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Buffalo Bill's Boy Bugler
Buffalo Bill's Boy Bugler

Chapter XX

Cover illustration for Buffalo Bill's Boy Bugler
Context Illustration Reading 1/22 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
HICKOK OUTWITTED BY A THIEF.
Sitting silent as a spectre, listening to the grubbing teeth of the horses a few rods distant and for the sound of any approach down the gully on the other side, Wild Bill Hickok observed a ball of fire shoot up into the southern sky in the distance.
It burned brightly for a moment and then disappeared.
Immediately far in the east another sprang up, and then the west responded, but to the north Hickok could not observe over the higher land.
The Laramie man knew this to be some sort of Indian signals, but of course could not pretend to understand their meaning.
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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.

Buffalo Bill's Boy Bugler

Chapter XX

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

Line 1
HICKOK OUTWITTED BY A THIEF.
Line 2
Sitting silent as a spectre, listening to the grubbing teeth of the horses a few rods distant and for the sound of any approach down the gully on the other side, Wild Bill Hickok observed a ball of fire shoot up into the southern sky in the distance.
Line 3
It burned brightly for a moment and then disappeared.
Line 4
Immediately far in the east another sprang up, and then the west responded, but to the north Hickok could not observe over the higher land.
Line 5
The Laramie man knew this to be some sort of Indian signals, but of course could not pretend to understand their meaning.

Learner Dictionary

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

Another noun US /ˈanother/

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

From this reading “Immediately far in the east another sprang up, and then the west responded, but to the north Hickok could not observe over the higher land.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

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

From this reading “Immediately far in the east another sprang up, and then the west responded, but to the north Hickok could not observe over the higher land.”

Course noun US /course/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The Laramie man knew this to be some sort of Indian signals, but of course could not pretend to understand their meaning.”

Disappeared noun US /ˈdisappeared/

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

From this reading “It burned brightly for a moment and then disappeared.”

Distant adjective US /ˈdɪstənt/

not friendly or close

From this reading “Sitting silent as a spectre, listening to the grubbing teeth of the horses a few rods distant and for the sound of any approach down the gully on the other side, Wild Bill Hickok observed a ball of fire shoot up into the southern sky in the distance.”

Over preposition US /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading “Immediately far in the east another sprang up, and then the west responded, but to the north Hickok could not observe over the higher land.”

Understand noun US /understand/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The Laramie man knew this to be some sort of Indian signals, but of course could not pretend to understand their meaning.”

All words in this reading · 76

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 HICKOK OUTWITTED BY A THIEF.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Sitting silent as a spectre, listening to the grubbing teeth of the horses a few rods distant and for the sound of any approach down the gully on the other side, Wild Bill Hickok observed a ball of fire shoot up into the southern sky in the distance.

anothernounUS /ˈanother/

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

From this reading Immediately far in the east another sprang up, and then the west responded, but to the north Hickok could not observe over the higher land.

any

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

From this reading Sitting silent as a spectre, listening to the grubbing teeth of the horses a few rods distant and for the sound of any approach down the gully on the other side, Wild Bill Hickok observed a ball of fire shoot up into the southern sky in the distance.

approach

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

From this reading Sitting silent as a spectre, listening to the grubbing teeth of the horses a few rods distant and for the sound of any approach down the gully on the other side, Wild Bill Hickok observed a ball of fire shoot up into the southern sky in the distance.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading Sitting silent as a spectre, listening to the grubbing teeth of the horses a few rods distant and for the sound of any approach down the gully on the other side, Wild Bill Hickok observed a ball of fire shoot up into the southern sky in the distance.

ball

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

From this reading Sitting silent as a spectre, listening to the grubbing teeth of the horses a few rods distant and for the sound of any approach down the gully on the other side, Wild Bill Hickok observed a ball of fire shoot up into the southern sky in the distance.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading The Laramie man knew this to be some sort of Indian signals, but of course could not pretend to understand their meaning.

Bill

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

From this reading Sitting silent as a spectre, listening to the grubbing teeth of the horses a few rods distant and for the sound of any approach down the gully on the other side, Wild Bill Hickok observed a ball of fire shoot up into the southern sky in the distance.

brightly

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

From this reading It burned brightly for a moment and then disappeared.

burned

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

From this reading It burned brightly for a moment and then disappeared.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Immediately far in the east another sprang up, and then the west responded, but to the north Hickok could not observe over the higher land.

BYprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading HICKOK OUTWITTED BY A THIEF.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading Immediately far in the east another sprang up, and then the west responded, but to the north Hickok could not observe over the higher land.

coursenounUS /course/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The Laramie man knew this to be some sort of Indian signals, but of course could not pretend to understand their meaning.

disappearednounUS /ˈdisappeared/

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

From this reading It burned brightly for a moment and then disappeared.

distance

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

From this reading Sitting silent as a spectre, listening to the grubbing teeth of the horses a few rods distant and for the sound of any approach down the gully on the other side, Wild Bill Hickok observed a ball of fire shoot up into the southern sky in the distance.

distantadjectiveUS /ˈdɪstənt/

not friendly or close

From this reading Sitting silent as a spectre, listening to the grubbing teeth of the horses a few rods distant and for the sound of any approach down the gully on the other side, Wild Bill Hickok observed a ball of fire shoot up into the southern sky in the distance.

down

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

From this reading Sitting silent as a spectre, listening to the grubbing teeth of the horses a few rods distant and for the sound of any approach down the gully on the other side, Wild Bill Hickok observed a ball of fire shoot up into the southern sky in the distance.

east

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

From this reading Immediately far in the east another sprang up, and then the west responded, but to the north Hickok could not observe over the higher land.

far

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

From this reading Immediately far in the east another sprang up, and then the west responded, but to the north Hickok could not observe over the higher land.

few

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

From this reading Sitting silent as a spectre, listening to the grubbing teeth of the horses a few rods distant and for the sound of any approach down the gully on the other side, Wild Bill Hickok observed a ball of fire shoot up into the southern sky in the distance.

fire

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

From this reading Sitting silent as a spectre, listening to the grubbing teeth of the horses a few rods distant and for the sound of any approach down the gully on the other side, Wild Bill Hickok observed a ball of fire shoot up into the southern sky in the distance.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Sitting silent as a spectre, listening to the grubbing teeth of the horses a few rods distant and for the sound of any approach down the gully on the other side, Wild Bill Hickok observed a ball of fire shoot up into the southern sky in the distance.

grubbing

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

From this reading Sitting silent as a spectre, listening to the grubbing teeth of the horses a few rods distant and for the sound of any approach down the gully on the other side, Wild Bill Hickok observed a ball of fire shoot up into the southern sky in the distance.

gully

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

From this reading Sitting silent as a spectre, listening to the grubbing teeth of the horses a few rods distant and for the sound of any approach down the gully on the other side, Wild Bill Hickok observed a ball of fire shoot up into the southern sky in the distance.

HICKOK

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

From this reading HICKOK OUTWITTED BY A THIEF.

higher

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

From this reading Immediately far in the east another sprang up, and then the west responded, but to the north Hickok could not observe over the higher land.

horses

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

From this reading Sitting silent as a spectre, listening to the grubbing teeth of the horses a few rods distant and for the sound of any approach down the gully on the other side, Wild Bill Hickok observed a ball of fire shoot up into the southern sky in the distance.

Immediately

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

From this reading Immediately far in the east another sprang up, and then the west responded, but to the north Hickok could not observe over the higher land.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Sitting silent as a spectre, listening to the grubbing teeth of the horses a few rods distant and for the sound of any approach down the gully on the other side, Wild Bill Hickok observed a ball of fire shoot up into the southern sky in the distance.

Indian

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

From this reading The Laramie man knew this to be some sort of Indian signals, but of course could not pretend to understand their meaning.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading Sitting silent as a spectre, listening to the grubbing teeth of the horses a few rods distant and for the sound of any approach down the gully on the other side, Wild Bill Hickok observed a ball of fire shoot up into the southern sky in the distance.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It burned brightly for a moment and then disappeared.

knew

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

From this reading The Laramie man knew this to be some sort of Indian signals, but of course could not pretend to understand their meaning.

land

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

From this reading Immediately far in the east another sprang up, and then the west responded, but to the north Hickok could not observe over the higher land.

Laramie

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

From this reading The Laramie man knew this to be some sort of Indian signals, but of course could not pretend to understand their meaning.

listening

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

From this reading Sitting silent as a spectre, listening to the grubbing teeth of the horses a few rods distant and for the sound of any approach down the gully on the other side, Wild Bill Hickok observed a ball of fire shoot up into the southern sky in the distance.

man

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

From this reading The Laramie man knew this to be some sort of Indian signals, but of course could not pretend to understand their meaning.

meaning

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

From this reading The Laramie man knew this to be some sort of Indian signals, but of course could not pretend to understand their meaning.

moment

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

From this reading It burned brightly for a moment and then disappeared.

north

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

From this reading Immediately far in the east another sprang up, and then the west responded, but to the north Hickok could not observe over the higher land.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Immediately far in the east another sprang up, and then the west responded, but to the north Hickok could not observe over the higher land.

observe

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

From this reading Immediately far in the east another sprang up, and then the west responded, but to the north Hickok could not observe over the higher land.

observed

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

From this reading Sitting silent as a spectre, listening to the grubbing teeth of the horses a few rods distant and for the sound of any approach down the gully on the other side, Wild Bill Hickok observed a ball of fire shoot up into the southern sky in the distance.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Sitting silent as a spectre, listening to the grubbing teeth of the horses a few rods distant and for the sound of any approach down the gully on the other side, Wild Bill Hickok observed a ball of fire shoot up into the southern sky in the distance.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Sitting silent as a spectre, listening to the grubbing teeth of the horses a few rods distant and for the sound of any approach down the gully on the other side, Wild Bill Hickok observed a ball of fire shoot up into the southern sky in the distance.

other

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

From this reading Sitting silent as a spectre, listening to the grubbing teeth of the horses a few rods distant and for the sound of any approach down the gully on the other side, Wild Bill Hickok observed a ball of fire shoot up into the southern sky in the distance.

OUTWITTED

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

From this reading HICKOK OUTWITTED BY A THIEF.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading Immediately far in the east another sprang up, and then the west responded, but to the north Hickok could not observe over the higher land.

pretend

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

From this reading The Laramie man knew this to be some sort of Indian signals, but of course could not pretend to understand their meaning.

responded

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

From this reading Immediately far in the east another sprang up, and then the west responded, but to the north Hickok could not observe over the higher land.

rods

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

From this reading Sitting silent as a spectre, listening to the grubbing teeth of the horses a few rods distant and for the sound of any approach down the gully on the other side, Wild Bill Hickok observed a ball of fire shoot up into the southern sky in the distance.

shoot

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

From this reading Sitting silent as a spectre, listening to the grubbing teeth of the horses a few rods distant and for the sound of any approach down the gully on the other side, Wild Bill Hickok observed a ball of fire shoot up into the southern sky in the distance.

side

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

From this reading Sitting silent as a spectre, listening to the grubbing teeth of the horses a few rods distant and for the sound of any approach down the gully on the other side, Wild Bill Hickok observed a ball of fire shoot up into the southern sky in the distance.

signals

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

From this reading The Laramie man knew this to be some sort of Indian signals, but of course could not pretend to understand their meaning.

silent

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

From this reading Sitting silent as a spectre, listening to the grubbing teeth of the horses a few rods distant and for the sound of any approach down the gully on the other side, Wild Bill Hickok observed a ball of fire shoot up into the southern sky in the distance.

Sitting

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

From this reading Sitting silent as a spectre, listening to the grubbing teeth of the horses a few rods distant and for the sound of any approach down the gully on the other side, Wild Bill Hickok observed a ball of fire shoot up into the southern sky in the distance.

sky

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

From this reading Sitting silent as a spectre, listening to the grubbing teeth of the horses a few rods distant and for the sound of any approach down the gully on the other side, Wild Bill Hickok observed a ball of fire shoot up into the southern sky in the distance.

some

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

From this reading The Laramie man knew this to be some sort of Indian signals, but of course could not pretend to understand their meaning.

sort

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

From this reading The Laramie man knew this to be some sort of Indian signals, but of course could not pretend to understand their meaning.

sound

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

From this reading Sitting silent as a spectre, listening to the grubbing teeth of the horses a few rods distant and for the sound of any approach down the gully on the other side, Wild Bill Hickok observed a ball of fire shoot up into the southern sky in the distance.

southern

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

From this reading Sitting silent as a spectre, listening to the grubbing teeth of the horses a few rods distant and for the sound of any approach down the gully on the other side, Wild Bill Hickok observed a ball of fire shoot up into the southern sky in the distance.

spectre

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

From this reading Sitting silent as a spectre, listening to the grubbing teeth of the horses a few rods distant and for the sound of any approach down the gully on the other side, Wild Bill Hickok observed a ball of fire shoot up into the southern sky in the distance.

sprang

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

From this reading Immediately far in the east another sprang up, and then the west responded, but to the north Hickok could not observe over the higher land.

teeth

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

From this reading Sitting silent as a spectre, listening to the grubbing teeth of the horses a few rods distant and for the sound of any approach down the gully on the other side, Wild Bill Hickok observed a ball of fire shoot up into the southern sky in the distance.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Sitting silent as a spectre, listening to the grubbing teeth of the horses a few rods distant and for the sound of any approach down the gully on the other side, Wild Bill Hickok observed a ball of fire shoot up into the southern sky in the distance.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading The Laramie man knew this to be some sort of Indian signals, but of course could not pretend to understand their meaning.

then

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

From this reading It burned brightly for a moment and then disappeared.

THIEF

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

From this reading HICKOK OUTWITTED BY A THIEF.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading The Laramie man knew this to be some sort of Indian signals, but of course could not pretend to understand their meaning.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Sitting silent as a spectre, listening to the grubbing teeth of the horses a few rods distant and for the sound of any approach down the gully on the other side, Wild Bill Hickok observed a ball of fire shoot up into the southern sky in the distance.

understandnounUS /understand/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The Laramie man knew this to be some sort of Indian signals, but of course could not pretend to understand their meaning.

up

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

From this reading Sitting silent as a spectre, listening to the grubbing teeth of the horses a few rods distant and for the sound of any approach down the gully on the other side, Wild Bill Hickok observed a ball of fire shoot up into the southern sky in the distance.

west

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

From this reading Immediately far in the east another sprang up, and then the west responded, but to the north Hickok could not observe over the higher land.

Wild

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

From this reading Sitting silent as a spectre, listening to the grubbing teeth of the horses a few rods distant and for the sound of any approach down the gully on the other side, Wild Bill Hickok observed a ball of fire shoot up into the southern sky in the distance.