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A Dead Reckoning
A Dead Reckoning

Chapter XVI

Cover illustration for A Dead Reckoning
Context Illustration Reading 1/17 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Never had the little town of Cummerhays been stirred to its depths as it was on a certain April morning, when it awoke to find that it had rendered itself famous after a fashion which would cause its existence to become known wherever an English newspaper penetrated.
Its name would be in everybody's mouth for weeks to come.
It felt that it could never again sink into utter obscurity.
For the prisoners--about whose alleged attempt to rob the train all sorts of wild rumours were afloat--had after their capture been put into the train and brought on to Cummerhays, and were for the present lodged in the town jail.
The magistrates would assemble at ten o'clock, when the preliminary inquiry would take place.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

A Dead Reckoning

Chapter XVI

Reading 1/17 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Never had the little town of Cummerhays been stirred to its depths as it was on a certain April morning, when it awoke to find that it had rendered itself famous after a fashion which would cause its existence to become known wherever an English newspaper penetrated.
Line 2
Its name would be in everybody's mouth for weeks to come.
Line 3
It felt that it could never again sink into utter obscurity.
Line 4
For the prisoners--about whose alleged attempt to rob the train all sorts of wild rumours were afloat--had after their capture been put into the train and brought on to Cummerhays, and were for the present lodged in the town jail.
Line 5
The magistrates would assemble at ten o'clock, when the preliminary inquiry would take place.

Learner Dictionary

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.

About preposition US /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading “For the prisoners--about whose alleged attempt to rob the train all sorts of wild rumours were afloat--had after their capture been put into the train and brought on to Cummerhays, and were for the present lodged in the town jail.”

After preposition US /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading “Never had the little town of Cummerhays been stirred to its depths as it was on a certain April morning, when it awoke to find that it had rendered itself famous after a fashion which would cause its existence to become known wherever an English newspaper penetrated.”

Again noun US /again/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It felt that it could never again sink into utter obscurity.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “Never had the little town of Cummerhays been stirred to its depths as it was on a certain April morning, when it awoke to find that it had rendered itself famous after a fashion which would cause its existence to become known wherever an English newspaper penetrated.”

Brought noun US /ˈbrought/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading “For the prisoners--about whose alleged attempt to rob the train all sorts of wild rumours were afloat--had after their capture been put into the train and brought on to Cummerhays, and were for the present lodged in the town jail.”

Come noun US /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Its name would be in everybody's mouth for weeks to come.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading “It felt that it could never again sink into utter obscurity.”

Itself pronoun US /ˌɪtˈself/

used when the thing doing the action is also its object

From this reading “Never had the little town of Cummerhays been stirred to its depths as it was on a certain April morning, when it awoke to find that it had rendered itself famous after a fashion which would cause its existence to become known wherever an English newspaper penetrated.”

Little noun US /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Never had the little town of Cummerhays been stirred to its depths as it was on a certain April morning, when it awoke to find that it had rendered itself famous after a fashion which would cause its existence to become known wherever an English newspaper penetrated.”

Magistrates plural noun US /ˈmædʒɪstreɪts/

civil officers who administer local law

From this reading “The magistrates would assemble at ten o'clock, when the preliminary inquiry would take place.”

Morning noun US /morning/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Never had the little town of Cummerhays been stirred to its depths as it was on a certain April morning, when it awoke to find that it had rendered itself famous after a fashion which would cause its existence to become known wherever an English newspaper penetrated.”

Name noun US /name/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Its name would be in everybody's mouth for weeks to come.”

Never noun US /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Never had the little town of Cummerhays been stirred to its depths as it was on a certain April morning, when it awoke to find that it had rendered itself famous after a fashion which would cause its existence to become known wherever an English newspaper penetrated.”

Take noun US /take/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The magistrates would assemble at ten o'clock, when the preliminary inquiry would take place.”

Wherever conjunction US /weˈrevər/

in or to any place at all

From this reading “Never had the little town of Cummerhays been stirred to its depths as it was on a certain April morning, when it awoke to find that it had rendered itself famous after a fashion which would cause its existence to become known wherever an English newspaper penetrated.”

Whose determiner US /huːz/

belonging to which person

From this reading “For the prisoners--about whose alleged attempt to rob the train all sorts of wild rumours were afloat--had after their capture been put into the train and brought on to Cummerhays, and were for the present lodged in the town jail.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading “Never had the little town of Cummerhays been stirred to its depths as it was on a certain April morning, when it awoke to find that it had rendered itself famous after a fashion which would cause its existence to become known wherever an English newspaper penetrated.”

All words in this reading · 85

Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

adeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading Never had the little town of Cummerhays been stirred to its depths as it was on a certain April morning, when it awoke to find that it had rendered itself famous after a fashion which would cause its existence to become known wherever an English newspaper penetrated.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading For the prisoners--about whose alleged attempt to rob the train all sorts of wild rumours were afloat--had after their capture been put into the train and brought on to Cummerhays, and were for the present lodged in the town jail.

afloat

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading For the prisoners--about whose alleged attempt to rob the train all sorts of wild rumours were afloat--had after their capture been put into the train and brought on to Cummerhays, and were for the present lodged in the town jail.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading Never had the little town of Cummerhays been stirred to its depths as it was on a certain April morning, when it awoke to find that it had rendered itself famous after a fashion which would cause its existence to become known wherever an English newspaper penetrated.

againnounUS /again/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It felt that it could never again sink into utter obscurity.

all

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading For the prisoners--about whose alleged attempt to rob the train all sorts of wild rumours were afloat--had after their capture been put into the train and brought on to Cummerhays, and were for the present lodged in the town jail.

alleged

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading For the prisoners--about whose alleged attempt to rob the train all sorts of wild rumours were afloat--had after their capture been put into the train and brought on to Cummerhays, and were for the present lodged in the town jail.

andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading Never had the little town of Cummerhays been stirred to its depths as it was on a certain April morning, when it awoke to find that it had rendered itself famous after a fashion which would cause its existence to become known wherever an English newspaper penetrated.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading For the prisoners--about whose alleged attempt to rob the train all sorts of wild rumours were afloat--had after their capture been put into the train and brought on to Cummerhays, and were for the present lodged in the town jail.

April

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Never had the little town of Cummerhays been stirred to its depths as it was on a certain April morning, when it awoke to find that it had rendered itself famous after a fashion which would cause its existence to become known wherever an English newspaper penetrated.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading Never had the little town of Cummerhays been stirred to its depths as it was on a certain April morning, when it awoke to find that it had rendered itself famous after a fashion which would cause its existence to become known wherever an English newspaper penetrated.

assemble

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The magistrates would assemble at ten o'clock, when the preliminary inquiry would take place.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading The magistrates would assemble at ten o'clock, when the preliminary inquiry would take place.

attempt

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading For the prisoners--about whose alleged attempt to rob the train all sorts of wild rumours were afloat--had after their capture been put into the train and brought on to Cummerhays, and were for the present lodged in the town jail.

awoke

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Never had the little town of Cummerhays been stirred to its depths as it was on a certain April morning, when it awoke to find that it had rendered itself famous after a fashion which would cause its existence to become known wherever an English newspaper penetrated.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading Its name would be in everybody's mouth for weeks to come.

become

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Never had the little town of Cummerhays been stirred to its depths as it was on a certain April morning, when it awoke to find that it had rendered itself famous after a fashion which would cause its existence to become known wherever an English newspaper penetrated.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Never had the little town of Cummerhays been stirred to its depths as it was on a certain April morning, when it awoke to find that it had rendered itself famous after a fashion which would cause its existence to become known wherever an English newspaper penetrated.

broughtnounUS /ˈbrought/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading For the prisoners--about whose alleged attempt to rob the train all sorts of wild rumours were afloat--had after their capture been put into the train and brought on to Cummerhays, and were for the present lodged in the town jail.

capture

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading For the prisoners--about whose alleged attempt to rob the train all sorts of wild rumours were afloat--had after their capture been put into the train and brought on to Cummerhays, and were for the present lodged in the town jail.

cause

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Never had the little town of Cummerhays been stirred to its depths as it was on a certain April morning, when it awoke to find that it had rendered itself famous after a fashion which would cause its existence to become known wherever an English newspaper penetrated.

certain

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Never had the little town of Cummerhays been stirred to its depths as it was on a certain April morning, when it awoke to find that it had rendered itself famous after a fashion which would cause its existence to become known wherever an English newspaper penetrated.

comenounUS /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Its name would be in everybody's mouth for weeks to come.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading It felt that it could never again sink into utter obscurity.

Cummerhays

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Never had the little town of Cummerhays been stirred to its depths as it was on a certain April morning, when it awoke to find that it had rendered itself famous after a fashion which would cause its existence to become known wherever an English newspaper penetrated.

depths

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Never had the little town of Cummerhays been stirred to its depths as it was on a certain April morning, when it awoke to find that it had rendered itself famous after a fashion which would cause its existence to become known wherever an English newspaper penetrated.

English

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Never had the little town of Cummerhays been stirred to its depths as it was on a certain April morning, when it awoke to find that it had rendered itself famous after a fashion which would cause its existence to become known wherever an English newspaper penetrated.

everybody's

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Its name would be in everybody's mouth for weeks to come.

existence

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Never had the little town of Cummerhays been stirred to its depths as it was on a certain April morning, when it awoke to find that it had rendered itself famous after a fashion which would cause its existence to become known wherever an English newspaper penetrated.

famous

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Never had the little town of Cummerhays been stirred to its depths as it was on a certain April morning, when it awoke to find that it had rendered itself famous after a fashion which would cause its existence to become known wherever an English newspaper penetrated.

fashion

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Never had the little town of Cummerhays been stirred to its depths as it was on a certain April morning, when it awoke to find that it had rendered itself famous after a fashion which would cause its existence to become known wherever an English newspaper penetrated.

felt

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It felt that it could never again sink into utter obscurity.

find

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Never had the little town of Cummerhays been stirred to its depths as it was on a certain April morning, when it awoke to find that it had rendered itself famous after a fashion which would cause its existence to become known wherever an English newspaper penetrated.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Its name would be in everybody's mouth for weeks to come.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading Never had the little town of Cummerhays been stirred to its depths as it was on a certain April morning, when it awoke to find that it had rendered itself famous after a fashion which would cause its existence to become known wherever an English newspaper penetrated.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading Its name would be in everybody's mouth for weeks to come.

inquiry

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The magistrates would assemble at ten o'clock, when the preliminary inquiry would take place.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading It felt that it could never again sink into utter obscurity.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Never had the little town of Cummerhays been stirred to its depths as it was on a certain April morning, when it awoke to find that it had rendered itself famous after a fashion which would cause its existence to become known wherever an English newspaper penetrated.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading Never had the little town of Cummerhays been stirred to its depths as it was on a certain April morning, when it awoke to find that it had rendered itself famous after a fashion which would cause its existence to become known wherever an English newspaper penetrated.

itselfpronounUS /ˌɪtˈself/

used when the thing doing the action is also its object

From this reading Never had the little town of Cummerhays been stirred to its depths as it was on a certain April morning, when it awoke to find that it had rendered itself famous after a fashion which would cause its existence to become known wherever an English newspaper penetrated.

jail

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading For the prisoners--about whose alleged attempt to rob the train all sorts of wild rumours were afloat--had after their capture been put into the train and brought on to Cummerhays, and were for the present lodged in the town jail.

known

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Never had the little town of Cummerhays been stirred to its depths as it was on a certain April morning, when it awoke to find that it had rendered itself famous after a fashion which would cause its existence to become known wherever an English newspaper penetrated.

littlenounUS /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Never had the little town of Cummerhays been stirred to its depths as it was on a certain April morning, when it awoke to find that it had rendered itself famous after a fashion which would cause its existence to become known wherever an English newspaper penetrated.

lodged

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading For the prisoners--about whose alleged attempt to rob the train all sorts of wild rumours were afloat--had after their capture been put into the train and brought on to Cummerhays, and were for the present lodged in the town jail.

magistratesplural nounUS /ˈmædʒɪstreɪts/

civil officers who administer local law

From this reading The magistrates would assemble at ten o'clock, when the preliminary inquiry would take place.

morningnounUS /morning/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Never had the little town of Cummerhays been stirred to its depths as it was on a certain April morning, when it awoke to find that it had rendered itself famous after a fashion which would cause its existence to become known wherever an English newspaper penetrated.

mouth

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Its name would be in everybody's mouth for weeks to come.

namenounUS /name/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Its name would be in everybody's mouth for weeks to come.

NevernounUS /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Never had the little town of Cummerhays been stirred to its depths as it was on a certain April morning, when it awoke to find that it had rendered itself famous after a fashion which would cause its existence to become known wherever an English newspaper penetrated.

newspaper

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Never had the little town of Cummerhays been stirred to its depths as it was on a certain April morning, when it awoke to find that it had rendered itself famous after a fashion which would cause its existence to become known wherever an English newspaper penetrated.

o'clock

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The magistrates would assemble at ten o'clock, when the preliminary inquiry would take place.

obscurity

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It felt that it could never again sink into utter obscurity.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Never had the little town of Cummerhays been stirred to its depths as it was on a certain April morning, when it awoke to find that it had rendered itself famous after a fashion which would cause its existence to become known wherever an English newspaper penetrated.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Never had the little town of Cummerhays been stirred to its depths as it was on a certain April morning, when it awoke to find that it had rendered itself famous after a fashion which would cause its existence to become known wherever an English newspaper penetrated.

penetrated

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Never had the little town of Cummerhays been stirred to its depths as it was on a certain April morning, when it awoke to find that it had rendered itself famous after a fashion which would cause its existence to become known wherever an English newspaper penetrated.

place

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The magistrates would assemble at ten o'clock, when the preliminary inquiry would take place.

preliminary

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The magistrates would assemble at ten o'clock, when the preliminary inquiry would take place.

present

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading For the prisoners--about whose alleged attempt to rob the train all sorts of wild rumours were afloat--had after their capture been put into the train and brought on to Cummerhays, and were for the present lodged in the town jail.

prisoners

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading For the prisoners--about whose alleged attempt to rob the train all sorts of wild rumours were afloat--had after their capture been put into the train and brought on to Cummerhays, and were for the present lodged in the town jail.

put

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading For the prisoners--about whose alleged attempt to rob the train all sorts of wild rumours were afloat--had after their capture been put into the train and brought on to Cummerhays, and were for the present lodged in the town jail.

rendered

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Never had the little town of Cummerhays been stirred to its depths as it was on a certain April morning, when it awoke to find that it had rendered itself famous after a fashion which would cause its existence to become known wherever an English newspaper penetrated.

rob

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading For the prisoners--about whose alleged attempt to rob the train all sorts of wild rumours were afloat--had after their capture been put into the train and brought on to Cummerhays, and were for the present lodged in the town jail.

rumours

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading For the prisoners--about whose alleged attempt to rob the train all sorts of wild rumours were afloat--had after their capture been put into the train and brought on to Cummerhays, and were for the present lodged in the town jail.

sink

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It felt that it could never again sink into utter obscurity.

sorts

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading For the prisoners--about whose alleged attempt to rob the train all sorts of wild rumours were afloat--had after their capture been put into the train and brought on to Cummerhays, and were for the present lodged in the town jail.

stirred

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Never had the little town of Cummerhays been stirred to its depths as it was on a certain April morning, when it awoke to find that it had rendered itself famous after a fashion which would cause its existence to become known wherever an English newspaper penetrated.

takenounUS /take/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The magistrates would assemble at ten o'clock, when the preliminary inquiry would take place.

ten

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The magistrates would assemble at ten o'clock, when the preliminary inquiry would take place.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Never had the little town of Cummerhays been stirred to its depths as it was on a certain April morning, when it awoke to find that it had rendered itself famous after a fashion which would cause its existence to become known wherever an English newspaper penetrated.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading Never had the little town of Cummerhays been stirred to its depths as it was on a certain April morning, when it awoke to find that it had rendered itself famous after a fashion which would cause its existence to become known wherever an English newspaper penetrated.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading For the prisoners--about whose alleged attempt to rob the train all sorts of wild rumours were afloat--had after their capture been put into the train and brought on to Cummerhays, and were for the present lodged in the town jail.

toparticleUS /tuː/

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading Never had the little town of Cummerhays been stirred to its depths as it was on a certain April morning, when it awoke to find that it had rendered itself famous after a fashion which would cause its existence to become known wherever an English newspaper penetrated.

town

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Never had the little town of Cummerhays been stirred to its depths as it was on a certain April morning, when it awoke to find that it had rendered itself famous after a fashion which would cause its existence to become known wherever an English newspaper penetrated.

train

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading For the prisoners--about whose alleged attempt to rob the train all sorts of wild rumours were afloat--had after their capture been put into the train and brought on to Cummerhays, and were for the present lodged in the town jail.

utter

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It felt that it could never again sink into utter obscurity.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading Never had the little town of Cummerhays been stirred to its depths as it was on a certain April morning, when it awoke to find that it had rendered itself famous after a fashion which would cause its existence to become known wherever an English newspaper penetrated.

weeks

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Its name would be in everybody's mouth for weeks to come.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading For the prisoners--about whose alleged attempt to rob the train all sorts of wild rumours were afloat--had after their capture been put into the train and brought on to Cummerhays, and were for the present lodged in the town jail.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading Never had the little town of Cummerhays been stirred to its depths as it was on a certain April morning, when it awoke to find that it had rendered itself famous after a fashion which would cause its existence to become known wherever an English newspaper penetrated.

whereverconjunctionUS /weˈrevər/

in or to any place at all

From this reading Never had the little town of Cummerhays been stirred to its depths as it was on a certain April morning, when it awoke to find that it had rendered itself famous after a fashion which would cause its existence to become known wherever an English newspaper penetrated.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading Never had the little town of Cummerhays been stirred to its depths as it was on a certain April morning, when it awoke to find that it had rendered itself famous after a fashion which would cause its existence to become known wherever an English newspaper penetrated.

whosedeterminerUS /huːz/

belonging to which person

From this reading For the prisoners--about whose alleged attempt to rob the train all sorts of wild rumours were afloat--had after their capture been put into the train and brought on to Cummerhays, and were for the present lodged in the town jail.

wild

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading For the prisoners--about whose alleged attempt to rob the train all sorts of wild rumours were afloat--had after their capture been put into the train and brought on to Cummerhays, and were for the present lodged in the town jail.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading Never had the little town of Cummerhays been stirred to its depths as it was on a certain April morning, when it awoke to find that it had rendered itself famous after a fashion which would cause its existence to become known wherever an English newspaper penetrated.