Complete classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
For Treasure Bound
For Treasure Bound

Chapter III

Cover illustration for For Treasure Bound
Context Illustration Reading 1/86 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Just as I did so, I heard the mainsail fluttering, as though the boat had luffed into the wind; and at the same moment I caught sight, through the companion-way, of the vacant tiller swinging about.
"Gone forward to shift the jib," thought I; and I jumped on deck to lend a hand.
_Bob was nowhere to be seen_.
"Good heavens!" exclaimed I, "what dreadful thing has happened?"
I thought of the sea-serpent for one moment, but dismissed the idea the next, as being both too horrible and too unlikely.
0:00 / 0:00
Speed 0.75x
AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

For Treasure Bound

Chapter III

Reading 1/86 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Just as I did so, I heard the mainsail fluttering, as though the boat had luffed into the wind; and at the same moment I caught sight, through the companion-way, of the vacant tiller swinging about.
Line 2
"Gone forward to shift the jib," thought I; and I jumped on deck to lend a hand.
Line 3
_Bob was nowhere to be seen_.
Line 4
"Good heavens!" exclaimed I, "what dreadful thing has happened?"
Line 5
I thought of the sea-serpent for one moment, but dismissed the idea the next, as being both too horrible and too unlikely.

Learner Dictionary

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

About preposition US /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading “Just as I did so, I heard the mainsail fluttering, as though the boat had luffed into the wind; and at the same moment I caught sight, through the companion-way, of the vacant tiller swinging about.”

Being auxiliary verb US /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading “I thought of the sea-serpent for one moment, but dismissed the idea the next, as being both too horrible and too unlikely.”

Dreadful adjective US /ˈdrɛdfəl/

extremely frightening or unpleasant

From this reading “"Good heavens!" exclaimed I, "what dreadful thing has happened?"”

Fluttering verb US /ˈflʌtərɪŋ/

moving with quick light beats or trembles

From this reading “Just as I did so, I heard the mainsail fluttering, as though the boat had luffed into the wind; and at the same moment I caught sight, through the companion-way, of the vacant tiller swinging about.”

Forward noun US /forward/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"Gone forward to shift the jib," thought I; and I jumped on deck to lend a hand.”

Good noun US /good/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"Good heavens!" exclaimed I, "what dreadful thing has happened?"”

Hand noun US /hand/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"Gone forward to shift the jib," thought I; and I jumped on deck to lend a hand.”

Has auxiliary verb US /hæz/

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

From this reading “"Good heavens!" exclaimed I, "what dreadful thing has happened?"”

Next noun US /next/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “I thought of the sea-serpent for one moment, but dismissed the idea the next, as being both too horrible and too unlikely.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “I thought of the sea-serpent for one moment, but dismissed the idea the next, as being both too horrible and too unlikely.”

Same noun US /same/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Just as I did so, I heard the mainsail fluttering, as though the boat had luffed into the wind; and at the same moment I caught sight, through the companion-way, of the vacant tiller swinging about.”

Thing noun US /thing/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"Good heavens!" exclaimed I, "what dreadful thing has happened?"”

Though conjunction US /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading “Just as I did so, I heard the mainsail fluttering, as though the boat had luffed into the wind; and at the same moment I caught sight, through the companion-way, of the vacant tiller swinging about.”

Thought noun US /thought/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"Gone forward to shift the jib," thought I; and I jumped on deck to lend a hand.”

Through noun US /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading “Just as I did so, I heard the mainsail fluttering, as though the boat had luffed into the wind; and at the same moment I caught sight, through the companion-way, of the vacant tiller swinging about.”

Wind noun US /wind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Just as I did so, I heard the mainsail fluttering, as though the boat had luffed into the wind; and at the same moment I caught sight, through the companion-way, of the vacant tiller swinging about.”

All words in this reading · 65

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 "Gone forward to shift the jib," thought I; and I jumped on deck to lend a hand.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading Just as I did so, I heard the mainsail fluttering, as though the boat had luffed into the wind; and at the same moment I caught sight, through the companion-way, of the vacant tiller swinging about.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Just as I did so, I heard the mainsail fluttering, as though the boat had luffed into the wind; and at the same moment I caught sight, through the companion-way, of the vacant tiller swinging about.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading Just as I did so, I heard the mainsail fluttering, as though the boat had luffed into the wind; and at the same moment I caught sight, through the companion-way, of the vacant tiller swinging about.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Just as I did so, I heard the mainsail fluttering, as though the boat had luffed into the wind; and at the same moment I caught sight, through the companion-way, of the vacant tiller swinging about.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading _Bob was nowhere to be seen_.

beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading I thought of the sea-serpent for one moment, but dismissed the idea the next, as being both too horrible and too unlikely.

boat

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

From this reading Just as I did so, I heard the mainsail fluttering, as though the boat had luffed into the wind; and at the same moment I caught sight, through the companion-way, of the vacant tiller swinging about.

Bob

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

From this reading _Bob was nowhere to be seen_.

bothdeterminerUS /boʊθ/

the two together, not just one

From this reading I thought of the sea-serpent for one moment, but dismissed the idea the next, as being both too horrible and too unlikely.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading I thought of the sea-serpent for one moment, but dismissed the idea the next, as being both too horrible and too unlikely.

caught

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

From this reading Just as I did so, I heard the mainsail fluttering, as though the boat had luffed into the wind; and at the same moment I caught sight, through the companion-way, of the vacant tiller swinging about.

companion-way

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

From this reading Just as I did so, I heard the mainsail fluttering, as though the boat had luffed into the wind; and at the same moment I caught sight, through the companion-way, of the vacant tiller swinging about.

deck

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

From this reading "Gone forward to shift the jib," thought I; and I jumped on deck to lend a hand.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

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

From this reading Just as I did so, I heard the mainsail fluttering, as though the boat had luffed into the wind; and at the same moment I caught sight, through the companion-way, of the vacant tiller swinging about.

dismissed

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

From this reading I thought of the sea-serpent for one moment, but dismissed the idea the next, as being both too horrible and too unlikely.

dreadfuladjectiveUS /ˈdrɛdfəl/

extremely frightening or unpleasant

From this reading "Good heavens!" exclaimed I, "what dreadful thing has happened?"

exclaimed

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

From this reading "Good heavens!" exclaimed I, "what dreadful thing has happened?"

flutteringverbUS /ˈflʌtərɪŋ/

moving with quick light beats or trembles

From this reading Just as I did so, I heard the mainsail fluttering, as though the boat had luffed into the wind; and at the same moment I caught sight, through the companion-way, of the vacant tiller swinging about.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading I thought of the sea-serpent for one moment, but dismissed the idea the next, as being both too horrible and too unlikely.

forwardnounUS /forward/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "Gone forward to shift the jib," thought I; and I jumped on deck to lend a hand.

Gone

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

From this reading "Gone forward to shift the jib," thought I; and I jumped on deck to lend a hand.

GoodnounUS /good/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "Good heavens!" exclaimed I, "what dreadful thing has happened?"

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Just as I did so, I heard the mainsail fluttering, as though the boat had luffed into the wind; and at the same moment I caught sight, through the companion-way, of the vacant tiller swinging about.

hand

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

From this reading "Gone forward to shift the jib," thought I; and I jumped on deck to lend a hand.

happened

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

From this reading "Good heavens!" exclaimed I, "what dreadful thing has happened?"

hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

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

From this reading "Good heavens!" exclaimed I, "what dreadful thing has happened?"

heard

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

From this reading Just as I did so, I heard the mainsail fluttering, as though the boat had luffed into the wind; and at the same moment I caught sight, through the companion-way, of the vacant tiller swinging about.

heavens

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

From this reading "Good heavens!" exclaimed I, "what dreadful thing has happened?"

horrible

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

From this reading I thought of the sea-serpent for one moment, but dismissed the idea the next, as being both too horrible and too unlikely.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading Just as I did so, I heard the mainsail fluttering, as though the boat had luffed into the wind; and at the same moment I caught sight, through the companion-way, of the vacant tiller swinging about.

idea

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

From this reading I thought of the sea-serpent for one moment, but dismissed the idea the next, as being both too horrible and too unlikely.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading Just as I did so, I heard the mainsail fluttering, as though the boat had luffed into the wind; and at the same moment I caught sight, through the companion-way, of the vacant tiller swinging about.

jib

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

From this reading "Gone forward to shift the jib," thought I; and I jumped on deck to lend a hand.

jumped

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

From this reading "Gone forward to shift the jib," thought I; and I jumped on deck to lend a hand.

Just

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

From this reading Just as I did so, I heard the mainsail fluttering, as though the boat had luffed into the wind; and at the same moment I caught sight, through the companion-way, of the vacant tiller swinging about.

lend

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

From this reading "Gone forward to shift the jib," thought I; and I jumped on deck to lend a hand.

luffed

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

From this reading Just as I did so, I heard the mainsail fluttering, as though the boat had luffed into the wind; and at the same moment I caught sight, through the companion-way, of the vacant tiller swinging about.

mainsail

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

From this reading Just as I did so, I heard the mainsail fluttering, as though the boat had luffed into the wind; and at the same moment I caught sight, through the companion-way, of the vacant tiller swinging about.

moment

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

From this reading Just as I did so, I heard the mainsail fluttering, as though the boat had luffed into the wind; and at the same moment I caught sight, through the companion-way, of the vacant tiller swinging about.

nextnounUS /next/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading I thought of the sea-serpent for one moment, but dismissed the idea the next, as being both too horrible and too unlikely.

nowhere

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

From this reading _Bob was nowhere to be seen_.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Just as I did so, I heard the mainsail fluttering, as though the boat had luffed into the wind; and at the same moment I caught sight, through the companion-way, of the vacant tiller swinging about.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading "Gone forward to shift the jib," thought I; and I jumped on deck to lend a hand.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading I thought of the sea-serpent for one moment, but dismissed the idea the next, as being both too horrible and too unlikely.

samenounUS /same/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Just as I did so, I heard the mainsail fluttering, as though the boat had luffed into the wind; and at the same moment I caught sight, through the companion-way, of the vacant tiller swinging about.

sea-serpent

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

From this reading I thought of the sea-serpent for one moment, but dismissed the idea the next, as being both too horrible and too unlikely.

seen

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

From this reading _Bob was nowhere to be seen_.

shift

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

From this reading "Gone forward to shift the jib," thought I; and I jumped on deck to lend a hand.

sight

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

From this reading Just as I did so, I heard the mainsail fluttering, as though the boat had luffed into the wind; and at the same moment I caught sight, through the companion-way, of the vacant tiller swinging about.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Just as I did so, I heard the mainsail fluttering, as though the boat had luffed into the wind; and at the same moment I caught sight, through the companion-way, of the vacant tiller swinging about.

swinging

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

From this reading Just as I did so, I heard the mainsail fluttering, as though the boat had luffed into the wind; and at the same moment I caught sight, through the companion-way, of the vacant tiller swinging about.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Just as I did so, I heard the mainsail fluttering, as though the boat had luffed into the wind; and at the same moment I caught sight, through the companion-way, of the vacant tiller swinging about.

thingnounUS /thing/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "Good heavens!" exclaimed I, "what dreadful thing has happened?"

thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading Just as I did so, I heard the mainsail fluttering, as though the boat had luffed into the wind; and at the same moment I caught sight, through the companion-way, of the vacant tiller swinging about.

thoughtnounUS /thought/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "Gone forward to shift the jib," thought I; and I jumped on deck to lend a hand.

throughnounUS /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading Just as I did so, I heard the mainsail fluttering, as though the boat had luffed into the wind; and at the same moment I caught sight, through the companion-way, of the vacant tiller swinging about.

tiller

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

From this reading Just as I did so, I heard the mainsail fluttering, as though the boat had luffed into the wind; and at the same moment I caught sight, through the companion-way, of the vacant tiller swinging about.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading "Gone forward to shift the jib," thought I; and I jumped on deck to lend a hand.

too

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

From this reading I thought of the sea-serpent for one moment, but dismissed the idea the next, as being both too horrible and too unlikely.

unlikely

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

From this reading I thought of the sea-serpent for one moment, but dismissed the idea the next, as being both too horrible and too unlikely.

vacant

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

From this reading Just as I did so, I heard the mainsail fluttering, as though the boat had luffed into the wind; and at the same moment I caught sight, through the companion-way, of the vacant tiller swinging about.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading _Bob was nowhere to be seen_.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading "Good heavens!" exclaimed I, "what dreadful thing has happened?"

windnounUS /wind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Just as I did so, I heard the mainsail fluttering, as though the boat had luffed into the wind; and at the same moment I caught sight, through the companion-way, of the vacant tiller swinging about.