CBSE Class 10 Footprints Without Feet Chapter 8: The Hack Driver NCERT Solutions

Reviewed by NCERT Help Editorial Team · Updated on 29 Jul 2026

NCERT Solutions PDF Class 10 PDF

This chapter, 'The Hack Driver' from CBSE Class 10 Footprints Without Feet, presents a narrative about a lawyer's visit to New Mullion to serve a summons on Oliver Lutkins. The provided NCERT Solutions break down the story, explaining the lawyer's initial impressions of the town and his encounter with a friendly hack driver named Bill. The solutions detail how Bill, who is actually Lutkins himself, cleverly deceives the lawyer throughout the day, taking him on a wild goose chase instead of helping him find Lutkins. The chapter explores themes of deception, trust, and the cunning nature of individuals. These solutions offer step-by-step explanations to the questions, helping students grasp the plot, character motivations, and the underlying message of the story, making it an excellent resource for exam revision.

Home

Quick info

Board	CBSE
Class	Class 10
Subject	Footprints Without Feet
Session	2026
Language	English
Type	NCERT Solutions
Chapter	Chapter 8

Chapter summary

Chapter 8, 'The Hack Driver,' focuses on a lawyer's unsuccessful attempt to serve a summons on Oliver Lutkins in New Mullion. The NCERT Solutions cover the lawyer's initial perceptions of the town, his interactions with a hack driver named Bill (who is Lutkins in disguise), and the elaborate deception planned by Lutkins and his mother. The solutions clarify the characters' roles and the plot's progression, highlighting how Lutkins cleverly avoids being served the summons.

Learning outcomes

Understand the plot and characters of 'The Hack Driver'.
Analyze the theme of deception in the story.
Identify the lawyer's initial assumptions and how they are challenged.
Explain the role of the hack driver (Bill/Lutkins) in the narrative.
Evaluate the effectiveness of Lutkins' plan to avoid the summons.

Topics covered

Paper topics

The Hack Driver
Oliver Lutkins
New Mullion
Lawyer's visit
Deception
Character analysis
Plot summary
Themes in literature

Important topics

The deception of Oliver Lutkins
The lawyer's perspective
Character motivations
The setting of New Mullion
The theme of trust vs. betrayal

PDF preview

Read page by page below. PDF is streamed from the official NCERT website — no download button on this page.

Loading document …

Page of

Loading page …

Questions and Solutions

Read and Find Out Pg-47 - Question 1

Why is the lawyer sent to New Mullion? What does he first think about the place?

Solution: The lawyer is dispatched to New Mullion with the specific purpose of apprehending a man named Oliver Lutkins, who is needed as a witness in a legal case. Upon his arrival, the lawyer's initial impression of New Mullion is that it is a charming and uncomplicated country village. However, this perception is quickly dispelled as he observes the reality of the town, with its muddy streets and modest, unpainted wooden shops lining the road.

Read and Find Out Pg-47 - Question 2

Who befriends him? Where does he take him?

Solution: A friendly hack driver (a person who drives a horse-drawn carriage for hire) at the station strikes up a conversation with the lawyer and offers his assistance. The driver takes the lawyer to several locations around the town in his search for Oliver Lutkins. These places include Fritz's shop, a common spot for Lutkins to play poker, then Gustaff's barber shop, the main street, Gray's barber shop, and Wade's Hill. Ultimately, the driver leads the lawyer to Lutkins' mother's house, all while pretending to genuinely help find Lutkins.

Read and Find Out Pg-47 - Question 3

What does he say about Lutkins?

Solution: The hack driver describes Oliver Lutkins as an extremely cunning and deceptive individual, capable of tricking almost anyone. He emphasizes that catching Lutkins would not be an easy task. While acknowledging Lutkins's tendency to not repay borrowed money, the driver also suggests that Lutkins isn't inherently a bad person, implying a complex character.

Read and Find Out Pg-50 - Question 1

What more does Bill say about Lutkins and his family?

Solution: Bill elaborates on Oliver Lutkins's family by describing his mother. He portrays her as a formidable figure, suggesting she is exceptionally large and strong, possibly around nine feet tall and four feet wide, and very active. Bill warns the lawyer that Lutkins's mother can be quite intimidating and potentially dangerous, adding another layer to the challenge the lawyer faces.

Read and Find Out Pg-50 - Question 2

Does the narrator serve the summons that day?

Solution: No, the narrator (the lawyer) does not manage to serve the summons on Oliver Lutkins that day. He is completely deceived by the hack driver, Bill, who gains his confidence and pretends to help him throughout the day. Instead of finding Lutkins, the lawyer is taken on a fruitless journey around the town. It is later revealed that the helpful 'Bill' was, in fact, Oliver Lutkins himself, who masterfully avoided the lawyer.

Read and Find Out Pg-50 - Question 3

Who is Lutkins?

Solution: Lutkins is a resident of New Mullion and a crucial witness in a legal case. He is portrayed as a highly intelligent and cunning middle-aged man who works as a hack driver. He demonstrates his cleverness by easily befriending the lawyer and then manipulating him, leading him on a fabricated search for himself under the guise of assistance, thereby successfully evading the service of the summons.

Think About it - Question 1

When the lawyer reached New Mullion, did 'Bill' know that he was looking for Lutkins? When do you think Bill came up with his plan for fooling the lawyer?

Solution: Initially, when the lawyer first arrived in New Mullion, 'Bill' (who is actually Lutkins) did not know that the lawyer was specifically searching for him. It was only when the lawyer met Bill at the station and inquired about Oliver Lutkins that Bill realized the lawyer's purpose. It is highly probable that Bill conceived his plan to deceive the lawyer spontaneously at that very moment. Recognizing the potential for being caught, he quickly offered his 'help' in finding Lutkins, thereby initiating his elaborate scheme to mislead the lawyer throughout the day.

Common mistakes

Misidentifying the hack driver's true identity.
Underestimating the cunning nature of Lutkins.
Failing to recognize the lawyer's naivety.
Confusing the lawyer's initial impression of the town with its reality.

Revision tips

Reread the story focusing on the lawyer's interactions with Bill.
List the places Bill takes the lawyer and consider why each stop was chosen.
Discuss the character traits of the lawyer, Bill, and Lutkins' mother.
Think about how the story highlights the difference between appearance and reality.

Practice MCQs

Q1. Why was the lawyer sent to New Mullion?

Q2. What was the lawyer's initial impression of New Mullion?

Q3. Who befriends the lawyer at the station?

Q4. What is the true identity of the hack driver, Bill?

Q5. How does Bill (Lutkins) manage to fool the lawyer?

Frequently asked questions

What is the main theme of the chapter 'The Hack Driver'?

The main theme of 'The Hack Driver' is deception, as Oliver Lutkins cleverly disguises himself and leads the lawyer on a wild goose chase to avoid being served a summons.

Who is the narrator in 'The Hack Driver'?

The narrator in 'The Hack Driver' is the young lawyer who is sent to New Mullion to serve a summons on Oliver Lutkins.

Why couldn't the lawyer serve the summons on Lutkins on the first day?

The lawyer couldn't serve the summons because the hack driver, who introduced himself as Bill, was actually Oliver Lutkins himself and he spent the entire day deceiving the lawyer.

What was the lawyer's initial impression of New Mullion?

The lawyer initially thought New Mullion was a sweet and simple country village, but his perception changed upon seeing the muddy streets and simple shops.

How do these NCERT Solutions help students?

These solutions provide clear, rewritten answers to all chapter questions, helping students understand the story's plot, characters, and themes, which is crucial for exam preparation.

Content reviewed by the NCERT Help team. Editorial Team and update policy

NCERT Solutions PDF PDF on NCERT Help. URL unchanged for search indexing.