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King Solomon's Mines
King Solomon's Mines

Chapter III · Umbopa Enters Our Service

CHAPTER III.

Umbopa Enters Our Service, section 1: It takes from four to five days, according to the speed of the vessel and the state of the weather, to run up from the Cape to Durban. Sometimes, if the landing is bad at East Lond
Context Illustration Reading 1/38 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
It takes from four to five days, according to the speed of the vessel and the state of the weather, to run up from the Cape to Durban.
Sometimes, if the landing is bad at East London, where they have not yet made that wonderful harbour they talk so much of, and sink such a mint of money in, a ship is delayed for twenty-four hours before the cargo boats can get out to take off the goods.
But on this occasion we had not to wait at all, for there were no breakers on the Bar to speak of, and the tugs came out at once with the long strings of ugly flat-bottomed boats behind them, into which the packages were bundled with a crash.
It did not matter what they might be, over they went slap-bang; whether they contained china or woollen goods they met with the same treatment.
I saw one case holding four dozen of champagne smashed all to bits, and there was the champagne fizzing and boiling about in the bottom of the dirty cargo boat.
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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.

King Solomon's Mines

Chapter III · Umbopa Enters Our Service

Reading 1/38 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
It takes from four to five days, according to the speed of the vessel and the state of the weather, to run up from the Cape to Durban.
Line 2
Sometimes, if the landing is bad at East London, where they have not yet made that wonderful harbour they talk so much of, and sink such a mint of money in, a ship is delayed for twenty-four hours before the cargo boats can get out to take off the goods.
Line 3
But on this occasion we had not to wait at all, for there were no breakers on the Bar to speak of, and the tugs came out at once with the long strings of ugly flat-bottomed boats behind them, into which the packages were bundled with a crash.
Line 4
It did not matter what they might be, over they went slap-bang; whether they contained china or woollen goods they met with the same treatment.
Line 5
I saw one case holding four dozen of champagne smashed all to bits, and there was the champagne fizzing and boiling about in the bottom of the dirty cargo boat.

Learner Dictionary

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

takes noun US /teɪks/

plural of “take” — the income or profit arising from such transactions as the sale of land or other property

From this reading “It takes from four to five days, according to the speed of the vessel and the state of the weather, to run up from the Cape to Durban.”

Collocations
It takesA source-grounded phrase from this reading.
takes fromA source-grounded phrase from this reading.
All words in this reading · 120

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 Sometimes, if the landing is bad at East London, where they have not yet made that wonderful harbour they talk so much of, and sink such a mint of money in, a ship is delayed for twenty-four hours before the cargo boats can get out to take off the goods.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading I saw one case holding four dozen of champagne smashed all to bits, and there was the champagne fizzing and boiling about in the bottom of the dirty cargo boat.

according

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

From this reading It takes from four to five days, according to the speed of the vessel and the state of the weather, to run up from the Cape to Durban.

all

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

From this reading But on this occasion we had not to wait at all, for there were no breakers on the Bar to speak of, and the tugs came out at once with the long strings of ugly flat-bottomed boats behind them, into which the packages were bundled with a crash.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading It takes from four to five days, according to the speed of the vessel and the state of the weather, to run up from the Cape to Durban.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Sometimes, if the landing is bad at East London, where they have not yet made that wonderful harbour they talk so much of, and sink such a mint of money in, a ship is delayed for twenty-four hours before the cargo boats can get out to take off the goods.

bad

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

From this reading Sometimes, if the landing is bad at East London, where they have not yet made that wonderful harbour they talk so much of, and sink such a mint of money in, a ship is delayed for twenty-four hours before the cargo boats can get out to take off the goods.

Bar

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

From this reading But on this occasion we had not to wait at all, for there were no breakers on the Bar to speak of, and the tugs came out at once with the long strings of ugly flat-bottomed boats behind them, into which the packages were bundled with a crash.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading It did not matter what they might be, over they went slap-bang; whether they contained china or woollen goods they met with the same treatment.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading Sometimes, if the landing is bad at East London, where they have not yet made that wonderful harbour they talk so much of, and sink such a mint of money in, a ship is delayed for twenty-four hours before the cargo boats can get out to take off the goods.

behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/

at or toward the back of something

From this reading But on this occasion we had not to wait at all, for there were no breakers on the Bar to speak of, and the tugs came out at once with the long strings of ugly flat-bottomed boats behind them, into which the packages were bundled with a crash.

bits

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

From this reading I saw one case holding four dozen of champagne smashed all to bits, and there was the champagne fizzing and boiling about in the bottom of the dirty cargo boat.

boat

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

From this reading I saw one case holding four dozen of champagne smashed all to bits, and there was the champagne fizzing and boiling about in the bottom of the dirty cargo boat.

boats

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

From this reading Sometimes, if the landing is bad at East London, where they have not yet made that wonderful harbour they talk so much of, and sink such a mint of money in, a ship is delayed for twenty-four hours before the cargo boats can get out to take off the goods.

boiling

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

From this reading I saw one case holding four dozen of champagne smashed all to bits, and there was the champagne fizzing and boiling about in the bottom of the dirty cargo boat.

bottom

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

From this reading I saw one case holding four dozen of champagne smashed all to bits, and there was the champagne fizzing and boiling about in the bottom of the dirty cargo boat.

breakers

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

From this reading But on this occasion we had not to wait at all, for there were no breakers on the Bar to speak of, and the tugs came out at once with the long strings of ugly flat-bottomed boats behind them, into which the packages were bundled with a crash.

bundled

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

From this reading But on this occasion we had not to wait at all, for there were no breakers on the Bar to speak of, and the tugs came out at once with the long strings of ugly flat-bottomed boats behind them, into which the packages were bundled with a crash.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But on this occasion we had not to wait at all, for there were no breakers on the Bar to speak of, and the tugs came out at once with the long strings of ugly flat-bottomed boats behind them, into which the packages were bundled with a crash.

came

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

From this reading But on this occasion we had not to wait at all, for there were no breakers on the Bar to speak of, and the tugs came out at once with the long strings of ugly flat-bottomed boats behind them, into which the packages were bundled with a crash.

canmodal verbUS /kæn/

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading Sometimes, if the landing is bad at East London, where they have not yet made that wonderful harbour they talk so much of, and sink such a mint of money in, a ship is delayed for twenty-four hours before the cargo boats can get out to take off the goods.

Cape

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

From this reading It takes from four to five days, according to the speed of the vessel and the state of the weather, to run up from the Cape to Durban.

cargo

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

From this reading Sometimes, if the landing is bad at East London, where they have not yet made that wonderful harbour they talk so much of, and sink such a mint of money in, a ship is delayed for twenty-four hours before the cargo boats can get out to take off the goods.

case

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

From this reading I saw one case holding four dozen of champagne smashed all to bits, and there was the champagne fizzing and boiling about in the bottom of the dirty cargo boat.

champagne

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

From this reading I saw one case holding four dozen of champagne smashed all to bits, and there was the champagne fizzing and boiling about in the bottom of the dirty cargo boat.

china

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

From this reading It did not matter what they might be, over they went slap-bang; whether they contained china or woollen goods they met with the same treatment.

contained

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

From this reading It did not matter what they might be, over they went slap-bang; whether they contained china or woollen goods they met with the same treatment.

crash

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

From this reading But on this occasion we had not to wait at all, for there were no breakers on the Bar to speak of, and the tugs came out at once with the long strings of ugly flat-bottomed boats behind them, into which the packages were bundled with a crash.

days

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

From this reading It takes from four to five days, according to the speed of the vessel and the state of the weather, to run up from the Cape to Durban.

delayed

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

From this reading Sometimes, if the landing is bad at East London, where they have not yet made that wonderful harbour they talk so much of, and sink such a mint of money in, a ship is delayed for twenty-four hours before the cargo boats can get out to take off the goods.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

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

From this reading It did not matter what they might be, over they went slap-bang; whether they contained china or woollen goods they met with the same treatment.

dirty

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

From this reading I saw one case holding four dozen of champagne smashed all to bits, and there was the champagne fizzing and boiling about in the bottom of the dirty cargo boat.

dozen

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

From this reading I saw one case holding four dozen of champagne smashed all to bits, and there was the champagne fizzing and boiling about in the bottom of the dirty cargo boat.

Durban

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

From this reading It takes from four to five days, according to the speed of the vessel and the state of the weather, to run up from the Cape to Durban.

East

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

From this reading Sometimes, if the landing is bad at East London, where they have not yet made that wonderful harbour they talk so much of, and sink such a mint of money in, a ship is delayed for twenty-four hours before the cargo boats can get out to take off the goods.

five

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

From this reading It takes from four to five days, according to the speed of the vessel and the state of the weather, to run up from the Cape to Durban.

fizzing

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

From this reading I saw one case holding four dozen of champagne smashed all to bits, and there was the champagne fizzing and boiling about in the bottom of the dirty cargo boat.

flat-bottomed

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

From this reading But on this occasion we had not to wait at all, for there were no breakers on the Bar to speak of, and the tugs came out at once with the long strings of ugly flat-bottomed boats behind them, into which the packages were bundled with a crash.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Sometimes, if the landing is bad at East London, where they have not yet made that wonderful harbour they talk so much of, and sink such a mint of money in, a ship is delayed for twenty-four hours before the cargo boats can get out to take off the goods.

four

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

From this reading It takes from four to five days, according to the speed of the vessel and the state of the weather, to run up from the Cape to Durban.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading It takes from four to five days, according to the speed of the vessel and the state of the weather, to run up from the Cape to Durban.

get

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

From this reading Sometimes, if the landing is bad at East London, where they have not yet made that wonderful harbour they talk so much of, and sink such a mint of money in, a ship is delayed for twenty-four hours before the cargo boats can get out to take off the goods.

goods

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

From this reading Sometimes, if the landing is bad at East London, where they have not yet made that wonderful harbour they talk so much of, and sink such a mint of money in, a ship is delayed for twenty-four hours before the cargo boats can get out to take off the goods.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading But on this occasion we had not to wait at all, for there were no breakers on the Bar to speak of, and the tugs came out at once with the long strings of ugly flat-bottomed boats behind them, into which the packages were bundled with a crash.

harbour

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

From this reading Sometimes, if the landing is bad at East London, where they have not yet made that wonderful harbour they talk so much of, and sink such a mint of money in, a ship is delayed for twenty-four hours before the cargo boats can get out to take off the goods.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Sometimes, if the landing is bad at East London, where they have not yet made that wonderful harbour they talk so much of, and sink such a mint of money in, a ship is delayed for twenty-four hours before the cargo boats can get out to take off the goods.

holding

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

From this reading I saw one case holding four dozen of champagne smashed all to bits, and there was the champagne fizzing and boiling about in the bottom of the dirty cargo boat.

hours

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

From this reading Sometimes, if the landing is bad at East London, where they have not yet made that wonderful harbour they talk so much of, and sink such a mint of money in, a ship is delayed for twenty-four hours before the cargo boats can get out to take off the goods.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading I saw one case holding four dozen of champagne smashed all to bits, and there was the champagne fizzing and boiling about in the bottom of the dirty cargo boat.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading Sometimes, if the landing is bad at East London, where they have not yet made that wonderful harbour they talk so much of, and sink such a mint of money in, a ship is delayed for twenty-four hours before the cargo boats can get out to take off the goods.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Sometimes, if the landing is bad at East London, where they have not yet made that wonderful harbour they talk so much of, and sink such a mint of money in, a ship is delayed for twenty-four hours before the cargo boats can get out to take off the goods.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading But on this occasion we had not to wait at all, for there were no breakers on the Bar to speak of, and the tugs came out at once with the long strings of ugly flat-bottomed boats behind them, into which the packages were bundled with a crash.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading Sometimes, if the landing is bad at East London, where they have not yet made that wonderful harbour they talk so much of, and sink such a mint of money in, a ship is delayed for twenty-four hours before the cargo boats can get out to take off the goods.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It takes from four to five days, according to the speed of the vessel and the state of the weather, to run up from the Cape to Durban.

landing

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

From this reading Sometimes, if the landing is bad at East London, where they have not yet made that wonderful harbour they talk so much of, and sink such a mint of money in, a ship is delayed for twenty-four hours before the cargo boats can get out to take off the goods.

London

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

From this reading Sometimes, if the landing is bad at East London, where they have not yet made that wonderful harbour they talk so much of, and sink such a mint of money in, a ship is delayed for twenty-four hours before the cargo boats can get out to take off the goods.

longnounUS /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading But on this occasion we had not to wait at all, for there were no breakers on the Bar to speak of, and the tugs came out at once with the long strings of ugly flat-bottomed boats behind them, into which the packages were bundled with a crash.

made

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

From this reading Sometimes, if the landing is bad at East London, where they have not yet made that wonderful harbour they talk so much of, and sink such a mint of money in, a ship is delayed for twenty-four hours before the cargo boats can get out to take off the goods.

matter

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

From this reading It did not matter what they might be, over they went slap-bang; whether they contained china or woollen goods they met with the same treatment.

met

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

From this reading It did not matter what they might be, over they went slap-bang; whether they contained china or woollen goods they met with the same treatment.

mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading It did not matter what they might be, over they went slap-bang; whether they contained china or woollen goods they met with the same treatment.

mint

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

From this reading Sometimes, if the landing is bad at East London, where they have not yet made that wonderful harbour they talk so much of, and sink such a mint of money in, a ship is delayed for twenty-four hours before the cargo boats can get out to take off the goods.

money

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

From this reading Sometimes, if the landing is bad at East London, where they have not yet made that wonderful harbour they talk so much of, and sink such a mint of money in, a ship is delayed for twenty-four hours before the cargo boats can get out to take off the goods.

much

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

From this reading Sometimes, if the landing is bad at East London, where they have not yet made that wonderful harbour they talk so much of, and sink such a mint of money in, a ship is delayed for twenty-four hours before the cargo boats can get out to take off the goods.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading But on this occasion we had not to wait at all, for there were no breakers on the Bar to speak of, and the tugs came out at once with the long strings of ugly flat-bottomed boats behind them, into which the packages were bundled with a crash.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Sometimes, if the landing is bad at East London, where they have not yet made that wonderful harbour they talk so much of, and sink such a mint of money in, a ship is delayed for twenty-four hours before the cargo boats can get out to take off the goods.

occasion

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

From this reading But on this occasion we had not to wait at all, for there were no breakers on the Bar to speak of, and the tugs came out at once with the long strings of ugly flat-bottomed boats behind them, into which the packages were bundled with a crash.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading It takes from four to five days, according to the speed of the vessel and the state of the weather, to run up from the Cape to Durban.

off

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

From this reading Sometimes, if the landing is bad at East London, where they have not yet made that wonderful harbour they talk so much of, and sink such a mint of money in, a ship is delayed for twenty-four hours before the cargo boats can get out to take off the goods.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading But on this occasion we had not to wait at all, for there were no breakers on the Bar to speak of, and the tugs came out at once with the long strings of ugly flat-bottomed boats behind them, into which the packages were bundled with a crash.

once

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

From this reading But on this occasion we had not to wait at all, for there were no breakers on the Bar to speak of, and the tugs came out at once with the long strings of ugly flat-bottomed boats behind them, into which the packages were bundled with a crash.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading I saw one case holding four dozen of champagne smashed all to bits, and there was the champagne fizzing and boiling about in the bottom of the dirty cargo boat.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading It did not matter what they might be, over they went slap-bang; whether they contained china or woollen goods they met with the same treatment.

out

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

From this reading Sometimes, if the landing is bad at East London, where they have not yet made that wonderful harbour they talk so much of, and sink such a mint of money in, a ship is delayed for twenty-four hours before the cargo boats can get out to take off the goods.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading It did not matter what they might be, over they went slap-bang; whether they contained china or woollen goods they met with the same treatment.

packages

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

From this reading But on this occasion we had not to wait at all, for there were no breakers on the Bar to speak of, and the tugs came out at once with the long strings of ugly flat-bottomed boats behind them, into which the packages were bundled with a crash.

run

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

From this reading It takes from four to five days, according to the speed of the vessel and the state of the weather, to run up from the Cape to Durban.

samenounUS /same/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It did not matter what they might be, over they went slap-bang; whether they contained china or woollen goods they met with the same treatment.

saw

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

From this reading I saw one case holding four dozen of champagne smashed all to bits, and there was the champagne fizzing and boiling about in the bottom of the dirty cargo boat.

shipnounUS /ship/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Sometimes, if the landing is bad at East London, where they have not yet made that wonderful harbour they talk so much of, and sink such a mint of money in, a ship is delayed for twenty-four hours before the cargo boats can get out to take off the goods.

sink

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

From this reading Sometimes, if the landing is bad at East London, where they have not yet made that wonderful harbour they talk so much of, and sink such a mint of money in, a ship is delayed for twenty-four hours before the cargo boats can get out to take off the goods.

slap-bang

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

From this reading It did not matter what they might be, over they went slap-bang; whether they contained china or woollen goods they met with the same treatment.

smashed

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

From this reading I saw one case holding four dozen of champagne smashed all to bits, and there was the champagne fizzing and boiling about in the bottom of the dirty cargo boat.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Sometimes, if the landing is bad at East London, where they have not yet made that wonderful harbour they talk so much of, and sink such a mint of money in, a ship is delayed for twenty-four hours before the cargo boats can get out to take off the goods.

Sometimes

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

From this reading Sometimes, if the landing is bad at East London, where they have not yet made that wonderful harbour they talk so much of, and sink such a mint of money in, a ship is delayed for twenty-four hours before the cargo boats can get out to take off the goods.

speak

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

From this reading But on this occasion we had not to wait at all, for there were no breakers on the Bar to speak of, and the tugs came out at once with the long strings of ugly flat-bottomed boats behind them, into which the packages were bundled with a crash.

speed

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

From this reading It takes from four to five days, according to the speed of the vessel and the state of the weather, to run up from the Cape to Durban.

state

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

From this reading It takes from four to five days, according to the speed of the vessel and the state of the weather, to run up from the Cape to Durban.

strings

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

From this reading But on this occasion we had not to wait at all, for there were no breakers on the Bar to speak of, and the tugs came out at once with the long strings of ugly flat-bottomed boats behind them, into which the packages were bundled with a crash.

suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading Sometimes, if the landing is bad at East London, where they have not yet made that wonderful harbour they talk so much of, and sink such a mint of money in, a ship is delayed for twenty-four hours before the cargo boats can get out to take off the goods.

takenounUS /take/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Sometimes, if the landing is bad at East London, where they have not yet made that wonderful harbour they talk so much of, and sink such a mint of money in, a ship is delayed for twenty-four hours before the cargo boats can get out to take off the goods.

takesnounUS /teɪks/

plural of “take” — the income or profit arising from such transactions as the sale of land or other property

From this reading It takes from four to five days, according to the speed of the vessel and the state of the weather, to run up from the Cape to Durban.

talk

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

From this reading Sometimes, if the landing is bad at East London, where they have not yet made that wonderful harbour they talk so much of, and sink such a mint of money in, a ship is delayed for twenty-four hours before the cargo boats can get out to take off the goods.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Sometimes, if the landing is bad at East London, where they have not yet made that wonderful harbour they talk so much of, and sink such a mint of money in, a ship is delayed for twenty-four hours before the cargo boats can get out to take off the goods.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading It takes from four to five days, according to the speed of the vessel and the state of the weather, to run up from the Cape to Durban.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading But on this occasion we had not to wait at all, for there were no breakers on the Bar to speak of, and the tugs came out at once with the long strings of ugly flat-bottomed boats behind them, into which the packages were bundled with a crash.

there

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

From this reading But on this occasion we had not to wait at all, for there were no breakers on the Bar to speak of, and the tugs came out at once with the long strings of ugly flat-bottomed boats behind them, into which the packages were bundled with a crash.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Sometimes, if the landing is bad at East London, where they have not yet made that wonderful harbour they talk so much of, and sink such a mint of money in, a ship is delayed for twenty-four hours before the cargo boats can get out to take off the goods.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading But on this occasion we had not to wait at all, for there were no breakers on the Bar to speak of, and the tugs came out at once with the long strings of ugly flat-bottomed boats behind them, into which the packages were bundled with a crash.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading It takes from four to five days, according to the speed of the vessel and the state of the weather, to run up from the Cape to Durban.

treatment

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

From this reading It did not matter what they might be, over they went slap-bang; whether they contained china or woollen goods they met with the same treatment.

tugs

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

From this reading But on this occasion we had not to wait at all, for there were no breakers on the Bar to speak of, and the tugs came out at once with the long strings of ugly flat-bottomed boats behind them, into which the packages were bundled with a crash.

twenty-four

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

From this reading Sometimes, if the landing is bad at East London, where they have not yet made that wonderful harbour they talk so much of, and sink such a mint of money in, a ship is delayed for twenty-four hours before the cargo boats can get out to take off the goods.

ugly

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

From this reading But on this occasion we had not to wait at all, for there were no breakers on the Bar to speak of, and the tugs came out at once with the long strings of ugly flat-bottomed boats behind them, into which the packages were bundled with a crash.

up

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

From this reading It takes from four to five days, according to the speed of the vessel and the state of the weather, to run up from the Cape to Durban.

vessel

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

From this reading It takes from four to five days, according to the speed of the vessel and the state of the weather, to run up from the Cape to Durban.

wait

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

From this reading But on this occasion we had not to wait at all, for there were no breakers on the Bar to speak of, and the tugs came out at once with the long strings of ugly flat-bottomed boats behind them, into which the packages were bundled with a crash.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading I saw one case holding four dozen of champagne smashed all to bits, and there was the champagne fizzing and boiling about in the bottom of the dirty cargo boat.

wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading But on this occasion we had not to wait at all, for there were no breakers on the Bar to speak of, and the tugs came out at once with the long strings of ugly flat-bottomed boats behind them, into which the packages were bundled with a crash.

weather

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

From this reading It takes from four to five days, according to the speed of the vessel and the state of the weather, to run up from the Cape to Durban.

wentnounUS /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It did not matter what they might be, over they went slap-bang; whether they contained china or woollen goods they met with the same treatment.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading But on this occasion we had not to wait at all, for there were no breakers on the Bar to speak of, and the tugs came out at once with the long strings of ugly flat-bottomed boats behind them, into which the packages were bundled with a crash.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading It did not matter what they might be, over they went slap-bang; whether they contained china or woollen goods they met with the same treatment.

whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading Sometimes, if the landing is bad at East London, where they have not yet made that wonderful harbour they talk so much of, and sink such a mint of money in, a ship is delayed for twenty-four hours before the cargo boats can get out to take off the goods.

whetherconjunctionUS /ˈweðər/

used to introduce two or more possibilities

From this reading It did not matter what they might be, over they went slap-bang; whether they contained china or woollen goods they met with the same treatment.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading But on this occasion we had not to wait at all, for there were no breakers on the Bar to speak of, and the tugs came out at once with the long strings of ugly flat-bottomed boats behind them, into which the packages were bundled with a crash.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading But on this occasion we had not to wait at all, for there were no breakers on the Bar to speak of, and the tugs came out at once with the long strings of ugly flat-bottomed boats behind them, into which the packages were bundled with a crash.

wonderfulnounUS /ˈwonderful/

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

From this reading Sometimes, if the landing is bad at East London, where they have not yet made that wonderful harbour they talk so much of, and sink such a mint of money in, a ship is delayed for twenty-four hours before the cargo boats can get out to take off the goods.

woollen

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

From this reading It did not matter what they might be, over they went slap-bang; whether they contained china or woollen goods they met with the same treatment.

yetconjunctionUS /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading Sometimes, if the landing is bad at East London, where they have not yet made that wonderful harbour they talk so much of, and sink such a mint of money in, a ship is delayed for twenty-four hours before the cargo boats can get out to take off the goods.

Chapter Quiz

What is the central narrative or theme conveyed in this section of Chapter 03?

Which core linguistic virtue or character attribute is emphasized in this passage?

According to the text: "CHAPTER III....", what tone does the author establish?

Shadowing Practice

Narrator: CHAPTER III.
Narrator: This particular vehicle was what we call a