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A Mating in the Wilds
A Mating in the Wilds

Chapter VI

Cover illustration for A Mating in the Wilds
Context Illustration Reading 1/50 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
STRANDED It was high noon when Hubert Stane directed the nose of the canoe towards a landing-place in the lee of a sand-bar, on the upperside of which was a pile of dry driftwood suitable for firing.
"We will take an hour's rest, Miss Yardely; and possibly whilst we are waiting your friends may show up."
He lit a fire, prepared a wilderness meal of bacon and beans (the latter already half-cooked) and biscuit and coffee, and as they consumed it, he watched the river, a long stretch of which was visible.
"I thought we should have encountered your friends before now, Miss Yardely," he remarked thoughtfully.
The girl smiled.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

A Mating in the Wilds

Chapter VI

Reading 1/50 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
STRANDED It was high noon when Hubert Stane directed the nose of the canoe towards a landing-place in the lee of a sand-bar, on the upperside of which was a pile of dry driftwood suitable for firing.
Line 2
"We will take an hour's rest, Miss Yardely; and possibly whilst we are waiting your friends may show up."
Line 3
He lit a fire, prepared a wilderness meal of bacon and beans (the latter already half-cooked) and biscuit and coffee, and as they consumed it, he watched the river, a long stretch of which was visible.
Line 4
"I thought we should have encountered your friends before now, Miss Yardely," he remarked thoughtfully.
Line 5
The girl smiled.

Learner Dictionary

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

Already noun US /already/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He lit a fire, prepared a wilderness meal of bacon and beans (the latter already half-cooked) and biscuit and coffee, and as they consumed it, he watched the river, a long stretch of which was visible.”

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “"I thought we should have encountered your friends before now, Miss Yardely," he remarked thoughtfully.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “"I thought we should have encountered your friends before now, Miss Yardely," he remarked thoughtfully.”

Long noun US /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He lit a fire, prepared a wilderness meal of bacon and beans (the latter already half-cooked) and biscuit and coffee, and as they consumed it, he watched the river, a long stretch of which was visible.”

May modal verb US /meɪ/

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading “"We will take an hour's rest, Miss Yardely; and possibly whilst we are waiting your friends may show up."”

Rest noun US /rest/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"We will take an hour's rest, Miss Yardely; and possibly whilst we are waiting your friends may show up."”

Take noun US /take/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"We will take an hour's rest, Miss Yardely; and possibly whilst we are waiting your friends may show up."”

Thought noun US /thought/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"I thought we should have encountered your friends before now, Miss Yardely," he remarked thoughtfully.”

Towards preposition US /təˈwɔːrdz/

in the direction of

From this reading “STRANDED It was high noon when Hubert Stane directed the nose of the canoe towards a landing-place in the lee of a sand-bar, on the upperside of which was a pile of dry driftwood suitable for firing.”

Waiting noun US /ˈwaiting/

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

From this reading “"We will take an hour's rest, Miss Yardely; and possibly whilst we are waiting your friends may show up."”

Whilst conjunction US /waɪlst/

an old and formal word for “while”

From this reading “"We will take an hour's rest, Miss Yardely; and possibly whilst we are waiting your friends may show up."”

Wilderness noun US /ˈwɪldərnəs/

a wild area where few people live

From this reading “He lit a fire, prepared a wilderness meal of bacon and beans (the latter already half-cooked) and biscuit and coffee, and as they consumed it, he watched the river, a long stretch of which was visible.”

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.

adeterminerUS /ə/

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

From this reading STRANDED It was high noon when Hubert Stane directed the nose of the canoe towards a landing-place in the lee of a sand-bar, on the upperside of which was a pile of dry driftwood suitable for firing.

alreadynounUS /already/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He lit a fire, prepared a wilderness meal of bacon and beans (the latter already half-cooked) and biscuit and coffee, and as they consumed it, he watched the river, a long stretch of which was visible.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading "We will take an hour's rest, Miss Yardely; and possibly whilst we are waiting your friends may show up."

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading "We will take an hour's rest, Miss Yardely; and possibly whilst we are waiting your friends may show up."

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading "We will take an hour's rest, Miss Yardely; and possibly whilst we are waiting your friends may show up."

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading He lit a fire, prepared a wilderness meal of bacon and beans (the latter already half-cooked) and biscuit and coffee, and as they consumed it, he watched the river, a long stretch of which was visible.

bacon

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

From this reading He lit a fire, prepared a wilderness meal of bacon and beans (the latter already half-cooked) and biscuit and coffee, and as they consumed it, he watched the river, a long stretch of which was visible.

beans

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

From this reading He lit a fire, prepared a wilderness meal of bacon and beans (the latter already half-cooked) and biscuit and coffee, and as they consumed it, he watched the river, a long stretch of which was visible.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading "I thought we should have encountered your friends before now, Miss Yardely," he remarked thoughtfully.

biscuit

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

From this reading He lit a fire, prepared a wilderness meal of bacon and beans (the latter already half-cooked) and biscuit and coffee, and as they consumed it, he watched the river, a long stretch of which was visible.

canoe

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

From this reading STRANDED It was high noon when Hubert Stane directed the nose of the canoe towards a landing-place in the lee of a sand-bar, on the upperside of which was a pile of dry driftwood suitable for firing.

coffee

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

From this reading He lit a fire, prepared a wilderness meal of bacon and beans (the latter already half-cooked) and biscuit and coffee, and as they consumed it, he watched the river, a long stretch of which was visible.

consumed

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

From this reading He lit a fire, prepared a wilderness meal of bacon and beans (the latter already half-cooked) and biscuit and coffee, and as they consumed it, he watched the river, a long stretch of which was visible.

directed

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

From this reading STRANDED It was high noon when Hubert Stane directed the nose of the canoe towards a landing-place in the lee of a sand-bar, on the upperside of which was a pile of dry driftwood suitable for firing.

driftwood

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

From this reading STRANDED It was high noon when Hubert Stane directed the nose of the canoe towards a landing-place in the lee of a sand-bar, on the upperside of which was a pile of dry driftwood suitable for firing.

dry

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

From this reading STRANDED It was high noon when Hubert Stane directed the nose of the canoe towards a landing-place in the lee of a sand-bar, on the upperside of which was a pile of dry driftwood suitable for firing.

encountered

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

From this reading "I thought we should have encountered your friends before now, Miss Yardely," he remarked thoughtfully.

fire

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

From this reading He lit a fire, prepared a wilderness meal of bacon and beans (the latter already half-cooked) and biscuit and coffee, and as they consumed it, he watched the river, a long stretch of which was visible.

firing

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

From this reading STRANDED It was high noon when Hubert Stane directed the nose of the canoe towards a landing-place in the lee of a sand-bar, on the upperside of which was a pile of dry driftwood suitable for firing.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading STRANDED It was high noon when Hubert Stane directed the nose of the canoe towards a landing-place in the lee of a sand-bar, on the upperside of which was a pile of dry driftwood suitable for firing.

friends

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

From this reading "We will take an hour's rest, Miss Yardely; and possibly whilst we are waiting your friends may show up."

girl

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

From this reading The girl smiled.

half-cooked

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

From this reading He lit a fire, prepared a wilderness meal of bacon and beans (the latter already half-cooked) and biscuit and coffee, and as they consumed it, he watched the river, a long stretch of which was visible.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading "I thought we should have encountered your friends before now, Miss Yardely," he remarked thoughtfully.

HepronounUS /hiː/

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading He lit a fire, prepared a wilderness meal of bacon and beans (the latter already half-cooked) and biscuit and coffee, and as they consumed it, he watched the river, a long stretch of which was visible.

high

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

From this reading STRANDED It was high noon when Hubert Stane directed the nose of the canoe towards a landing-place in the lee of a sand-bar, on the upperside of which was a pile of dry driftwood suitable for firing.

hour's

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

From this reading "We will take an hour's rest, Miss Yardely; and possibly whilst we are waiting your friends may show up."

Hubert

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

From this reading STRANDED It was high noon when Hubert Stane directed the nose of the canoe towards a landing-place in the lee of a sand-bar, on the upperside of which was a pile of dry driftwood suitable for firing.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading "I thought we should have encountered your friends before now, Miss Yardely," he remarked thoughtfully.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading STRANDED It was high noon when Hubert Stane directed the nose of the canoe towards a landing-place in the lee of a sand-bar, on the upperside of which was a pile of dry driftwood suitable for firing.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading STRANDED It was high noon when Hubert Stane directed the nose of the canoe towards a landing-place in the lee of a sand-bar, on the upperside of which was a pile of dry driftwood suitable for firing.

landing-place

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

From this reading STRANDED It was high noon when Hubert Stane directed the nose of the canoe towards a landing-place in the lee of a sand-bar, on the upperside of which was a pile of dry driftwood suitable for firing.

latter

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

From this reading He lit a fire, prepared a wilderness meal of bacon and beans (the latter already half-cooked) and biscuit and coffee, and as they consumed it, he watched the river, a long stretch of which was visible.

lee

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

From this reading STRANDED It was high noon when Hubert Stane directed the nose of the canoe towards a landing-place in the lee of a sand-bar, on the upperside of which was a pile of dry driftwood suitable for firing.

lit

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

From this reading He lit a fire, prepared a wilderness meal of bacon and beans (the latter already half-cooked) and biscuit and coffee, and as they consumed it, he watched the river, a long stretch of which was visible.

longnounUS /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He lit a fire, prepared a wilderness meal of bacon and beans (the latter already half-cooked) and biscuit and coffee, and as they consumed it, he watched the river, a long stretch of which was visible.

maymodal verbUS /meɪ/

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading "We will take an hour's rest, Miss Yardely; and possibly whilst we are waiting your friends may show up."

meal

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

From this reading He lit a fire, prepared a wilderness meal of bacon and beans (the latter already half-cooked) and biscuit and coffee, and as they consumed it, he watched the river, a long stretch of which was visible.

Miss

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

From this reading "We will take an hour's rest, Miss Yardely; and possibly whilst we are waiting your friends may show up."

noon

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

From this reading STRANDED It was high noon when Hubert Stane directed the nose of the canoe towards a landing-place in the lee of a sand-bar, on the upperside of which was a pile of dry driftwood suitable for firing.

nose

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

From this reading STRANDED It was high noon when Hubert Stane directed the nose of the canoe towards a landing-place in the lee of a sand-bar, on the upperside of which was a pile of dry driftwood suitable for firing.

now

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

From this reading "I thought we should have encountered your friends before now, Miss Yardely," he remarked thoughtfully.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading STRANDED It was high noon when Hubert Stane directed the nose of the canoe towards a landing-place in the lee of a sand-bar, on the upperside of which was a pile of dry driftwood suitable for firing.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading STRANDED It was high noon when Hubert Stane directed the nose of the canoe towards a landing-place in the lee of a sand-bar, on the upperside of which was a pile of dry driftwood suitable for firing.

pile

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

From this reading STRANDED It was high noon when Hubert Stane directed the nose of the canoe towards a landing-place in the lee of a sand-bar, on the upperside of which was a pile of dry driftwood suitable for firing.

possibly

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

From this reading "We will take an hour's rest, Miss Yardely; and possibly whilst we are waiting your friends may show up."

prepared

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

From this reading He lit a fire, prepared a wilderness meal of bacon and beans (the latter already half-cooked) and biscuit and coffee, and as they consumed it, he watched the river, a long stretch of which was visible.

remarked

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

From this reading "I thought we should have encountered your friends before now, Miss Yardely," he remarked thoughtfully.

restnounUS /rest/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "We will take an hour's rest, Miss Yardely; and possibly whilst we are waiting your friends may show up."

river

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

From this reading He lit a fire, prepared a wilderness meal of bacon and beans (the latter already half-cooked) and biscuit and coffee, and as they consumed it, he watched the river, a long stretch of which was visible.

sand-bar

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

From this reading STRANDED It was high noon when Hubert Stane directed the nose of the canoe towards a landing-place in the lee of a sand-bar, on the upperside of which was a pile of dry driftwood suitable for firing.

shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading "I thought we should have encountered your friends before now, Miss Yardely," he remarked thoughtfully.

show

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

From this reading "We will take an hour's rest, Miss Yardely; and possibly whilst we are waiting your friends may show up."

smiled

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

From this reading The girl smiled.

Stane

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

From this reading STRANDED It was high noon when Hubert Stane directed the nose of the canoe towards a landing-place in the lee of a sand-bar, on the upperside of which was a pile of dry driftwood suitable for firing.

STRANDED

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

From this reading STRANDED It was high noon when Hubert Stane directed the nose of the canoe towards a landing-place in the lee of a sand-bar, on the upperside of which was a pile of dry driftwood suitable for firing.

stretch

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

From this reading He lit a fire, prepared a wilderness meal of bacon and beans (the latter already half-cooked) and biscuit and coffee, and as they consumed it, he watched the river, a long stretch of which was visible.

suitable

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

From this reading STRANDED It was high noon when Hubert Stane directed the nose of the canoe towards a landing-place in the lee of a sand-bar, on the upperside of which was a pile of dry driftwood suitable for firing.

takenounUS /take/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "We will take an hour's rest, Miss Yardely; and possibly whilst we are waiting your friends may show up."

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading STRANDED It was high noon when Hubert Stane directed the nose of the canoe towards a landing-place in the lee of a sand-bar, on the upperside of which was a pile of dry driftwood suitable for firing.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading He lit a fire, prepared a wilderness meal of bacon and beans (the latter already half-cooked) and biscuit and coffee, and as they consumed it, he watched the river, a long stretch of which was visible.

thoughtnounUS /thought/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "I thought we should have encountered your friends before now, Miss Yardely," he remarked thoughtfully.

thoughtfully

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

From this reading "I thought we should have encountered your friends before now, Miss Yardely," he remarked thoughtfully.

towardsprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrdz/

in the direction of

From this reading STRANDED It was high noon when Hubert Stane directed the nose of the canoe towards a landing-place in the lee of a sand-bar, on the upperside of which was a pile of dry driftwood suitable for firing.

up

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

From this reading "We will take an hour's rest, Miss Yardely; and possibly whilst we are waiting your friends may show up."

upperside

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

From this reading STRANDED It was high noon when Hubert Stane directed the nose of the canoe towards a landing-place in the lee of a sand-bar, on the upperside of which was a pile of dry driftwood suitable for firing.

visible

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

From this reading He lit a fire, prepared a wilderness meal of bacon and beans (the latter already half-cooked) and biscuit and coffee, and as they consumed it, he watched the river, a long stretch of which was visible.

waiting

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

From this reading "We will take an hour's rest, Miss Yardely; and possibly whilst we are waiting your friends may show up."

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading STRANDED It was high noon when Hubert Stane directed the nose of the canoe towards a landing-place in the lee of a sand-bar, on the upperside of which was a pile of dry driftwood suitable for firing.

watched

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

From this reading He lit a fire, prepared a wilderness meal of bacon and beans (the latter already half-cooked) and biscuit and coffee, and as they consumed it, he watched the river, a long stretch of which was visible.

WepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading "We will take an hour's rest, Miss Yardely; and possibly whilst we are waiting your friends may show up."

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading STRANDED It was high noon when Hubert Stane directed the nose of the canoe towards a landing-place in the lee of a sand-bar, on the upperside of which was a pile of dry driftwood suitable for firing.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading STRANDED It was high noon when Hubert Stane directed the nose of the canoe towards a landing-place in the lee of a sand-bar, on the upperside of which was a pile of dry driftwood suitable for firing.

whilstconjunctionUS /waɪlst/

an old and formal word for “while”

From this reading "We will take an hour's rest, Miss Yardely; and possibly whilst we are waiting your friends may show up."

wildernessnounUS /ˈwɪldərnəs/

a wild area where few people live

From this reading He lit a fire, prepared a wilderness meal of bacon and beans (the latter already half-cooked) and biscuit and coffee, and as they consumed it, he watched the river, a long stretch of which was visible.

willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading "We will take an hour's rest, Miss Yardely; and possibly whilst we are waiting your friends may show up."

Yardely

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

From this reading "We will take an hour's rest, Miss Yardely; and possibly whilst we are waiting your friends may show up."

yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "We will take an hour's rest, Miss Yardely; and possibly whilst we are waiting your friends may show up."