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

Chapter XVII

Cover illustration for The Dynamiter
Context Illustration Reading 1/33 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
I took the blow in silence, I took it smiling; but the blood welled back upon my heart.
Something, I know not what, fell at that moment with a dull plunge in the waters of the lagoon, and I told myself it was my pity that had fallen.
On the farther side, to which we now hastily scrambled, the wood was not so dense, the web of creepers not so solidly convolved.
It was possible, here and there, to mark a patch of somewhat brighter daylight, or to distinguish, through the lighter web of parasites, the proportions of some soaring tree.
The cypress on the left stood very visibly forth, upon the edge of such a clearing; the path in that place widened broadly; and there was a patch of open ground, beset with horrible ant-heaps, thick with their artificers.
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.

The Dynamiter

Chapter XVII

Reading 1/33 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
I took the blow in silence, I took it smiling; but the blood welled back upon my heart.
Line 2
Something, I know not what, fell at that moment with a dull plunge in the waters of the lagoon, and I told myself it was my pity that had fallen.
Line 3
On the farther side, to which we now hastily scrambled, the wood was not so dense, the web of creepers not so solidly convolved.
Line 4
It was possible, here and there, to mark a patch of somewhat brighter daylight, or to distinguish, through the lighter web of parasites, the proportions of some soaring tree.
Line 5
The cypress on the left stood very visibly forth, upon the edge of such a clearing; the path in that place widened broadly; and there was a patch of open ground, beset with horrible ant-heaps, thick with their artificers.

Learner Dictionary

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

Blood noun US /blood/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “I took the blow in silence, I took it smiling; but the blood welled back upon my heart.”

Here noun US /here/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It was possible, here and there, to mark a patch of somewhat brighter daylight, or to distinguish, through the lighter web of parasites, the proportions of some soaring tree.”

Know noun US /know/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Something, I know not what, fell at that moment with a dull plunge in the waters of the lagoon, and I told myself it was my pity that had fallen.”

Left noun US /left/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The cypress on the left stood very visibly forth, upon the edge of such a clearing; the path in that place widened broadly; and there was a patch of open ground, beset with horrible ant-heaps, thick with their artificers.”

Myself pronoun US /ˌmaɪˈself/

used when the speaker is also the object of the action

From this reading “Something, I know not what, fell at that moment with a dull plunge in the waters of the lagoon, and I told myself it was my pity that had fallen.”

Open verb US /ˈoʊ.pən/

To move from a closed position.

From this reading “The cypress on the left stood very visibly forth, upon the edge of such a clearing; the path in that place widened broadly; and there was a patch of open ground, beset with horrible ant-heaps, thick with their artificers.”

Silence noun US /ˈsaɪ.ləns/

Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.

From this reading “I took the blow in silence, I took it smiling; but the blood welled back upon my heart.”

Something pronoun US /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading “Something, I know not what, fell at that moment with a dull plunge in the waters of the lagoon, and I told myself it was my pity that had fallen.”

Stood noun US /stood/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The cypress on the left stood very visibly forth, upon the edge of such a clearing; the path in that place widened broadly; and there was a patch of open ground, beset with horrible ant-heaps, thick with their artificers.”

Through noun US /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading “It was possible, here and there, to mark a patch of somewhat brighter daylight, or to distinguish, through the lighter web of parasites, the proportions of some soaring tree.”

Told noun US /told/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Something, I know not what, fell at that moment with a dull plunge in the waters of the lagoon, and I told myself it was my pity that had fallen.”

Took noun US /took/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “I took the blow in silence, I took it smiling; but the blood welled back upon my heart.”

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “I took the blow in silence, I took it smiling; but the blood welled back upon my heart.”

All words in this reading · 91

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 Something, I know not what, fell at that moment with a dull plunge in the waters of the lagoon, and I told myself it was my pity that had fallen.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Something, I know not what, fell at that moment with a dull plunge in the waters of the lagoon, and I told myself it was my pity that had fallen.

ant-heaps

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

From this reading The cypress on the left stood very visibly forth, upon the edge of such a clearing; the path in that place widened broadly; and there was a patch of open ground, beset with horrible ant-heaps, thick with their artificers.

artificers

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

From this reading The cypress on the left stood very visibly forth, upon the edge of such a clearing; the path in that place widened broadly; and there was a patch of open ground, beset with horrible ant-heaps, thick with their artificers.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Something, I know not what, fell at that moment with a dull plunge in the waters of the lagoon, and I told myself it was my pity that had fallen.

back

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

From this reading I took the blow in silence, I took it smiling; but the blood welled back upon my heart.

beset

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

From this reading The cypress on the left stood very visibly forth, upon the edge of such a clearing; the path in that place widened broadly; and there was a patch of open ground, beset with horrible ant-heaps, thick with their artificers.

bloodnounUS /blood/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading I took the blow in silence, I took it smiling; but the blood welled back upon my heart.

blow

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

From this reading I took the blow in silence, I took it smiling; but the blood welled back upon my heart.

brighter

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

From this reading It was possible, here and there, to mark a patch of somewhat brighter daylight, or to distinguish, through the lighter web of parasites, the proportions of some soaring tree.

broadly

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

From this reading The cypress on the left stood very visibly forth, upon the edge of such a clearing; the path in that place widened broadly; and there was a patch of open ground, beset with horrible ant-heaps, thick with their artificers.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading I took the blow in silence, I took it smiling; but the blood welled back upon my heart.

clearing

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

From this reading The cypress on the left stood very visibly forth, upon the edge of such a clearing; the path in that place widened broadly; and there was a patch of open ground, beset with horrible ant-heaps, thick with their artificers.

convolved

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

From this reading On the farther side, to which we now hastily scrambled, the wood was not so dense, the web of creepers not so solidly convolved.

creepers

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

From this reading On the farther side, to which we now hastily scrambled, the wood was not so dense, the web of creepers not so solidly convolved.

cypress

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

From this reading The cypress on the left stood very visibly forth, upon the edge of such a clearing; the path in that place widened broadly; and there was a patch of open ground, beset with horrible ant-heaps, thick with their artificers.

daylight

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

From this reading It was possible, here and there, to mark a patch of somewhat brighter daylight, or to distinguish, through the lighter web of parasites, the proportions of some soaring tree.

dense

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

From this reading On the farther side, to which we now hastily scrambled, the wood was not so dense, the web of creepers not so solidly convolved.

distinguish

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

From this reading It was possible, here and there, to mark a patch of somewhat brighter daylight, or to distinguish, through the lighter web of parasites, the proportions of some soaring tree.

dull

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

From this reading Something, I know not what, fell at that moment with a dull plunge in the waters of the lagoon, and I told myself it was my pity that had fallen.

edge

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

From this reading The cypress on the left stood very visibly forth, upon the edge of such a clearing; the path in that place widened broadly; and there was a patch of open ground, beset with horrible ant-heaps, thick with their artificers.

fallen

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

From this reading Something, I know not what, fell at that moment with a dull plunge in the waters of the lagoon, and I told myself it was my pity that had fallen.

farther

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

From this reading On the farther side, to which we now hastily scrambled, the wood was not so dense, the web of creepers not so solidly convolved.

fell

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

From this reading Something, I know not what, fell at that moment with a dull plunge in the waters of the lagoon, and I told myself it was my pity that had fallen.

forth

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

From this reading The cypress on the left stood very visibly forth, upon the edge of such a clearing; the path in that place widened broadly; and there was a patch of open ground, beset with horrible ant-heaps, thick with their artificers.

ground

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

From this reading The cypress on the left stood very visibly forth, upon the edge of such a clearing; the path in that place widened broadly; and there was a patch of open ground, beset with horrible ant-heaps, thick with their artificers.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Something, I know not what, fell at that moment with a dull plunge in the waters of the lagoon, and I told myself it was my pity that had fallen.

hastily

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

From this reading On the farther side, to which we now hastily scrambled, the wood was not so dense, the web of creepers not so solidly convolved.

heart

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

From this reading I took the blow in silence, I took it smiling; but the blood welled back upon my heart.

herenounUS /here/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It was possible, here and there, to mark a patch of somewhat brighter daylight, or to distinguish, through the lighter web of parasites, the proportions of some soaring tree.

horrible

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

From this reading The cypress on the left stood very visibly forth, upon the edge of such a clearing; the path in that place widened broadly; and there was a patch of open ground, beset with horrible ant-heaps, thick with their artificers.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading I took the blow in silence, I took it smiling; but the blood welled back upon my heart.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading I took the blow in silence, I took it smiling; but the blood welled back upon my heart.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading I took the blow in silence, I took it smiling; but the blood welled back upon my heart.

knownounUS /know/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Something, I know not what, fell at that moment with a dull plunge in the waters of the lagoon, and I told myself it was my pity that had fallen.

lagoon

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

From this reading Something, I know not what, fell at that moment with a dull plunge in the waters of the lagoon, and I told myself it was my pity that had fallen.

leftnounUS /left/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The cypress on the left stood very visibly forth, upon the edge of such a clearing; the path in that place widened broadly; and there was a patch of open ground, beset with horrible ant-heaps, thick with their artificers.

lighter

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

From this reading It was possible, here and there, to mark a patch of somewhat brighter daylight, or to distinguish, through the lighter web of parasites, the proportions of some soaring tree.

mark

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

From this reading It was possible, here and there, to mark a patch of somewhat brighter daylight, or to distinguish, through the lighter web of parasites, the proportions of some soaring tree.

moment

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

From this reading Something, I know not what, fell at that moment with a dull plunge in the waters of the lagoon, and I told myself it was my pity that had fallen.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading I took the blow in silence, I took it smiling; but the blood welled back upon my heart.

myselfpronounUS /ˌmaɪˈself/

used when the speaker is also the object of the action

From this reading Something, I know not what, fell at that moment with a dull plunge in the waters of the lagoon, and I told myself it was my pity that had fallen.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Something, I know not what, fell at that moment with a dull plunge in the waters of the lagoon, and I told myself it was my pity that had fallen.

now

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

From this reading On the farther side, to which we now hastily scrambled, the wood was not so dense, the web of creepers not so solidly convolved.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Something, I know not what, fell at that moment with a dull plunge in the waters of the lagoon, and I told myself it was my pity that had fallen.

OnprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading On the farther side, to which we now hastily scrambled, the wood was not so dense, the web of creepers not so solidly convolved.

openverbUS /ˈoʊ.pən/

To move from a closed position.

From this reading The cypress on the left stood very visibly forth, upon the edge of such a clearing; the path in that place widened broadly; and there was a patch of open ground, beset with horrible ant-heaps, thick with their artificers.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading It was possible, here and there, to mark a patch of somewhat brighter daylight, or to distinguish, through the lighter web of parasites, the proportions of some soaring tree.

parasites

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

From this reading It was possible, here and there, to mark a patch of somewhat brighter daylight, or to distinguish, through the lighter web of parasites, the proportions of some soaring tree.

patch

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

From this reading It was possible, here and there, to mark a patch of somewhat brighter daylight, or to distinguish, through the lighter web of parasites, the proportions of some soaring tree.

path

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

From this reading The cypress on the left stood very visibly forth, upon the edge of such a clearing; the path in that place widened broadly; and there was a patch of open ground, beset with horrible ant-heaps, thick with their artificers.

pity

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

From this reading Something, I know not what, fell at that moment with a dull plunge in the waters of the lagoon, and I told myself it was my pity that had fallen.

place

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

From this reading The cypress on the left stood very visibly forth, upon the edge of such a clearing; the path in that place widened broadly; and there was a patch of open ground, beset with horrible ant-heaps, thick with their artificers.

plunge

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

From this reading Something, I know not what, fell at that moment with a dull plunge in the waters of the lagoon, and I told myself it was my pity that had fallen.

possible

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

From this reading It was possible, here and there, to mark a patch of somewhat brighter daylight, or to distinguish, through the lighter web of parasites, the proportions of some soaring tree.

proportions

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

From this reading It was possible, here and there, to mark a patch of somewhat brighter daylight, or to distinguish, through the lighter web of parasites, the proportions of some soaring tree.

scrambled

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

From this reading On the farther side, to which we now hastily scrambled, the wood was not so dense, the web of creepers not so solidly convolved.

side

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

From this reading On the farther side, to which we now hastily scrambled, the wood was not so dense, the web of creepers not so solidly convolved.

silencenounUS /ˈsaɪ.ləns/

Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.

From this reading I took the blow in silence, I took it smiling; but the blood welled back upon my heart.

smiling

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

From this reading I took the blow in silence, I took it smiling; but the blood welled back upon my heart.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading On the farther side, to which we now hastily scrambled, the wood was not so dense, the web of creepers not so solidly convolved.

soaring

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

From this reading It was possible, here and there, to mark a patch of somewhat brighter daylight, or to distinguish, through the lighter web of parasites, the proportions of some soaring tree.

solidly

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

From this reading On the farther side, to which we now hastily scrambled, the wood was not so dense, the web of creepers not so solidly convolved.

some

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

From this reading It was possible, here and there, to mark a patch of somewhat brighter daylight, or to distinguish, through the lighter web of parasites, the proportions of some soaring tree.

SomethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading Something, I know not what, fell at that moment with a dull plunge in the waters of the lagoon, and I told myself it was my pity that had fallen.

somewhat

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

From this reading It was possible, here and there, to mark a patch of somewhat brighter daylight, or to distinguish, through the lighter web of parasites, the proportions of some soaring tree.

stoodnounUS /stood/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The cypress on the left stood very visibly forth, upon the edge of such a clearing; the path in that place widened broadly; and there was a patch of open ground, beset with horrible ant-heaps, thick with their artificers.

suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading The cypress on the left stood very visibly forth, upon the edge of such a clearing; the path in that place widened broadly; and there was a patch of open ground, beset with horrible ant-heaps, thick with their artificers.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Something, I know not what, fell at that moment with a dull plunge in the waters of the lagoon, and I told myself it was my pity that had fallen.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading I took the blow in silence, I took it smiling; but the blood welled back upon my heart.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading The cypress on the left stood very visibly forth, upon the edge of such a clearing; the path in that place widened broadly; and there was a patch of open ground, beset with horrible ant-heaps, thick with their artificers.

there

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

From this reading It was possible, here and there, to mark a patch of somewhat brighter daylight, or to distinguish, through the lighter web of parasites, the proportions of some soaring tree.

thick

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

From this reading The cypress on the left stood very visibly forth, upon the edge of such a clearing; the path in that place widened broadly; and there was a patch of open ground, beset with horrible ant-heaps, thick with their artificers.

throughnounUS /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading It was possible, here and there, to mark a patch of somewhat brighter daylight, or to distinguish, through the lighter web of parasites, the proportions of some soaring tree.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading On the farther side, to which we now hastily scrambled, the wood was not so dense, the web of creepers not so solidly convolved.

toldnounUS /told/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Something, I know not what, fell at that moment with a dull plunge in the waters of the lagoon, and I told myself it was my pity that had fallen.

tooknounUS /took/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading I took the blow in silence, I took it smiling; but the blood welled back upon my heart.

tree

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

From this reading It was possible, here and there, to mark a patch of somewhat brighter daylight, or to distinguish, through the lighter web of parasites, the proportions of some soaring tree.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading I took the blow in silence, I took it smiling; but the blood welled back upon my heart.

very

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

From this reading The cypress on the left stood very visibly forth, upon the edge of such a clearing; the path in that place widened broadly; and there was a patch of open ground, beset with horrible ant-heaps, thick with their artificers.

visibly

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

From this reading The cypress on the left stood very visibly forth, upon the edge of such a clearing; the path in that place widened broadly; and there was a patch of open ground, beset with horrible ant-heaps, thick with their artificers.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Something, I know not what, fell at that moment with a dull plunge in the waters of the lagoon, and I told myself it was my pity that had fallen.

waters

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

From this reading Something, I know not what, fell at that moment with a dull plunge in the waters of the lagoon, and I told myself it was my pity that had fallen.

wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading On the farther side, to which we now hastily scrambled, the wood was not so dense, the web of creepers not so solidly convolved.

web

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

From this reading On the farther side, to which we now hastily scrambled, the wood was not so dense, the web of creepers not so solidly convolved.

welled

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

From this reading I took the blow in silence, I took it smiling; but the blood welled back upon my heart.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading Something, I know not what, fell at that moment with a dull plunge in the waters of the lagoon, and I told myself it was my pity that had fallen.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading On the farther side, to which we now hastily scrambled, the wood was not so dense, the web of creepers not so solidly convolved.

widened

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

From this reading The cypress on the left stood very visibly forth, upon the edge of such a clearing; the path in that place widened broadly; and there was a patch of open ground, beset with horrible ant-heaps, thick with their artificers.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Something, I know not what, fell at that moment with a dull plunge in the waters of the lagoon, and I told myself it was my pity that had fallen.

wood

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

From this reading On the farther side, to which we now hastily scrambled, the wood was not so dense, the web of creepers not so solidly convolved.