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The Captain of the Polestar, and Other Tales
The Captain of the Polestar, and Other Tales

Chapter XVII

Cover illustration for The Captain of the Polestar, and Other Tales
Context Illustration Reading 1/31 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
“From England, Captain, you must steer a Course directly to Madeira, Land the casks of salted beef, Then away to Teneriffe.
Pray be careful, cool, and wary With the merchants of Canary.
When you leave them make the most Of the trade winds to the coast.
Down it you shall sail as far As the land of Calabar, And from there you’ll onward go To Bonny and Fernando Po”---- and so on for four pages.
The captain, instead of treasuring up this little gem, called at the office next day, and demanded with quite unnecessary warmth what the thing meant, and I was compelled to translate it all back into prose.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
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A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The Captain of the Polestar, and Other Tales

Chapter XVII

Reading 1/31 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
“From England, Captain, you must steer a Course directly to Madeira, Land the casks of salted beef, Then away to Teneriffe.
Line 2
Pray be careful, cool, and wary With the merchants of Canary.
Line 3
When you leave them make the most Of the trade winds to the coast.
Line 4
Down it you shall sail as far As the land of Calabar, And from there you’ll onward go To Bonny and Fernando Po”---- and so on for four pages.
Line 5
The captain, instead of treasuring up this little gem, called at the office next day, and demanded with quite unnecessary warmth what the thing meant, and I was compelled to translate it all back into prose.

Learner Dictionary

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

Captain noun US /ˈcaptain/

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

From this reading ““From England, Captain, you must steer a Course directly to Madeira, Land the casks of salted beef, Then away to Teneriffe.”

Course noun US /course/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ““From England, Captain, you must steer a Course directly to Madeira, Land the casks of salted beef, Then away to Teneriffe.”

Directly noun US /ˈdirectly/

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

From this reading ““From England, Captain, you must steer a Course directly to Madeira, Land the casks of salted beef, Then away to Teneriffe.”

Little noun US /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The captain, instead of treasuring up this little gem, called at the office next day, and demanded with quite unnecessary warmth what the thing meant, and I was compelled to translate it all back into prose.”

Make noun US /make/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “When you leave them make the most Of the trade winds to the coast.”

Must modal verb US /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading ““From England, Captain, you must steer a Course directly to Madeira, Land the casks of salted beef, Then away to Teneriffe.”

Next noun US /next/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The captain, instead of treasuring up this little gem, called at the office next day, and demanded with quite unnecessary warmth what the thing meant, and I was compelled to translate it all back into prose.”

Quite noun US /quite/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The captain, instead of treasuring up this little gem, called at the office next day, and demanded with quite unnecessary warmth what the thing meant, and I was compelled to translate it all back into prose.”

Sail noun US /sail/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Down it you shall sail as far As the land of Calabar, And from there you’ll onward go To Bonny and Fernando Po”---- and so on for four pages.”

Shall modal verb US /ʃæl/

used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest

From this reading “Down it you shall sail as far As the land of Calabar, And from there you’ll onward go To Bonny and Fernando Po”---- and so on for four pages.”

Thing noun US /thing/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The captain, instead of treasuring up this little gem, called at the office next day, and demanded with quite unnecessary warmth what the thing meant, and I was compelled to translate it all back into prose.”

All words in this reading · 82

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 “From England, Captain, you must steer a Course directly to Madeira, Land the casks of salted beef, Then away to Teneriffe.

all

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

From this reading The captain, instead of treasuring up this little gem, called at the office next day, and demanded with quite unnecessary warmth what the thing meant, and I was compelled to translate it all back into prose.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Pray be careful, cool, and wary With the merchants of Canary.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading Down it you shall sail as far As the land of Calabar, And from there you’ll onward go To Bonny and Fernando Po”---- and so on for four pages.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading The captain, instead of treasuring up this little gem, called at the office next day, and demanded with quite unnecessary warmth what the thing meant, and I was compelled to translate it all back into prose.

away

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

From this reading “From England, Captain, you must steer a Course directly to Madeira, Land the casks of salted beef, Then away to Teneriffe.

back

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

From this reading The captain, instead of treasuring up this little gem, called at the office next day, and demanded with quite unnecessary warmth what the thing meant, and I was compelled to translate it all back into prose.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading Pray be careful, cool, and wary With the merchants of Canary.

beef

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

From this reading “From England, Captain, you must steer a Course directly to Madeira, Land the casks of salted beef, Then away to Teneriffe.

Bonny

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

From this reading Down it you shall sail as far As the land of Calabar, And from there you’ll onward go To Bonny and Fernando Po”---- and so on for four pages.

Calabar

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

From this reading Down it you shall sail as far As the land of Calabar, And from there you’ll onward go To Bonny and Fernando Po”---- and so on for four pages.

called

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

From this reading The captain, instead of treasuring up this little gem, called at the office next day, and demanded with quite unnecessary warmth what the thing meant, and I was compelled to translate it all back into prose.

Canary

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

From this reading Pray be careful, cool, and wary With the merchants of Canary.

CaptainnounUS /ˈcaptain/

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

From this reading “From England, Captain, you must steer a Course directly to Madeira, Land the casks of salted beef, Then away to Teneriffe.

careful

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

From this reading Pray be careful, cool, and wary With the merchants of Canary.

casks

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

From this reading “From England, Captain, you must steer a Course directly to Madeira, Land the casks of salted beef, Then away to Teneriffe.

coast

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

From this reading When you leave them make the most Of the trade winds to the coast.

compelled

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

From this reading The captain, instead of treasuring up this little gem, called at the office next day, and demanded with quite unnecessary warmth what the thing meant, and I was compelled to translate it all back into prose.

cool

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

From this reading Pray be careful, cool, and wary With the merchants of Canary.

CoursenounUS /course/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “From England, Captain, you must steer a Course directly to Madeira, Land the casks of salted beef, Then away to Teneriffe.

day

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

From this reading The captain, instead of treasuring up this little gem, called at the office next day, and demanded with quite unnecessary warmth what the thing meant, and I was compelled to translate it all back into prose.

demanded

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

From this reading The captain, instead of treasuring up this little gem, called at the office next day, and demanded with quite unnecessary warmth what the thing meant, and I was compelled to translate it all back into prose.

directlynounUS /ˈdirectly/

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

From this reading “From England, Captain, you must steer a Course directly to Madeira, Land the casks of salted beef, Then away to Teneriffe.

Down

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

From this reading Down it you shall sail as far As the land of Calabar, And from there you’ll onward go To Bonny and Fernando Po”---- and so on for four pages.

England

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

From this reading “From England, Captain, you must steer a Course directly to Madeira, Land the casks of salted beef, Then away to Teneriffe.

far

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

From this reading Down it you shall sail as far As the land of Calabar, And from there you’ll onward go To Bonny and Fernando Po”---- and so on for four pages.

Fernando

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

From this reading Down it you shall sail as far As the land of Calabar, And from there you’ll onward go To Bonny and Fernando Po”---- and so on for four pages.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Down it you shall sail as far As the land of Calabar, And from there you’ll onward go To Bonny and Fernando Po”---- and so on for four pages.

four

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

From this reading Down it you shall sail as far As the land of Calabar, And from there you’ll onward go To Bonny and Fernando Po”---- and so on for four pages.

FromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading “From England, Captain, you must steer a Course directly to Madeira, Land the casks of salted beef, Then away to Teneriffe.

gem

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

From this reading The captain, instead of treasuring up this little gem, called at the office next day, and demanded with quite unnecessary warmth what the thing meant, and I was compelled to translate it all back into prose.

go

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

From this reading Down it you shall sail as far As the land of Calabar, And from there you’ll onward go To Bonny and Fernando Po”---- and so on for four pages.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading The captain, instead of treasuring up this little gem, called at the office next day, and demanded with quite unnecessary warmth what the thing meant, and I was compelled to translate it all back into prose.

instead

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

From this reading The captain, instead of treasuring up this little gem, called at the office next day, and demanded with quite unnecessary warmth what the thing meant, and I was compelled to translate it all back into prose.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading The captain, instead of treasuring up this little gem, called at the office next day, and demanded with quite unnecessary warmth what the thing meant, and I was compelled to translate it all back into prose.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Down it you shall sail as far As the land of Calabar, And from there you’ll onward go To Bonny and Fernando Po”---- and so on for four pages.

Land

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

From this reading “From England, Captain, you must steer a Course directly to Madeira, Land the casks of salted beef, Then away to Teneriffe.

leave

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

From this reading When you leave them make the most Of the trade winds to the coast.

littlenounUS /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The captain, instead of treasuring up this little gem, called at the office next day, and demanded with quite unnecessary warmth what the thing meant, and I was compelled to translate it all back into prose.

Madeira

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

From this reading “From England, Captain, you must steer a Course directly to Madeira, Land the casks of salted beef, Then away to Teneriffe.

makenounUS /make/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading When you leave them make the most Of the trade winds to the coast.

meant

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

From this reading The captain, instead of treasuring up this little gem, called at the office next day, and demanded with quite unnecessary warmth what the thing meant, and I was compelled to translate it all back into prose.

merchants

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

From this reading Pray be careful, cool, and wary With the merchants of Canary.

most

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

From this reading When you leave them make the most Of the trade winds to the coast.

mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading “From England, Captain, you must steer a Course directly to Madeira, Land the casks of salted beef, Then away to Teneriffe.

nextnounUS /next/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The captain, instead of treasuring up this little gem, called at the office next day, and demanded with quite unnecessary warmth what the thing meant, and I was compelled to translate it all back into prose.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading “From England, Captain, you must steer a Course directly to Madeira, Land the casks of salted beef, Then away to Teneriffe.

office

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

From this reading The captain, instead of treasuring up this little gem, called at the office next day, and demanded with quite unnecessary warmth what the thing meant, and I was compelled to translate it all back into prose.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Down it you shall sail as far As the land of Calabar, And from there you’ll onward go To Bonny and Fernando Po”---- and so on for four pages.

onward

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

From this reading Down it you shall sail as far As the land of Calabar, And from there you’ll onward go To Bonny and Fernando Po”---- and so on for four pages.

pages

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

From this reading Down it you shall sail as far As the land of Calabar, And from there you’ll onward go To Bonny and Fernando Po”---- and so on for four pages.

Po

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

From this reading Down it you shall sail as far As the land of Calabar, And from there you’ll onward go To Bonny and Fernando Po”---- and so on for four pages.

Pray

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

From this reading Pray be careful, cool, and wary With the merchants of Canary.

prose

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

From this reading The captain, instead of treasuring up this little gem, called at the office next day, and demanded with quite unnecessary warmth what the thing meant, and I was compelled to translate it all back into prose.

quitenounUS /quite/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The captain, instead of treasuring up this little gem, called at the office next day, and demanded with quite unnecessary warmth what the thing meant, and I was compelled to translate it all back into prose.

sailnounUS /sail/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Down it you shall sail as far As the land of Calabar, And from there you’ll onward go To Bonny and Fernando Po”---- and so on for four pages.

salted

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

From this reading “From England, Captain, you must steer a Course directly to Madeira, Land the casks of salted beef, Then away to Teneriffe.

shallmodal verbUS /ʃæl/

used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest

From this reading Down it you shall sail as far As the land of Calabar, And from there you’ll onward go To Bonny and Fernando Po”---- and so on for four pages.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Down it you shall sail as far As the land of Calabar, And from there you’ll onward go To Bonny and Fernando Po”---- and so on for four pages.

steer

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

From this reading “From England, Captain, you must steer a Course directly to Madeira, Land the casks of salted beef, Then away to Teneriffe.

Teneriffe

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

From this reading “From England, Captain, you must steer a Course directly to Madeira, Land the casks of salted beef, Then away to Teneriffe.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading “From England, Captain, you must steer a Course directly to Madeira, Land the casks of salted beef, Then away to Teneriffe.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading When you leave them make the most Of the trade winds to the coast.

Then

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

From this reading “From England, Captain, you must steer a Course directly to Madeira, Land the casks of salted beef, Then away to Teneriffe.

there

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

From this reading Down it you shall sail as far As the land of Calabar, And from there you’ll onward go To Bonny and Fernando Po”---- and so on for four pages.

thingnounUS /thing/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The captain, instead of treasuring up this little gem, called at the office next day, and demanded with quite unnecessary warmth what the thing meant, and I was compelled to translate it all back into prose.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading The captain, instead of treasuring up this little gem, called at the office next day, and demanded with quite unnecessary warmth what the thing meant, and I was compelled to translate it all back into prose.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading “From England, Captain, you must steer a Course directly to Madeira, Land the casks of salted beef, Then away to Teneriffe.

trade

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

From this reading When you leave them make the most Of the trade winds to the coast.

translate

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

From this reading The captain, instead of treasuring up this little gem, called at the office next day, and demanded with quite unnecessary warmth what the thing meant, and I was compelled to translate it all back into prose.

treasuring

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

From this reading The captain, instead of treasuring up this little gem, called at the office next day, and demanded with quite unnecessary warmth what the thing meant, and I was compelled to translate it all back into prose.

unnecessary

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

From this reading The captain, instead of treasuring up this little gem, called at the office next day, and demanded with quite unnecessary warmth what the thing meant, and I was compelled to translate it all back into prose.

up

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

From this reading The captain, instead of treasuring up this little gem, called at the office next day, and demanded with quite unnecessary warmth what the thing meant, and I was compelled to translate it all back into prose.

warmth

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

From this reading The captain, instead of treasuring up this little gem, called at the office next day, and demanded with quite unnecessary warmth what the thing meant, and I was compelled to translate it all back into prose.

wary

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

From this reading Pray be careful, cool, and wary With the merchants of Canary.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading The captain, instead of treasuring up this little gem, called at the office next day, and demanded with quite unnecessary warmth what the thing meant, and I was compelled to translate it all back into prose.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading The captain, instead of treasuring up this little gem, called at the office next day, and demanded with quite unnecessary warmth what the thing meant, and I was compelled to translate it all back into prose.

WhenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading When you leave them make the most Of the trade winds to the coast.

winds

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

From this reading When you leave them make the most Of the trade winds to the coast.

WithprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Pray be careful, cool, and wary With the merchants of Canary.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading “From England, Captain, you must steer a Course directly to Madeira, Land the casks of salted beef, Then away to Teneriffe.

you'll

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

From this reading Down it you shall sail as far As the land of Calabar, And from there you’ll onward go To Bonny and Fernando Po”---- and so on for four pages.