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A sailor boy with Dewey
A sailor boy with Dewey

Chapter XXIX

Cover illustration for A sailor boy with Dewey
Context Illustration Reading 1/22 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
CAPTAIN KENNY AGAIN.
We were compelled to pass the night in the trees, the Tagals encamping less than a hundred feet away, and the night proving so light that escape was out of the question.
But at dawn our enemies departed, and then we lost no time in dropping to the ground and moving on, first, however, helping ourselves to all of the steaks we could conveniently carry.
Our course lay along the hills, and soon we crossed the canyon where Captain Kenny had played me such a dastardly trick.
Here we paused for a dinner of the steaks, and I think I can truthfully say that never did a repast taste sweeter.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

A sailor boy with Dewey

Chapter XXIX

Reading 1/22 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
CAPTAIN KENNY AGAIN.
Line 2
We were compelled to pass the night in the trees, the Tagals encamping less than a hundred feet away, and the night proving so light that escape was out of the question.
Line 3
But at dawn our enemies departed, and then we lost no time in dropping to the ground and moving on, first, however, helping ourselves to all of the steaks we could conveniently carry.
Line 4
Our course lay along the hills, and soon we crossed the canyon where Captain Kenny had played me such a dastardly trick.
Line 5
Here we paused for a dinner of the steaks, and I think I can truthfully say that never did a repast taste sweeter.

Learner Dictionary

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

AGAIN noun US /again/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “CAPTAIN KENNY AGAIN.”

Along preposition US /əˈlɔːŋ/

following the length of something from one end toward the other

From this reading “Our course lay along the hills, and soon we crossed the canyon where Captain Kenny had played me such a dastardly trick.”

CAPTAIN noun US /ˈcaptain/

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

From this reading “CAPTAIN KENNY AGAIN.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

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

From this reading “But at dawn our enemies departed, and then we lost no time in dropping to the ground and moving on, first, however, helping ourselves to all of the steaks we could conveniently carry.”

Course noun US /course/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Our course lay along the hills, and soon we crossed the canyon where Captain Kenny had played me such a dastardly trick.”

First noun US /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “But at dawn our enemies departed, and then we lost no time in dropping to the ground and moving on, first, however, helping ourselves to all of the steaks we could conveniently carry.”

Here noun US /here/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Here we paused for a dinner of the steaks, and I think I can truthfully say that never did a repast taste sweeter.”

However adverb US /ˌhaʊˈevər/

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading “But at dawn our enemies departed, and then we lost no time in dropping to the ground and moving on, first, however, helping ourselves to all of the steaks we could conveniently carry.”

Never noun US /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Here we paused for a dinner of the steaks, and I think I can truthfully say that never did a repast taste sweeter.”

Ourselves pronoun US /aʊərˈselvz/

used when we are both doing the action and receiving it

From this reading “But at dawn our enemies departed, and then we lost no time in dropping to the ground and moving on, first, however, helping ourselves to all of the steaks we could conveniently carry.”

Question noun US /ˈquestion/

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

From this reading “We were compelled to pass the night in the trees, the Tagals encamping less than a hundred feet away, and the night proving so light that escape was out of the question.”

Soon noun US /soon/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Our course lay along the hills, and soon we crossed the canyon where Captain Kenny had played me such a dastardly trick.”

Taste verb US /teɪst/

To perceive flavor through the mouth.

From this reading “Here we paused for a dinner of the steaks, and I think I can truthfully say that never did a repast taste sweeter.”

Think noun US /think/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Here we paused for a dinner of the steaks, and I think I can truthfully say that never did a repast taste sweeter.”

Time noun US /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “But at dawn our enemies departed, and then we lost no time in dropping to the ground and moving on, first, however, helping ourselves to all of the steaks we could conveniently carry.”

All words in this reading · 81

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 We were compelled to pass the night in the trees, the Tagals encamping less than a hundred feet away, and the night proving so light that escape was out of the question.

AGAINnounUS /again/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading CAPTAIN KENNY AGAIN.

all

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

From this reading But at dawn our enemies departed, and then we lost no time in dropping to the ground and moving on, first, however, helping ourselves to all of the steaks we could conveniently carry.

alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/

following the length of something from one end toward the other

From this reading Our course lay along the hills, and soon we crossed the canyon where Captain Kenny had played me such a dastardly trick.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading We were compelled to pass the night in the trees, the Tagals encamping less than a hundred feet away, and the night proving so light that escape was out of the question.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading But at dawn our enemies departed, and then we lost no time in dropping to the ground and moving on, first, however, helping ourselves to all of the steaks we could conveniently carry.

away

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

From this reading We were compelled to pass the night in the trees, the Tagals encamping less than a hundred feet away, and the night proving so light that escape was out of the question.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But at dawn our enemies departed, and then we lost no time in dropping to the ground and moving on, first, however, helping ourselves to all of the steaks we could conveniently carry.

canmodal verbUS /kæn/

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading Here we paused for a dinner of the steaks, and I think I can truthfully say that never did a repast taste sweeter.

canyon

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

From this reading Our course lay along the hills, and soon we crossed the canyon where Captain Kenny had played me such a dastardly trick.

CAPTAINnounUS /ˈcaptain/

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

From this reading CAPTAIN KENNY AGAIN.

carry

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

From this reading But at dawn our enemies departed, and then we lost no time in dropping to the ground and moving on, first, however, helping ourselves to all of the steaks we could conveniently carry.

compelled

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

From this reading We were compelled to pass the night in the trees, the Tagals encamping less than a hundred feet away, and the night proving so light that escape was out of the question.

conveniently

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

From this reading But at dawn our enemies departed, and then we lost no time in dropping to the ground and moving on, first, however, helping ourselves to all of the steaks we could conveniently carry.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading But at dawn our enemies departed, and then we lost no time in dropping to the ground and moving on, first, however, helping ourselves to all of the steaks we could conveniently carry.

coursenounUS /course/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Our course lay along the hills, and soon we crossed the canyon where Captain Kenny had played me such a dastardly trick.

crossed

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

From this reading Our course lay along the hills, and soon we crossed the canyon where Captain Kenny had played me such a dastardly trick.

dastardly

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

From this reading Our course lay along the hills, and soon we crossed the canyon where Captain Kenny had played me such a dastardly trick.

dawn

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

From this reading But at dawn our enemies departed, and then we lost no time in dropping to the ground and moving on, first, however, helping ourselves to all of the steaks we could conveniently carry.

departed

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

From this reading But at dawn our enemies departed, and then we lost no time in dropping to the ground and moving on, first, however, helping ourselves to all of the steaks we could conveniently carry.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading Here we paused for a dinner of the steaks, and I think I can truthfully say that never did a repast taste sweeter.

dinner

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

From this reading Here we paused for a dinner of the steaks, and I think I can truthfully say that never did a repast taste sweeter.

dropping

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

From this reading But at dawn our enemies departed, and then we lost no time in dropping to the ground and moving on, first, however, helping ourselves to all of the steaks we could conveniently carry.

encamping

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

From this reading We were compelled to pass the night in the trees, the Tagals encamping less than a hundred feet away, and the night proving so light that escape was out of the question.

enemies

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

From this reading But at dawn our enemies departed, and then we lost no time in dropping to the ground and moving on, first, however, helping ourselves to all of the steaks we could conveniently carry.

escape

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

From this reading We were compelled to pass the night in the trees, the Tagals encamping less than a hundred feet away, and the night proving so light that escape was out of the question.

feet

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

From this reading We were compelled to pass the night in the trees, the Tagals encamping less than a hundred feet away, and the night proving so light that escape was out of the question.

firstnounUS /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading But at dawn our enemies departed, and then we lost no time in dropping to the ground and moving on, first, however, helping ourselves to all of the steaks we could conveniently carry.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Here we paused for a dinner of the steaks, and I think I can truthfully say that never did a repast taste sweeter.

ground

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

From this reading But at dawn our enemies departed, and then we lost no time in dropping to the ground and moving on, first, however, helping ourselves to all of the steaks we could conveniently carry.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Our course lay along the hills, and soon we crossed the canyon where Captain Kenny had played me such a dastardly trick.

helping

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

From this reading But at dawn our enemies departed, and then we lost no time in dropping to the ground and moving on, first, however, helping ourselves to all of the steaks we could conveniently carry.

HerenounUS /here/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Here we paused for a dinner of the steaks, and I think I can truthfully say that never did a repast taste sweeter.

hills

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

From this reading Our course lay along the hills, and soon we crossed the canyon where Captain Kenny had played me such a dastardly trick.

howeveradverbUS /ˌhaʊˈevər/

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading But at dawn our enemies departed, and then we lost no time in dropping to the ground and moving on, first, however, helping ourselves to all of the steaks we could conveniently carry.

hundred

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

From this reading We were compelled to pass the night in the trees, the Tagals encamping less than a hundred feet away, and the night proving so light that escape was out of the question.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading Here we paused for a dinner of the steaks, and I think I can truthfully say that never did a repast taste sweeter.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading We were compelled to pass the night in the trees, the Tagals encamping less than a hundred feet away, and the night proving so light that escape was out of the question.

KENNY

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

From this reading CAPTAIN KENNY AGAIN.

lay

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

From this reading Our course lay along the hills, and soon we crossed the canyon where Captain Kenny had played me such a dastardly trick.

less

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

From this reading We were compelled to pass the night in the trees, the Tagals encamping less than a hundred feet away, and the night proving so light that escape was out of the question.

light

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

From this reading We were compelled to pass the night in the trees, the Tagals encamping less than a hundred feet away, and the night proving so light that escape was out of the question.

lost

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

From this reading But at dawn our enemies departed, and then we lost no time in dropping to the ground and moving on, first, however, helping ourselves to all of the steaks we could conveniently carry.

mepronounUS /miː/

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading Our course lay along the hills, and soon we crossed the canyon where Captain Kenny had played me such a dastardly trick.

moving

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

From this reading But at dawn our enemies departed, and then we lost no time in dropping to the ground and moving on, first, however, helping ourselves to all of the steaks we could conveniently carry.

nevernounUS /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Here we paused for a dinner of the steaks, and I think I can truthfully say that never did a repast taste sweeter.

night

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

From this reading We were compelled to pass the night in the trees, the Tagals encamping less than a hundred feet away, and the night proving so light that escape was out of the question.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading But at dawn our enemies departed, and then we lost no time in dropping to the ground and moving on, first, however, helping ourselves to all of the steaks we could conveniently carry.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading We were compelled to pass the night in the trees, the Tagals encamping less than a hundred feet away, and the night proving so light that escape was out of the question.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading But at dawn our enemies departed, and then we lost no time in dropping to the ground and moving on, first, however, helping ourselves to all of the steaks we could conveniently carry.

ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading But at dawn our enemies departed, and then we lost no time in dropping to the ground and moving on, first, however, helping ourselves to all of the steaks we could conveniently carry.

ourselvespronounUS /aʊərˈselvz/

used when we are both doing the action and receiving it

From this reading But at dawn our enemies departed, and then we lost no time in dropping to the ground and moving on, first, however, helping ourselves to all of the steaks we could conveniently carry.

out

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

From this reading We were compelled to pass the night in the trees, the Tagals encamping less than a hundred feet away, and the night proving so light that escape was out of the question.

pass

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

From this reading We were compelled to pass the night in the trees, the Tagals encamping less than a hundred feet away, and the night proving so light that escape was out of the question.

paused

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

From this reading Here we paused for a dinner of the steaks, and I think I can truthfully say that never did a repast taste sweeter.

played

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

From this reading Our course lay along the hills, and soon we crossed the canyon where Captain Kenny had played me such a dastardly trick.

proving

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

From this reading We were compelled to pass the night in the trees, the Tagals encamping less than a hundred feet away, and the night proving so light that escape was out of the question.

questionnounUS /ˈquestion/

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

From this reading We were compelled to pass the night in the trees, the Tagals encamping less than a hundred feet away, and the night proving so light that escape was out of the question.

repast

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

From this reading Here we paused for a dinner of the steaks, and I think I can truthfully say that never did a repast taste sweeter.

say

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

From this reading Here we paused for a dinner of the steaks, and I think I can truthfully say that never did a repast taste sweeter.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading We were compelled to pass the night in the trees, the Tagals encamping less than a hundred feet away, and the night proving so light that escape was out of the question.

soon

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

From this reading Our course lay along the hills, and soon we crossed the canyon where Captain Kenny had played me such a dastardly trick.

steaks

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

From this reading But at dawn our enemies departed, and then we lost no time in dropping to the ground and moving on, first, however, helping ourselves to all of the steaks we could conveniently carry.

suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading Our course lay along the hills, and soon we crossed the canyon where Captain Kenny had played me such a dastardly trick.

sweeter

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

From this reading Here we paused for a dinner of the steaks, and I think I can truthfully say that never did a repast taste sweeter.

Tagals

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

From this reading We were compelled to pass the night in the trees, the Tagals encamping less than a hundred feet away, and the night proving so light that escape was out of the question.

tasteverbUS /teɪst/

To perceive flavor through the mouth.

From this reading Here we paused for a dinner of the steaks, and I think I can truthfully say that never did a repast taste sweeter.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading We were compelled to pass the night in the trees, the Tagals encamping less than a hundred feet away, and the night proving so light that escape was out of the question.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading We were compelled to pass the night in the trees, the Tagals encamping less than a hundred feet away, and the night proving so light that escape was out of the question.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading We were compelled to pass the night in the trees, the Tagals encamping less than a hundred feet away, and the night proving so light that escape was out of the question.

then

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

From this reading But at dawn our enemies departed, and then we lost no time in dropping to the ground and moving on, first, however, helping ourselves to all of the steaks we could conveniently carry.

thinknounUS /think/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Here we paused for a dinner of the steaks, and I think I can truthfully say that never did a repast taste sweeter.

timenounUS /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading But at dawn our enemies departed, and then we lost no time in dropping to the ground and moving on, first, however, helping ourselves to all of the steaks we could conveniently carry.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading We were compelled to pass the night in the trees, the Tagals encamping less than a hundred feet away, and the night proving so light that escape was out of the question.

trees

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

From this reading We were compelled to pass the night in the trees, the Tagals encamping less than a hundred feet away, and the night proving so light that escape was out of the question.

trick

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

From this reading Our course lay along the hills, and soon we crossed the canyon where Captain Kenny had played me such a dastardly trick.

truthfully

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

From this reading Here we paused for a dinner of the steaks, and I think I can truthfully say that never did a repast taste sweeter.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading We were compelled to pass the night in the trees, the Tagals encamping less than a hundred feet away, and the night proving so light that escape was out of the question.

WepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading We were compelled to pass the night in the trees, the Tagals encamping less than a hundred feet away, and the night proving so light that escape was out of the question.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading We were compelled to pass the night in the trees, the Tagals encamping less than a hundred feet away, and the night proving so light that escape was out of the question.

whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading Our course lay along the hills, and soon we crossed the canyon where Captain Kenny had played me such a dastardly trick.