement.
Momentarily: Only for a very short time. The old dog's relief from pain lasts just a moment.
Mournfully: In a very sad way, as if grieving or full of sorrow.
Eerie: Strange and frightening — something that gives you a creepy feeling.
Outspread: Stretched wide open, like an owl's wings when it flies.

1. What impression does the author give of the animals' life on their journey?

2. Why does the writer compare the porcupine's cry to "a baby's crying"?

3. What does the phrase "warmed and comforted by their closeness" tell us about the three animals?

4. The writer says there were "faint whispers of movement and small rustling noises". What effect does this create?

When he lay down again the cat was gone from his side – another small night hunter slipping through the unquiet shadows that froze to stillness at his passing.

The young dog slept in fitful, uneasy starts, his muscles twitching, constantly lifting his head and growling softly. Once he sprang to his feet with a full-throated roar which brought a sudden splash in the distance, then silence – and who knows what else unknown, unseen or unheard passed through his mind to disturb him further? Only one thing was clear and certain – that at all costs he was going home, home to his own beloved master. Home lay to the west, his instinct told him; but he could not leave the other two – so somehow he must take them with him, all the way.

From The Incredible Journey by Sheila Burnford

"another small night hunter": The writer calls the cat a "night hunter" to remind us that even a domestic pet has wild instincts. While the dogs sleep, the cat goes hunting — it is perfectly adapted to the darkness and acts on its natural instincts as a predator.
"unquiet shadows that froze to stillness at his passing": This is personification — giving human or living qualities to non-living things. The shadows aren't really "unquiet" or "freezing" — but describing them this way makes the forest feel alive and watching, as if even the darkness is afraid of the cat.
"fitful, uneasy starts": Fitful means broken and disturbed — not smooth or restful. The young dog's sleep is constantly interrupted by anxiety and alertness.
"at all costs he was going home": This phrase means no matter what happens, no matter how hard it is. It shows the young dog's absolute determination and loyalty to his master.
"he could not leave the other two": Despite his desperate need to go home, the young dog feels responsible for the old dog and the cat. This shows loyalty not just to his master but also to his companions.

Fitful: Happening in short, irregular bursts — not continuous or peaceful. His sleep kept being interrupted.
Full-throated: A loud, powerful sound made with all the strength of the throat — a deep, booming bark.
Instinct: A natural feeling or knowledge that an animal (or person) is born with, not something they were taught. The dog just knows which direction is home.
Beloved: Deeply loved and cherished. The young dog loves his master with all his heart.
Unquiet: Restless, not still — full of hidden movement and disturbance.

5. Why does the writer describe the cat as "another small night hunter"?

6. What does "unquiet shadows that froze to stillness at his passing" mean?

7. How would you best describe the character of the young dog?

8. The writer uses the phrase "at all costs". What does this tell us about the young dog's feelings?

9. Why can't the young dog simply set off home alone?

10. What is the overall mood or atmosphere of this passage?

Reading: The Incredible Journey

Vocabulary & Phrases Quiz

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