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

Chapter XXVIII

Cover illustration for The Mysterious Island
Context Illustration Reading 1/42 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE SECRET OF THE ISLAND It was now two years and a half since the castaways from the balloon had been thrown on Lincoln Island, and during that period there had been no communication between them and their fellow-creatures.
Once the reporter had attempted to communicate with the inhabited world by confiding to a bird a letter which contained the secret of their situation, but that was a chance on which it was impossible to reckon seriously.
Ayrton, alone, under the circumstances which have been related, had come to join the little colony.
Now, suddenly, on this day, the 17th of October, other men had unexpectedly appeared in sight of the island, on that deserted sea!
There could be no doubt about it!
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 Mysterious Island

Chapter XXVIII

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

Line 1
THE SECRET OF THE ISLAND It was now two years and a half since the castaways from the balloon had been thrown on Lincoln Island, and during that period there had been no communication between them and their fellow-creatures.
Line 2
Once the reporter had attempted to communicate with the inhabited world by confiding to a bird a letter which contained the secret of their situation, but that was a chance on which it was impossible to reckon seriously.
Line 3
Ayrton, alone, under the circumstances which have been related, had come to join the little colony.
Line 4
Now, suddenly, on this day, the 17th of October, other men had unexpectedly appeared in sight of the island, on that deserted sea!
Line 5
There could be no doubt about it!

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 “There could be no doubt about it!”

Alone noun US /alone/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Ayrton, alone, under the circumstances which have been related, had come to join the little colony.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “THE SECRET OF THE ISLAND It was now two years and a half since the castaways from the balloon had been thrown on Lincoln Island, and during that period there had been no communication between them and their fellow-creatures.”

Between preposition US /bɪˈtwiːn/

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading “THE SECRET OF THE ISLAND It was now two years and a half since the castaways from the balloon had been thrown on Lincoln Island, and during that period there had been no communication between them and their fellow-creatures.”

Come noun US /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Ayrton, alone, under the circumstances which have been related, had come to join the little colony.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading “There could be no doubt about it!”

Deserted verb US /dɪˈzɜːrtɪd/

left a place or vessel without intending to return

From this reading “Now, suddenly, on this day, the 17th of October, other men had unexpectedly appeared in sight of the island, on that deserted sea!”

During preposition US /ˈdʊrɪŋ/

all through a period, or at some point within it

From this reading “THE SECRET OF THE ISLAND It was now two years and a half since the castaways from the balloon had been thrown on Lincoln Island, and during that period there had been no communication between them and their fellow-creatures.”

Half noun US /half/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “THE SECRET OF THE ISLAND It was now two years and a half since the castaways from the balloon had been thrown on Lincoln Island, and during that period there had been no communication between them and their fellow-creatures.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “Ayrton, alone, under the circumstances which have been related, had come to join the little colony.”

Little noun US /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Ayrton, alone, under the circumstances which have been related, had come to join the little colony.”

Once noun US /once/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Once the reporter had attempted to communicate with the inhabited world by confiding to a bird a letter which contained the secret of their situation, but that was a chance on which it was impossible to reckon seriously.”

SECRET noun US /ˈsiː.krət/

Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.

From this reading “THE SECRET OF THE ISLAND It was now two years and a half since the castaways from the balloon had been thrown on Lincoln Island, and during that period there had been no communication between them and their fellow-creatures.”

Since preposition US /sɪns/

from a time in the past until now

From this reading “THE SECRET OF THE ISLAND It was now two years and a half since the castaways from the balloon had been thrown on Lincoln Island, and during that period there had been no communication between them and their fellow-creatures.”

Suddenly noun US /ˈsuddenly/

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

From this reading “Now, suddenly, on this day, the 17th of October, other men had unexpectedly appeared in sight of the island, on that deserted sea!”

Under preposition US /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading “Ayrton, alone, under the circumstances which have been related, had come to join the little colony.”

All words in this reading · 78

Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

17th

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

From this reading Now, suddenly, on this day, the 17th of October, other men had unexpectedly appeared in sight of the island, on that deserted sea!

adeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading THE SECRET OF THE ISLAND It was now two years and a half since the castaways from the balloon had been thrown on Lincoln Island, and during that period there had been no communication between them and their fellow-creatures.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading There could be no doubt about it!

alonenounUS /alone/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Ayrton, alone, under the circumstances which have been related, had come to join the little colony.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading THE SECRET OF THE ISLAND It was now two years and a half since the castaways from the balloon had been thrown on Lincoln Island, and during that period there had been no communication between them and their fellow-creatures.

appeared

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

From this reading Now, suddenly, on this day, the 17th of October, other men had unexpectedly appeared in sight of the island, on that deserted sea!

attempted

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

From this reading Once the reporter had attempted to communicate with the inhabited world by confiding to a bird a letter which contained the secret of their situation, but that was a chance on which it was impossible to reckon seriously.

Ayrton

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

From this reading Ayrton, alone, under the circumstances which have been related, had come to join the little colony.

balloon

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

From this reading THE SECRET OF THE ISLAND It was now two years and a half since the castaways from the balloon had been thrown on Lincoln Island, and during that period there had been no communication between them and their fellow-creatures.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading There could be no doubt about it!

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading THE SECRET OF THE ISLAND It was now two years and a half since the castaways from the balloon had been thrown on Lincoln Island, and during that period there had been no communication between them and their fellow-creatures.

betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading THE SECRET OF THE ISLAND It was now two years and a half since the castaways from the balloon had been thrown on Lincoln Island, and during that period there had been no communication between them and their fellow-creatures.

bird

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

From this reading Once the reporter had attempted to communicate with the inhabited world by confiding to a bird a letter which contained the secret of their situation, but that was a chance on which it was impossible to reckon seriously.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Once the reporter had attempted to communicate with the inhabited world by confiding to a bird a letter which contained the secret of their situation, but that was a chance on which it was impossible to reckon seriously.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Once the reporter had attempted to communicate with the inhabited world by confiding to a bird a letter which contained the secret of their situation, but that was a chance on which it was impossible to reckon seriously.

castaways

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

From this reading THE SECRET OF THE ISLAND It was now two years and a half since the castaways from the balloon had been thrown on Lincoln Island, and during that period there had been no communication between them and their fellow-creatures.

chance

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

From this reading Once the reporter had attempted to communicate with the inhabited world by confiding to a bird a letter which contained the secret of their situation, but that was a chance on which it was impossible to reckon seriously.

circumstances

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

From this reading Ayrton, alone, under the circumstances which have been related, had come to join the little colony.

colony

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

From this reading Ayrton, alone, under the circumstances which have been related, had come to join the little colony.

comenounUS /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Ayrton, alone, under the circumstances which have been related, had come to join the little colony.

communicate

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

From this reading Once the reporter had attempted to communicate with the inhabited world by confiding to a bird a letter which contained the secret of their situation, but that was a chance on which it was impossible to reckon seriously.

communication

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

From this reading THE SECRET OF THE ISLAND It was now two years and a half since the castaways from the balloon had been thrown on Lincoln Island, and during that period there had been no communication between them and their fellow-creatures.

confiding

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

From this reading Once the reporter had attempted to communicate with the inhabited world by confiding to a bird a letter which contained the secret of their situation, but that was a chance on which it was impossible to reckon seriously.

contained

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

From this reading Once the reporter had attempted to communicate with the inhabited world by confiding to a bird a letter which contained the secret of their situation, but that was a chance on which it was impossible to reckon seriously.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading There could be no doubt about it!

day

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

From this reading Now, suddenly, on this day, the 17th of October, other men had unexpectedly appeared in sight of the island, on that deserted sea!

desertedverbUS /dɪˈzɜːrtɪd/

left a place or vessel without intending to return

From this reading Now, suddenly, on this day, the 17th of October, other men had unexpectedly appeared in sight of the island, on that deserted sea!

doubt

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

From this reading There could be no doubt about it!

duringprepositionUS /ˈdʊrɪŋ/

all through a period, or at some point within it

From this reading THE SECRET OF THE ISLAND It was now two years and a half since the castaways from the balloon had been thrown on Lincoln Island, and during that period there had been no communication between them and their fellow-creatures.

fellow-creatures

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

From this reading THE SECRET OF THE ISLAND It was now two years and a half since the castaways from the balloon had been thrown on Lincoln Island, and during that period there had been no communication between them and their fellow-creatures.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading THE SECRET OF THE ISLAND It was now two years and a half since the castaways from the balloon had been thrown on Lincoln Island, and during that period there had been no communication between them and their fellow-creatures.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading THE SECRET OF THE ISLAND It was now two years and a half since the castaways from the balloon had been thrown on Lincoln Island, and during that period there had been no communication between them and their fellow-creatures.

halfnounUS /half/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading THE SECRET OF THE ISLAND It was now two years and a half since the castaways from the balloon had been thrown on Lincoln Island, and during that period there had been no communication between them and their fellow-creatures.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Ayrton, alone, under the circumstances which have been related, had come to join the little colony.

impossible

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

From this reading Once the reporter had attempted to communicate with the inhabited world by confiding to a bird a letter which contained the secret of their situation, but that was a chance on which it was impossible to reckon seriously.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Now, suddenly, on this day, the 17th of October, other men had unexpectedly appeared in sight of the island, on that deserted sea!

inhabited

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

From this reading Once the reporter had attempted to communicate with the inhabited world by confiding to a bird a letter which contained the secret of their situation, but that was a chance on which it was impossible to reckon seriously.

ISLAND

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

From this reading THE SECRET OF THE ISLAND It was now two years and a half since the castaways from the balloon had been thrown on Lincoln Island, and during that period there had been no communication between them and their fellow-creatures.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading THE SECRET OF THE ISLAND It was now two years and a half since the castaways from the balloon had been thrown on Lincoln Island, and during that period there had been no communication between them and their fellow-creatures.

join

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

From this reading Ayrton, alone, under the circumstances which have been related, had come to join the little colony.

letter

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

From this reading Once the reporter had attempted to communicate with the inhabited world by confiding to a bird a letter which contained the secret of their situation, but that was a chance on which it was impossible to reckon seriously.

Lincoln

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

From this reading THE SECRET OF THE ISLAND It was now two years and a half since the castaways from the balloon had been thrown on Lincoln Island, and during that period there had been no communication between them and their fellow-creatures.

littlenounUS /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Ayrton, alone, under the circumstances which have been related, had come to join the little colony.

men

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

From this reading Now, suddenly, on this day, the 17th of October, other men had unexpectedly appeared in sight of the island, on that deserted sea!

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading THE SECRET OF THE ISLAND It was now two years and a half since the castaways from the balloon had been thrown on Lincoln Island, and during that period there had been no communication between them and their fellow-creatures.

now

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

From this reading THE SECRET OF THE ISLAND It was now two years and a half since the castaways from the balloon had been thrown on Lincoln Island, and during that period there had been no communication between them and their fellow-creatures.

October

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

From this reading Now, suddenly, on this day, the 17th of October, other men had unexpectedly appeared in sight of the island, on that deserted sea!

OFprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading THE SECRET OF THE ISLAND It was now two years and a half since the castaways from the balloon had been thrown on Lincoln Island, and during that period there had been no communication between them and their fellow-creatures.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading THE SECRET OF THE ISLAND It was now two years and a half since the castaways from the balloon had been thrown on Lincoln Island, and during that period there had been no communication between them and their fellow-creatures.

Once

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

From this reading Once the reporter had attempted to communicate with the inhabited world by confiding to a bird a letter which contained the secret of their situation, but that was a chance on which it was impossible to reckon seriously.

other

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

From this reading Now, suddenly, on this day, the 17th of October, other men had unexpectedly appeared in sight of the island, on that deserted sea!

period

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

From this reading THE SECRET OF THE ISLAND It was now two years and a half since the castaways from the balloon had been thrown on Lincoln Island, and during that period there had been no communication between them and their fellow-creatures.

reckon

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

From this reading Once the reporter had attempted to communicate with the inhabited world by confiding to a bird a letter which contained the secret of their situation, but that was a chance on which it was impossible to reckon seriously.

related

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

From this reading Ayrton, alone, under the circumstances which have been related, had come to join the little colony.

reporter

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

From this reading Once the reporter had attempted to communicate with the inhabited world by confiding to a bird a letter which contained the secret of their situation, but that was a chance on which it was impossible to reckon seriously.

sea

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

From this reading Now, suddenly, on this day, the 17th of October, other men had unexpectedly appeared in sight of the island, on that deserted sea!

SECRETnounUS /ˈsiː.krət/

Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.

From this reading THE SECRET OF THE ISLAND It was now two years and a half since the castaways from the balloon had been thrown on Lincoln Island, and during that period there had been no communication between them and their fellow-creatures.

seriously

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

From this reading Once the reporter had attempted to communicate with the inhabited world by confiding to a bird a letter which contained the secret of their situation, but that was a chance on which it was impossible to reckon seriously.

sight

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

From this reading Now, suddenly, on this day, the 17th of October, other men had unexpectedly appeared in sight of the island, on that deserted sea!

sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/

from a time in the past until now

From this reading THE SECRET OF THE ISLAND It was now two years and a half since the castaways from the balloon had been thrown on Lincoln Island, and during that period there had been no communication between them and their fellow-creatures.

situation

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

From this reading Once the reporter had attempted to communicate with the inhabited world by confiding to a bird a letter which contained the secret of their situation, but that was a chance on which it was impossible to reckon seriously.

suddenlynounUS /ˈsuddenly/

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

From this reading Now, suddenly, on this day, the 17th of October, other men had unexpectedly appeared in sight of the island, on that deserted sea!

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading THE SECRET OF THE ISLAND It was now two years and a half since the castaways from the balloon had been thrown on Lincoln Island, and during that period there had been no communication between them and their fellow-creatures.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE SECRET OF THE ISLAND It was now two years and a half since the castaways from the balloon had been thrown on Lincoln Island, and during that period there had been no communication between them and their fellow-creatures.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading THE SECRET OF THE ISLAND It was now two years and a half since the castaways from the balloon had been thrown on Lincoln Island, and during that period there had been no communication between them and their fellow-creatures.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading THE SECRET OF THE ISLAND It was now two years and a half since the castaways from the balloon had been thrown on Lincoln Island, and during that period there had been no communication between them and their fellow-creatures.

there

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

From this reading THE SECRET OF THE ISLAND It was now two years and a half since the castaways from the balloon had been thrown on Lincoln Island, and during that period there had been no communication between them and their fellow-creatures.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading Now, suddenly, on this day, the 17th of October, other men had unexpectedly appeared in sight of the island, on that deserted sea!

thrown

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

From this reading THE SECRET OF THE ISLAND It was now two years and a half since the castaways from the balloon had been thrown on Lincoln Island, and during that period there had been no communication between them and their fellow-creatures.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Once the reporter had attempted to communicate with the inhabited world by confiding to a bird a letter which contained the secret of their situation, but that was a chance on which it was impossible to reckon seriously.

two

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

From this reading THE SECRET OF THE ISLAND It was now two years and a half since the castaways from the balloon had been thrown on Lincoln Island, and during that period there had been no communication between them and their fellow-creatures.

underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading Ayrton, alone, under the circumstances which have been related, had come to join the little colony.

unexpectedly

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

From this reading Now, suddenly, on this day, the 17th of October, other men had unexpectedly appeared in sight of the island, on that deserted sea!

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading THE SECRET OF THE ISLAND It was now two years and a half since the castaways from the balloon had been thrown on Lincoln Island, and during that period there had been no communication between them and their fellow-creatures.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading Once the reporter had attempted to communicate with the inhabited world by confiding to a bird a letter which contained the secret of their situation, but that was a chance on which it was impossible to reckon seriously.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Once the reporter had attempted to communicate with the inhabited world by confiding to a bird a letter which contained the secret of their situation, but that was a chance on which it was impossible to reckon seriously.

world

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

From this reading Once the reporter had attempted to communicate with the inhabited world by confiding to a bird a letter which contained the secret of their situation, but that was a chance on which it was impossible to reckon seriously.

years

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

From this reading THE SECRET OF THE ISLAND It was now two years and a half since the castaways from the balloon had been thrown on Lincoln Island, and during that period there had been no communication between them and their fellow-creatures.