Complete classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
The God of His Fathers: Tales of the Klondyke
The God of His Fathers: Tales of the Klondyke

Chapter XV

Cover illustration for The God of His Fathers: Tales of the Klondyke
Context Illustration Reading 1/42 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
From up the river two men were racing a dog team toward them on an uncovered stretch of ice.
But even as they looked, the pair struck the water and began to flounder through.
Behind, where their feet had sped the moment before, the ice broke up and turned turtle.
Through this opening the river rushed out upon them to their waists, burying the sled and swinging the dogs off at right angles in a drowning tangle.
But the men stopped their flight to give the animals a fighting chance, and they groped hurriedly in the cold confusion, slashing at the detaining traces with their sheath-knives.
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 God of His Fathers: Tales of the Klondyke

Chapter XV

Reading 1/42 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
From up the river two men were racing a dog team toward them on an uncovered stretch of ice.
Line 2
But even as they looked, the pair struck the water and began to flounder through.
Line 3
Behind, where their feet had sped the moment before, the ice broke up and turned turtle.
Line 4
Through this opening the river rushed out upon them to their waists, burying the sled and swinging the dogs off at right angles in a drowning tangle.
Line 5
But the men stopped their flight to give the animals a fighting chance, and they groped hurriedly in the cold confusion, slashing at the detaining traces with their sheath-knives.

Learner Dictionary

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

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “Behind, where their feet had sped the moment before, the ice broke up and turned turtle.”

Began noun US /began/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “But even as they looked, the pair struck the water and began to flounder through.”

Behind preposition US /bɪˈhaɪnd/

at or toward the back of something

From this reading “Behind, where their feet had sped the moment before, the ice broke up and turned turtle.”

Even noun US /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “But even as they looked, the pair struck the water and began to flounder through.”

Looked noun US /looked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “But even as they looked, the pair struck the water and began to flounder through.”

Right noun US /right/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Through this opening the river rushed out upon them to their waists, burying the sled and swinging the dogs off at right angles in a drowning tangle.”

Stopped noun US /stopped/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “But the men stopped their flight to give the animals a fighting chance, and they groped hurriedly in the cold confusion, slashing at the detaining traces with their sheath-knives.”

Struck noun US /struck/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “But even as they looked, the pair struck the water and began to flounder through.”

Through noun US /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading “But even as they looked, the pair struck the water and began to flounder through.”

Toward preposition US /təˈwɔːrd/

in the direction of

From this reading “From up the river two men were racing a dog team toward them on an uncovered stretch of ice.”

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “Through this opening the river rushed out upon them to their waists, burying the sled and swinging the dogs off at right angles in a drowning tangle.”

All words in this reading · 75

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 up the river two men were racing a dog team toward them on an uncovered stretch of ice.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading From up the river two men were racing a dog team toward them on an uncovered stretch of ice.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading But even as they looked, the pair struck the water and began to flounder through.

angles

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

From this reading Through this opening the river rushed out upon them to their waists, burying the sled and swinging the dogs off at right angles in a drowning tangle.

animals

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

From this reading But the men stopped their flight to give the animals a fighting chance, and they groped hurriedly in the cold confusion, slashing at the detaining traces with their sheath-knives.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading But even as they looked, the pair struck the water and began to flounder through.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Through this opening the river rushed out upon them to their waists, burying the sled and swinging the dogs off at right angles in a drowning tangle.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading Behind, where their feet had sped the moment before, the ice broke up and turned turtle.

begannounUS /began/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading But even as they looked, the pair struck the water and began to flounder through.

BehindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/

at or toward the back of something

From this reading Behind, where their feet had sped the moment before, the ice broke up and turned turtle.

broke

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

From this reading Behind, where their feet had sped the moment before, the ice broke up and turned turtle.

burying

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

From this reading Through this opening the river rushed out upon them to their waists, burying the sled and swinging the dogs off at right angles in a drowning tangle.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But even as they looked, the pair struck the water and began to flounder through.

chance

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

From this reading But the men stopped their flight to give the animals a fighting chance, and they groped hurriedly in the cold confusion, slashing at the detaining traces with their sheath-knives.

cold

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

From this reading But the men stopped their flight to give the animals a fighting chance, and they groped hurriedly in the cold confusion, slashing at the detaining traces with their sheath-knives.

confusion

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

From this reading But the men stopped their flight to give the animals a fighting chance, and they groped hurriedly in the cold confusion, slashing at the detaining traces with their sheath-knives.

detaining

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

From this reading But the men stopped their flight to give the animals a fighting chance, and they groped hurriedly in the cold confusion, slashing at the detaining traces with their sheath-knives.

dog

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

From this reading From up the river two men were racing a dog team toward them on an uncovered stretch of ice.

dogs

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

From this reading Through this opening the river rushed out upon them to their waists, burying the sled and swinging the dogs off at right angles in a drowning tangle.

drowning

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

From this reading Through this opening the river rushed out upon them to their waists, burying the sled and swinging the dogs off at right angles in a drowning tangle.

evennounUS /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading But even as they looked, the pair struck the water and began to flounder through.

feet

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

From this reading Behind, where their feet had sped the moment before, the ice broke up and turned turtle.

fighting

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

From this reading But the men stopped their flight to give the animals a fighting chance, and they groped hurriedly in the cold confusion, slashing at the detaining traces with their sheath-knives.

flight

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

From this reading But the men stopped their flight to give the animals a fighting chance, and they groped hurriedly in the cold confusion, slashing at the detaining traces with their sheath-knives.

flounder

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

From this reading But even as they looked, the pair struck the water and began to flounder through.

FromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading From up the river two men were racing a dog team toward them on an uncovered stretch of ice.

give

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

From this reading But the men stopped their flight to give the animals a fighting chance, and they groped hurriedly in the cold confusion, slashing at the detaining traces with their sheath-knives.

groped

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

From this reading But the men stopped their flight to give the animals a fighting chance, and they groped hurriedly in the cold confusion, slashing at the detaining traces with their sheath-knives.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Behind, where their feet had sped the moment before, the ice broke up and turned turtle.

hurriedly

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

From this reading But the men stopped their flight to give the animals a fighting chance, and they groped hurriedly in the cold confusion, slashing at the detaining traces with their sheath-knives.

ice

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

From this reading From up the river two men were racing a dog team toward them on an uncovered stretch of ice.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Through this opening the river rushed out upon them to their waists, burying the sled and swinging the dogs off at right angles in a drowning tangle.

lookednounUS /looked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading But even as they looked, the pair struck the water and began to flounder through.

men

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

From this reading From up the river two men were racing a dog team toward them on an uncovered stretch of ice.

moment

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

From this reading Behind, where their feet had sped the moment before, the ice broke up and turned turtle.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading From up the river two men were racing a dog team toward them on an uncovered stretch of ice.

off

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

From this reading Through this opening the river rushed out upon them to their waists, burying the sled and swinging the dogs off at right angles in a drowning tangle.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading From up the river two men were racing a dog team toward them on an uncovered stretch of ice.

opening

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

From this reading Through this opening the river rushed out upon them to their waists, burying the sled and swinging the dogs off at right angles in a drowning tangle.

out

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

From this reading Through this opening the river rushed out upon them to their waists, burying the sled and swinging the dogs off at right angles in a drowning tangle.

pair

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

From this reading But even as they looked, the pair struck the water and began to flounder through.

racing

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

From this reading From up the river two men were racing a dog team toward them on an uncovered stretch of ice.

rightnounUS /right/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Through this opening the river rushed out upon them to their waists, burying the sled and swinging the dogs off at right angles in a drowning tangle.

river

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

From this reading From up the river two men were racing a dog team toward them on an uncovered stretch of ice.

rushed

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

From this reading Through this opening the river rushed out upon them to their waists, burying the sled and swinging the dogs off at right angles in a drowning tangle.

sheath-knives

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

From this reading But the men stopped their flight to give the animals a fighting chance, and they groped hurriedly in the cold confusion, slashing at the detaining traces with their sheath-knives.

slashing

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

From this reading But the men stopped their flight to give the animals a fighting chance, and they groped hurriedly in the cold confusion, slashing at the detaining traces with their sheath-knives.

sled

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

From this reading Through this opening the river rushed out upon them to their waists, burying the sled and swinging the dogs off at right angles in a drowning tangle.

sped

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

From this reading Behind, where their feet had sped the moment before, the ice broke up and turned turtle.

stoppednounUS /stopped/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading But the men stopped their flight to give the animals a fighting chance, and they groped hurriedly in the cold confusion, slashing at the detaining traces with their sheath-knives.

stretch

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

From this reading From up the river two men were racing a dog team toward them on an uncovered stretch of ice.

strucknounUS /struck/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading But even as they looked, the pair struck the water and began to flounder through.

swinging

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

From this reading Through this opening the river rushed out upon them to their waists, burying the sled and swinging the dogs off at right angles in a drowning tangle.

tangle

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

From this reading Through this opening the river rushed out upon them to their waists, burying the sled and swinging the dogs off at right angles in a drowning tangle.

team

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

From this reading From up the river two men were racing a dog team toward them on an uncovered stretch of ice.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading From up the river two men were racing a dog team toward them on an uncovered stretch of ice.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Behind, where their feet had sped the moment before, the ice broke up and turned turtle.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading From up the river two men were racing a dog team toward them on an uncovered stretch of ice.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading But even as they looked, the pair struck the water and began to flounder through.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading Through this opening the river rushed out upon them to their waists, burying the sled and swinging the dogs off at right angles in a drowning tangle.

throughnounUS /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading But even as they looked, the pair struck the water and began to flounder through.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading But even as they looked, the pair struck the water and began to flounder through.

towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/

in the direction of

From this reading From up the river two men were racing a dog team toward them on an uncovered stretch of ice.

traces

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

From this reading But the men stopped their flight to give the animals a fighting chance, and they groped hurriedly in the cold confusion, slashing at the detaining traces with their sheath-knives.

turned

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

From this reading Behind, where their feet had sped the moment before, the ice broke up and turned turtle.

turtle

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

From this reading Behind, where their feet had sped the moment before, the ice broke up and turned turtle.

two

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

From this reading From up the river two men were racing a dog team toward them on an uncovered stretch of ice.

uncovered

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

From this reading From up the river two men were racing a dog team toward them on an uncovered stretch of ice.

up

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

From this reading From up the river two men were racing a dog team toward them on an uncovered stretch of ice.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading Through this opening the river rushed out upon them to their waists, burying the sled and swinging the dogs off at right angles in a drowning tangle.

waists

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

From this reading Through this opening the river rushed out upon them to their waists, burying the sled and swinging the dogs off at right angles in a drowning tangle.

water

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

From this reading But even as they looked, the pair struck the water and began to flounder through.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading From up the river two men were racing a dog team toward them on an uncovered stretch of ice.

whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading Behind, where their feet had sped the moment before, the ice broke up and turned turtle.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading But the men stopped their flight to give the animals a fighting chance, and they groped hurriedly in the cold confusion, slashing at the detaining traces with their sheath-knives.