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Down the Slope
Down the Slope

Chapter XI

Cover illustration for Down the Slope
Context Illustration Reading 1/23 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
BILLINGS AND SKIP Joe Brace did not appear to think there was much to fear from the late rioters, so far as the possibility of their making an entrance through the old shaft was concerned.
"This end of the gallery is pretty well filled up already," he said, "an' with a few loads of slate it can be shut off entirely, more especially after the doors are barred."
"It is not from that portion of the mine that I apprehend any trouble.
Look here," and Mr. Wright spread on the desk before him a plan of the workings.
"At this point you can see that an old drift runs parallel with, and not more than three yards from our lower cut.
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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.

Down the Slope

Chapter XI

Reading 1/23 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
BILLINGS AND SKIP Joe Brace did not appear to think there was much to fear from the late rioters, so far as the possibility of their making an entrance through the old shaft was concerned.
Line 2
"This end of the gallery is pretty well filled up already," he said, "an' with a few loads of slate it can be shut off entirely, more especially after the doors are barred."
Line 3
"It is not from that portion of the mine that I apprehend any trouble.
Line 4
Look here," and Mr. Wright spread on the desk before him a plan of the workings.
Line 5
"At this point you can see that an old drift runs parallel with, and not more than three yards from our lower cut.

Learner Dictionary

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

After preposition US /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading “"This end of the gallery is pretty well filled up already," he said, "an' with a few loads of slate it can be shut off entirely, more especially after the doors are barred."”

Already noun US /already/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"This end of the gallery is pretty well filled up already," he said, "an' with a few loads of slate it can be shut off entirely, more especially after the doors are barred."”

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “Look here," and Mr. Wright spread on the desk before him a plan of the workings.”

Entirely noun US /ˈentirely/

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

From this reading “"This end of the gallery is pretty well filled up already," he said, "an' with a few loads of slate it can be shut off entirely, more especially after the doors are barred."”

Here noun US /here/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Look here," and Mr. Wright spread on the desk before him a plan of the workings.”

Look noun US /look/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Look here," and Mr. Wright spread on the desk before him a plan of the workings.”

Mine pronoun US /maɪn/

the one or ones belonging to the person speaking

From this reading “"It is not from that portion of the mine that I apprehend any trouble.”

Point noun US /pɔɪnt/

the main matter or purpose being discussed

From this reading “"At this point you can see that an old drift runs parallel with, and not more than three yards from our lower cut.”

Think noun US /think/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “BILLINGS AND SKIP Joe Brace did not appear to think there was much to fear from the late rioters, so far as the possibility of their making an entrance through the old shaft was concerned.”

Through noun US /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading “BILLINGS AND SKIP Joe Brace did not appear to think there was much to fear from the late rioters, so far as the possibility of their making an entrance through the old shaft was concerned.”

Well noun US /well/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"This end of the gallery is pretty well filled up already," he said, "an' with a few loads of slate it can be shut off entirely, more especially after the doors are barred."”

All words in this reading · 90

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 "This end of the gallery is pretty well filled up already," he said, "an' with a few loads of slate it can be shut off entirely, more especially after the doors are barred."

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading "This end of the gallery is pretty well filled up already," he said, "an' with a few loads of slate it can be shut off entirely, more especially after the doors are barred."

alreadynounUS /already/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "This end of the gallery is pretty well filled up already," he said, "an' with a few loads of slate it can be shut off entirely, more especially after the doors are barred."

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading BILLINGS AND SKIP Joe Brace did not appear to think there was much to fear from the late rioters, so far as the possibility of their making an entrance through the old shaft was concerned.

ANDconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading BILLINGS AND SKIP Joe Brace did not appear to think there was much to fear from the late rioters, so far as the possibility of their making an entrance through the old shaft was concerned.

any

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

From this reading "It is not from that portion of the mine that I apprehend any trouble.

appear

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

From this reading BILLINGS AND SKIP Joe Brace did not appear to think there was much to fear from the late rioters, so far as the possibility of their making an entrance through the old shaft was concerned.

apprehend

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

From this reading "It is not from that portion of the mine that I apprehend any trouble.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading "This end of the gallery is pretty well filled up already," he said, "an' with a few loads of slate it can be shut off entirely, more especially after the doors are barred."

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading BILLINGS AND SKIP Joe Brace did not appear to think there was much to fear from the late rioters, so far as the possibility of their making an entrance through the old shaft was concerned.

AtprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading "At this point you can see that an old drift runs parallel with, and not more than three yards from our lower cut.

barred

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

From this reading "This end of the gallery is pretty well filled up already," he said, "an' with a few loads of slate it can be shut off entirely, more especially after the doors are barred."

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading "This end of the gallery is pretty well filled up already," he said, "an' with a few loads of slate it can be shut off entirely, more especially after the doors are barred."

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading Look here," and Mr. Wright spread on the desk before him a plan of the workings.

BILLINGS

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

From this reading BILLINGS AND SKIP Joe Brace did not appear to think there was much to fear from the late rioters, so far as the possibility of their making an entrance through the old shaft was concerned.

Brace

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

From this reading BILLINGS AND SKIP Joe Brace did not appear to think there was much to fear from the late rioters, so far as the possibility of their making an entrance through the old shaft was concerned.

canmodal verbUS /kæn/

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading "This end of the gallery is pretty well filled up already," he said, "an' with a few loads of slate it can be shut off entirely, more especially after the doors are barred."

concerned

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

From this reading BILLINGS AND SKIP Joe Brace did not appear to think there was much to fear from the late rioters, so far as the possibility of their making an entrance through the old shaft was concerned.

cut

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

From this reading "At this point you can see that an old drift runs parallel with, and not more than three yards from our lower cut.

desk

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

From this reading Look here," and Mr. Wright spread on the desk before him a plan of the workings.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

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

From this reading BILLINGS AND SKIP Joe Brace did not appear to think there was much to fear from the late rioters, so far as the possibility of their making an entrance through the old shaft was concerned.

doors

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

From this reading "This end of the gallery is pretty well filled up already," he said, "an' with a few loads of slate it can be shut off entirely, more especially after the doors are barred."

drift

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

From this reading "At this point you can see that an old drift runs parallel with, and not more than three yards from our lower cut.

end

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

From this reading "This end of the gallery is pretty well filled up already," he said, "an' with a few loads of slate it can be shut off entirely, more especially after the doors are barred."

entirelynounUS /ˈentirely/

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

From this reading "This end of the gallery is pretty well filled up already," he said, "an' with a few loads of slate it can be shut off entirely, more especially after the doors are barred."

entrance

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

From this reading BILLINGS AND SKIP Joe Brace did not appear to think there was much to fear from the late rioters, so far as the possibility of their making an entrance through the old shaft was concerned.

especially

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

From this reading "This end of the gallery is pretty well filled up already," he said, "an' with a few loads of slate it can be shut off entirely, more especially after the doors are barred."

far

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

From this reading BILLINGS AND SKIP Joe Brace did not appear to think there was much to fear from the late rioters, so far as the possibility of their making an entrance through the old shaft was concerned.

fear

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

From this reading BILLINGS AND SKIP Joe Brace did not appear to think there was much to fear from the late rioters, so far as the possibility of their making an entrance through the old shaft was concerned.

few

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

From this reading "This end of the gallery is pretty well filled up already," he said, "an' with a few loads of slate it can be shut off entirely, more especially after the doors are barred."

filled

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

From this reading "This end of the gallery is pretty well filled up already," he said, "an' with a few loads of slate it can be shut off entirely, more especially after the doors are barred."

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading BILLINGS AND SKIP Joe Brace did not appear to think there was much to fear from the late rioters, so far as the possibility of their making an entrance through the old shaft was concerned.

gallery

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

From this reading "This end of the gallery is pretty well filled up already," he said, "an' with a few loads of slate it can be shut off entirely, more especially after the doors are barred."

hepronounUS /hiː/

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading "This end of the gallery is pretty well filled up already," he said, "an' with a few loads of slate it can be shut off entirely, more especially after the doors are barred."

herenounUS /here/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Look here," and Mr. Wright spread on the desk before him a plan of the workings.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading Look here," and Mr. Wright spread on the desk before him a plan of the workings.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading "It is not from that portion of the mine that I apprehend any trouble.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading "This end of the gallery is pretty well filled up already," he said, "an' with a few loads of slate it can be shut off entirely, more especially after the doors are barred."

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading "This end of the gallery is pretty well filled up already," he said, "an' with a few loads of slate it can be shut off entirely, more especially after the doors are barred."

Joe

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

From this reading BILLINGS AND SKIP Joe Brace did not appear to think there was much to fear from the late rioters, so far as the possibility of their making an entrance through the old shaft was concerned.

late

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

From this reading BILLINGS AND SKIP Joe Brace did not appear to think there was much to fear from the late rioters, so far as the possibility of their making an entrance through the old shaft was concerned.

loads

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

From this reading "This end of the gallery is pretty well filled up already," he said, "an' with a few loads of slate it can be shut off entirely, more especially after the doors are barred."

LooknounUS /look/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Look here," and Mr. Wright spread on the desk before him a plan of the workings.

lower

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

From this reading "At this point you can see that an old drift runs parallel with, and not more than three yards from our lower cut.

making

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

From this reading BILLINGS AND SKIP Joe Brace did not appear to think there was much to fear from the late rioters, so far as the possibility of their making an entrance through the old shaft was concerned.

minepronounUS /maɪn/

the one or ones belonging to the person speaking

From this reading "It is not from that portion of the mine that I apprehend any trouble.

more

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

From this reading "This end of the gallery is pretty well filled up already," he said, "an' with a few loads of slate it can be shut off entirely, more especially after the doors are barred."

Mr

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

From this reading Look here," and Mr. Wright spread on the desk before him a plan of the workings.

much

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

From this reading BILLINGS AND SKIP Joe Brace did not appear to think there was much to fear from the late rioters, so far as the possibility of their making an entrance through the old shaft was concerned.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading BILLINGS AND SKIP Joe Brace did not appear to think there was much to fear from the late rioters, so far as the possibility of their making an entrance through the old shaft was concerned.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading BILLINGS AND SKIP Joe Brace did not appear to think there was much to fear from the late rioters, so far as the possibility of their making an entrance through the old shaft was concerned.

off

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

From this reading "This end of the gallery is pretty well filled up already," he said, "an' with a few loads of slate it can be shut off entirely, more especially after the doors are barred."

old

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

From this reading BILLINGS AND SKIP Joe Brace did not appear to think there was much to fear from the late rioters, so far as the possibility of their making an entrance through the old shaft was concerned.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Look here," and Mr. Wright spread on the desk before him a plan of the workings.

ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading "At this point you can see that an old drift runs parallel with, and not more than three yards from our lower cut.

parallel

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

From this reading "At this point you can see that an old drift runs parallel with, and not more than three yards from our lower cut.

plan

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

From this reading Look here," and Mr. Wright spread on the desk before him a plan of the workings.

pointnounUS /pɔɪnt/

the main matter or purpose being discussed

From this reading "At this point you can see that an old drift runs parallel with, and not more than three yards from our lower cut.

portion

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

From this reading "It is not from that portion of the mine that I apprehend any trouble.

possibility

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

From this reading BILLINGS AND SKIP Joe Brace did not appear to think there was much to fear from the late rioters, so far as the possibility of their making an entrance through the old shaft was concerned.

pretty

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

From this reading "This end of the gallery is pretty well filled up already," he said, "an' with a few loads of slate it can be shut off entirely, more especially after the doors are barred."

rioters

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

From this reading BILLINGS AND SKIP Joe Brace did not appear to think there was much to fear from the late rioters, so far as the possibility of their making an entrance through the old shaft was concerned.

runs

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

From this reading "At this point you can see that an old drift runs parallel with, and not more than three yards from our lower cut.

said

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

From this reading "This end of the gallery is pretty well filled up already," he said, "an' with a few loads of slate it can be shut off entirely, more especially after the doors are barred."

see

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

From this reading "At this point you can see that an old drift runs parallel with, and not more than three yards from our lower cut.

shaft

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

From this reading BILLINGS AND SKIP Joe Brace did not appear to think there was much to fear from the late rioters, so far as the possibility of their making an entrance through the old shaft was concerned.

shut

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

From this reading "This end of the gallery is pretty well filled up already," he said, "an' with a few loads of slate it can be shut off entirely, more especially after the doors are barred."

SKIP

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

From this reading BILLINGS AND SKIP Joe Brace did not appear to think there was much to fear from the late rioters, so far as the possibility of their making an entrance through the old shaft was concerned.

slate

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

From this reading "This end of the gallery is pretty well filled up already," he said, "an' with a few loads of slate it can be shut off entirely, more especially after the doors are barred."

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading BILLINGS AND SKIP Joe Brace did not appear to think there was much to fear from the late rioters, so far as the possibility of their making an entrance through the old shaft was concerned.

spread

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

From this reading Look here," and Mr. Wright spread on the desk before him a plan of the workings.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading "At this point you can see that an old drift runs parallel with, and not more than three yards from our lower cut.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading "It is not from that portion of the mine that I apprehend any trouble.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading BILLINGS AND SKIP Joe Brace did not appear to think there was much to fear from the late rioters, so far as the possibility of their making an entrance through the old shaft was concerned.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading BILLINGS AND SKIP Joe Brace did not appear to think there was much to fear from the late rioters, so far as the possibility of their making an entrance through the old shaft was concerned.

there

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

From this reading BILLINGS AND SKIP Joe Brace did not appear to think there was much to fear from the late rioters, so far as the possibility of their making an entrance through the old shaft was concerned.

thinknounUS /think/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading BILLINGS AND SKIP Joe Brace did not appear to think there was much to fear from the late rioters, so far as the possibility of their making an entrance through the old shaft was concerned.

ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading "This end of the gallery is pretty well filled up already," he said, "an' with a few loads of slate it can be shut off entirely, more especially after the doors are barred."

three

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

From this reading "At this point you can see that an old drift runs parallel with, and not more than three yards from our lower cut.

throughnounUS /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading BILLINGS AND SKIP Joe Brace did not appear to think there was much to fear from the late rioters, so far as the possibility of their making an entrance through the old shaft was concerned.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading BILLINGS AND SKIP Joe Brace did not appear to think there was much to fear from the late rioters, so far as the possibility of their making an entrance through the old shaft was concerned.

trouble

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

From this reading "It is not from that portion of the mine that I apprehend any trouble.

up

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

From this reading "This end of the gallery is pretty well filled up already," he said, "an' with a few loads of slate it can be shut off entirely, more especially after the doors are barred."

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading BILLINGS AND SKIP Joe Brace did not appear to think there was much to fear from the late rioters, so far as the possibility of their making an entrance through the old shaft was concerned.

well

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

From this reading "This end of the gallery is pretty well filled up already," he said, "an' with a few loads of slate it can be shut off entirely, more especially after the doors are barred."

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading "This end of the gallery is pretty well filled up already," he said, "an' with a few loads of slate it can be shut off entirely, more especially after the doors are barred."

workings

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

From this reading Look here," and Mr. Wright spread on the desk before him a plan of the workings.

Wright

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

From this reading Look here," and Mr. Wright spread on the desk before him a plan of the workings.

yards

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

From this reading "At this point you can see that an old drift runs parallel with, and not more than three yards from our lower cut.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "At this point you can see that an old drift runs parallel with, and not more than three yards from our lower cut.