Complete classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
A Prisoner of the Khaleefa
A Prisoner of the Khaleefa

Chapter IV

Chapter 4 of A Prisoner of the Khaleefa is here in full — 6 sentences across 2 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for A Prisoner of the Khaleefa
Context Illustration Reading 1/1 · 6 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 6
A PRISONER AT LARGE Belief in evil spirits—Shwybo as an alchemist—He is flogged for his pains—I am told to make saltpetre—Released from my fetters—The gunpowder factory at Halfeyeh—Death of Makkieh—I am transferred to Khartoum—Our gunpowder a deliberate failure—Visits of Father Ohrwalder—News of his escape .
170–184 DIVORCED AND MARRIED Hasseena’s thievish propensities—I am compelled to divorce her—The Khaleefa finds me a wife—I forestall his good offices—Umm es Shole—Mohammedan divorce and re-marriage—A further dilemma—The second child dies—Hasseena proves irreclaimable .
. 185–194
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.

A Prisoner of the Khaleefa

Chapter IV

Chapter 4 of A Prisoner of the Khaleefa is here in full — 6 sentences across 2 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/1 · 6 reading units · Lines 1–6

Line 1
A PRISONER AT LARGE Belief in evil spirits—Shwybo as an alchemist—He is flogged for his pains—I am told to make saltpetre—Released from my fetters—The gunpowder factory at Halfeyeh—Death of Makkieh—I am transferred to Khartoum—Our gunpowder a deliberate failure—Visits of Father Ohrwalder—News of his escape .
Line 2
Line 3
Line 4
170–184 DIVORCED AND MARRIED Hasseena’s thievish propensities—I am compelled to divorce her—The Khaleefa finds me a wife—I forestall his good offices—Umm es Shole—Mohammedan divorce and re-marriage—A further dilemma—The second child dies—Hasseena proves irreclaimable .
Line 5
Line 6
. 185–194

Learner Dictionary

These definitions explain words found in the current reading and keep every example grounded in its original sentence.

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

alchemist noun US /ˈæltʃəmɪst/

one who was versed in the practice of alchemy and who sought an elixir of life and a panacea and an alkahest and the philosopher's stone

From this reading “A PRISONER AT LARGE Belief in evil spirits—Shwybo as an alchemist—He is flogged for his pains—I am told to make saltpetre—Released from my fetters—The gunpowder factory at Halfeyeh—Death of Makkieh—I am transferred to Khartoum—Our gunpowder a deliberate failure—Visits of Father Ohrwalder—News of his escape .”

dilemma noun US /dɪˈlemə/

state of uncertainty or perplexity especially as requiring a choice between equally unfavorable options

From this reading “170–184 DIVORCED AND MARRIED Hasseena’s thievish propensities—I am compelled to divorce her—The Khaleefa finds me a wife—I forestall his good offices—Umm es Shole—Mohammedan divorce and re-marriage—A further dilemma—The second child dies—Hasseena proves irreclaimable .”

divorced adjective US /dɪˈvɔːrst/

of someone whose marriage has been legally dissolved

From this reading “170–184 DIVORCED AND MARRIED Hasseena’s thievish propensities—I am compelled to divorce her—The Khaleefa finds me a wife—I forestall his good offices—Umm es Shole—Mohammedan divorce and re-marriage—A further dilemma—The second child dies—Hasseena proves irreclaimable .”

fetters noun US /ˈfetərz/

plural of “fetter” — a shackle for the ankles or feet

From this reading “A PRISONER AT LARGE Belief in evil spirits—Shwybo as an alchemist—He is flogged for his pains—I am told to make saltpetre—Released from my fetters—The gunpowder factory at Halfeyeh—Death of Makkieh—I am transferred to Khartoum—Our gunpowder a deliberate failure—Visits of Father Ohrwalder—News of his escape .”

forestall verb US /fɔːrˈstɔːl/

keep from happening or arising; make impossible

From this reading “170–184 DIVORCED AND MARRIED Hasseena’s thievish propensities—I am compelled to divorce her—The Khaleefa finds me a wife—I forestall his good offices—Umm es Shole—Mohammedan divorce and re-marriage—A further dilemma—The second child dies—Hasseena proves irreclaimable .”

gunpowder noun US /ˈɡʌnpaʊdər/

a mixture of potassium nitrate, charcoal, and sulfur in a 75:15:10 ratio which is used in gunnery, time fuses, and fireworks

From this reading “A PRISONER AT LARGE Belief in evil spirits—Shwybo as an alchemist—He is flogged for his pains—I am told to make saltpetre—Released from my fetters—The gunpowder factory at Halfeyeh—Death of Makkieh—I am transferred to Khartoum—Our gunpowder a deliberate failure—Visits of Father Ohrwalder—News of his escape .”

Khartoum noun US /ˌkɑːrˈtuːm/

the capital of Sudan located at the confluence of the Blue Nile and White Nile

From this reading “A PRISONER AT LARGE Belief in evil spirits—Shwybo as an alchemist—He is flogged for his pains—I am told to make saltpetre—Released from my fetters—The gunpowder factory at Halfeyeh—Death of Makkieh—I am transferred to Khartoum—Our gunpowder a deliberate failure—Visits of Father Ohrwalder—News of his escape .”

propensities noun US /prəˈpensətiz/

plural of “propensity” — an inclination to do something

From this reading “170–184 DIVORCED AND MARRIED Hasseena’s thievish propensities—I am compelled to divorce her—The Khaleefa finds me a wife—I forestall his good offices—Umm es Shole—Mohammedan divorce and re-marriage—A further dilemma—The second child dies—Hasseena proves irreclaimable .”

Word partnerships in these lines

English keeps certain words together, and knowing the pair is worth more than knowing each word alone. Every partnership below was counted across our whole published library, and earns its place by appearing far more often than two unrelated words of the same frequency would.

Shown as this reading writes them, with the form the library counts, what kind of pairing it is, and how often it occurs.

evil spirits noun + noun

In this reading “A PRISONER AT LARGE Belief in evil spirits—Shwybo as an alchemist—He is flogged for his pains—I am told to make saltpetre—Released from my fetters—The gunpowder factory at Halfeyeh—Death of Makkieh—I am transferred to Khartoum—Our gunpowder a deliberate failure—Visits of Father Ohrwalder—News of his escape .”

Released from verb + particle counted as “release from”

In this reading “A PRISONER AT LARGE Belief in evil spirits—Shwybo as an alchemist—He is flogged for his pains—I am told to make saltpetre—Released from my fetters—The gunpowder factory at Halfeyeh—Death of Makkieh—I am transferred to Khartoum—Our gunpowder a deliberate failure—Visits of Father Ohrwalder—News of his escape .”

All words in this reading · 78

Every word in these five lines is listed here, and every one of them can be played on its own.

Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

170

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

From this reading 170–184 DIVORCED AND MARRIED Hasseena’s thievish propensities—I am compelled to divorce her—The Khaleefa finds me a wife—I forestall his good offices—Umm es Shole—Mohammedan divorce and re-marriage—A further dilemma—The second child dies—Hasseena proves irreclaimable .

184

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

From this reading 170–184 DIVORCED AND MARRIED Hasseena’s thievish propensities—I am compelled to divorce her—The Khaleefa finds me a wife—I forestall his good offices—Umm es Shole—Mohammedan divorce and re-marriage—A further dilemma—The second child dies—Hasseena proves irreclaimable .

185

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

From this reading . 185–194

194

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

From this reading . 185–194

AdeterminerUS /ə/

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

From this reading A PRISONER AT LARGE Belief in evil spirits—Shwybo as an alchemist—He is flogged for his pains—I am told to make saltpetre—Released from my fetters—The gunpowder factory at Halfeyeh—Death of Makkieh—I am transferred to Khartoum—Our gunpowder a deliberate failure—Visits of Father Ohrwalder—News of his escape .

alchemistnounUS /ˈæltʃəmɪst/

one who was versed in the practice of alchemy and who sought an elixir of life and a panacea and an alkahest and the philosopher's stone

From this reading A PRISONER AT LARGE Belief in evil spirits—Shwybo as an alchemist—He is flogged for his pains—I am told to make saltpetre—Released from my fetters—The gunpowder factory at Halfeyeh—Death of Makkieh—I am transferred to Khartoum—Our gunpowder a deliberate failure—Visits of Father Ohrwalder—News of his escape .

amauxiliary verbUS /æm/

the form of “be” used with “I”

From this reading A PRISONER AT LARGE Belief in evil spirits—Shwybo as an alchemist—He is flogged for his pains—I am told to make saltpetre—Released from my fetters—The gunpowder factory at Halfeyeh—Death of Makkieh—I am transferred to Khartoum—Our gunpowder a deliberate failure—Visits of Father Ohrwalder—News of his escape .

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading A PRISONER AT LARGE Belief in evil spirits—Shwybo as an alchemist—He is flogged for his pains—I am told to make saltpetre—Released from my fetters—The gunpowder factory at Halfeyeh—Death of Makkieh—I am transferred to Khartoum—Our gunpowder a deliberate failure—Visits of Father Ohrwalder—News of his escape .

ANDconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading 170–184 DIVORCED AND MARRIED Hasseena’s thievish propensities—I am compelled to divorce her—The Khaleefa finds me a wife—I forestall his good offices—Umm es Shole—Mohammedan divorce and re-marriage—A further dilemma—The second child dies—Hasseena proves irreclaimable .

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading A PRISONER AT LARGE Belief in evil spirits—Shwybo as an alchemist—He is flogged for his pains—I am told to make saltpetre—Released from my fetters—The gunpowder factory at Halfeyeh—Death of Makkieh—I am transferred to Khartoum—Our gunpowder a deliberate failure—Visits of Father Ohrwalder—News of his escape .

ATprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading A PRISONER AT LARGE Belief in evil spirits—Shwybo as an alchemist—He is flogged for his pains—I am told to make saltpetre—Released from my fetters—The gunpowder factory at Halfeyeh—Death of Makkieh—I am transferred to Khartoum—Our gunpowder a deliberate failure—Visits of Father Ohrwalder—News of his escape .

BeliefnounUS /bɪˈliːf/

any cognitive content held as true

From this reading A PRISONER AT LARGE Belief in evil spirits—Shwybo as an alchemist—He is flogged for his pains—I am told to make saltpetre—Released from my fetters—The gunpowder factory at Halfeyeh—Death of Makkieh—I am transferred to Khartoum—Our gunpowder a deliberate failure—Visits of Father Ohrwalder—News of his escape .

childnounUS /tʃaɪld/

a young person of either sex

From this reading 170–184 DIVORCED AND MARRIED Hasseena’s thievish propensities—I am compelled to divorce her—The Khaleefa finds me a wife—I forestall his good offices—Umm es Shole—Mohammedan divorce and re-marriage—A further dilemma—The second child dies—Hasseena proves irreclaimable .

compelledverbUS /kəmˈpeld/

inflected form of “compel” — force somebody to do something

From this reading 170–184 DIVORCED AND MARRIED Hasseena’s thievish propensities—I am compelled to divorce her—The Khaleefa finds me a wife—I forestall his good offices—Umm es Shole—Mohammedan divorce and re-marriage—A further dilemma—The second child dies—Hasseena proves irreclaimable .

DeathnounUS /deθ/

the event of dying or departure from life

From this reading A PRISONER AT LARGE Belief in evil spirits—Shwybo as an alchemist—He is flogged for his pains—I am told to make saltpetre—Released from my fetters—The gunpowder factory at Halfeyeh—Death of Makkieh—I am transferred to Khartoum—Our gunpowder a deliberate failure—Visits of Father Ohrwalder—News of his escape .

deliberateadjectiveUS /dɪˈlɪbərət/

carefully thought out in advance

From this reading A PRISONER AT LARGE Belief in evil spirits—Shwybo as an alchemist—He is flogged for his pains—I am told to make saltpetre—Released from my fetters—The gunpowder factory at Halfeyeh—Death of Makkieh—I am transferred to Khartoum—Our gunpowder a deliberate failure—Visits of Father Ohrwalder—News of his escape .

diesnounUS /daɪz/

plural of “die” — a small cube with 1 to 6 spots on the six faces; used in gambling to generate random numbers

From this reading 170–184 DIVORCED AND MARRIED Hasseena’s thievish propensities—I am compelled to divorce her—The Khaleefa finds me a wife—I forestall his good offices—Umm es Shole—Mohammedan divorce and re-marriage—A further dilemma—The second child dies—Hasseena proves irreclaimable .

dilemmanounUS /dɪˈlemə/

state of uncertainty or perplexity especially as requiring a choice between equally unfavorable options

From this reading 170–184 DIVORCED AND MARRIED Hasseena’s thievish propensities—I am compelled to divorce her—The Khaleefa finds me a wife—I forestall his good offices—Umm es Shole—Mohammedan divorce and re-marriage—A further dilemma—The second child dies—Hasseena proves irreclaimable .

divorceverbUS /dɪˈvɔːrs/

part; cease or break association with

From this reading 170–184 DIVORCED AND MARRIED Hasseena’s thievish propensities—I am compelled to divorce her—The Khaleefa finds me a wife—I forestall his good offices—Umm es Shole—Mohammedan divorce and re-marriage—A further dilemma—The second child dies—Hasseena proves irreclaimable .

DIVORCEDadjectiveUS /dɪˈvɔːrst/

of someone whose marriage has been legally dissolved

From this reading 170–184 DIVORCED AND MARRIED Hasseena’s thievish propensities—I am compelled to divorce her—The Khaleefa finds me a wife—I forestall his good offices—Umm es Shole—Mohammedan divorce and re-marriage—A further dilemma—The second child dies—Hasseena proves irreclaimable .

esnounUS /es/

a radioactive transuranic element produced by bombarding plutonium with neutrons

From this reading 170–184 DIVORCED AND MARRIED Hasseena’s thievish propensities—I am compelled to divorce her—The Khaleefa finds me a wife—I forestall his good offices—Umm es Shole—Mohammedan divorce and re-marriage—A further dilemma—The second child dies—Hasseena proves irreclaimable .

escapenounUS /ɪˈskeɪp/

the act of escaping physically

From this reading A PRISONER AT LARGE Belief in evil spirits—Shwybo as an alchemist—He is flogged for his pains—I am told to make saltpetre—Released from my fetters—The gunpowder factory at Halfeyeh—Death of Makkieh—I am transferred to Khartoum—Our gunpowder a deliberate failure—Visits of Father Ohrwalder—News of his escape .

evilnounUS /ˈiːvəl/

morally objectionable behavior

From this reading A PRISONER AT LARGE Belief in evil spirits—Shwybo as an alchemist—He is flogged for his pains—I am told to make saltpetre—Released from my fetters—The gunpowder factory at Halfeyeh—Death of Makkieh—I am transferred to Khartoum—Our gunpowder a deliberate failure—Visits of Father Ohrwalder—News of his escape .

factorynounUS /ˈfæktəri/

a plant consisting of one or more buildings with facilities for manufacturing

From this reading A PRISONER AT LARGE Belief in evil spirits—Shwybo as an alchemist—He is flogged for his pains—I am told to make saltpetre—Released from my fetters—The gunpowder factory at Halfeyeh—Death of Makkieh—I am transferred to Khartoum—Our gunpowder a deliberate failure—Visits of Father Ohrwalder—News of his escape .

failurenounUS /ˈfeɪljər/

an act that fails

From this reading A PRISONER AT LARGE Belief in evil spirits—Shwybo as an alchemist—He is flogged for his pains—I am told to make saltpetre—Released from my fetters—The gunpowder factory at Halfeyeh—Death of Makkieh—I am transferred to Khartoum—Our gunpowder a deliberate failure—Visits of Father Ohrwalder—News of his escape .

FathernounUS /ˈfɑːðər/

a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)

From this reading A PRISONER AT LARGE Belief in evil spirits—Shwybo as an alchemist—He is flogged for his pains—I am told to make saltpetre—Released from my fetters—The gunpowder factory at Halfeyeh—Death of Makkieh—I am transferred to Khartoum—Our gunpowder a deliberate failure—Visits of Father Ohrwalder—News of his escape .

fettersnounUS /ˈfetərz/

plural of “fetter” — a shackle for the ankles or feet

From this reading A PRISONER AT LARGE Belief in evil spirits—Shwybo as an alchemist—He is flogged for his pains—I am told to make saltpetre—Released from my fetters—The gunpowder factory at Halfeyeh—Death of Makkieh—I am transferred to Khartoum—Our gunpowder a deliberate failure—Visits of Father Ohrwalder—News of his escape .

findsnounUS /faɪndz/

plural of “find” — a productive insight

From this reading 170–184 DIVORCED AND MARRIED Hasseena’s thievish propensities—I am compelled to divorce her—The Khaleefa finds me a wife—I forestall his good offices—Umm es Shole—Mohammedan divorce and re-marriage—A further dilemma—The second child dies—Hasseena proves irreclaimable .

flogged

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

From this reading A PRISONER AT LARGE Belief in evil spirits—Shwybo as an alchemist—He is flogged for his pains—I am told to make saltpetre—Released from my fetters—The gunpowder factory at Halfeyeh—Death of Makkieh—I am transferred to Khartoum—Our gunpowder a deliberate failure—Visits of Father Ohrwalder—News of his escape .

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading A PRISONER AT LARGE Belief in evil spirits—Shwybo as an alchemist—He is flogged for his pains—I am told to make saltpetre—Released from my fetters—The gunpowder factory at Halfeyeh—Death of Makkieh—I am transferred to Khartoum—Our gunpowder a deliberate failure—Visits of Father Ohrwalder—News of his escape .

forestallverbUS /fɔːrˈstɔːl/

keep from happening or arising; make impossible

From this reading 170–184 DIVORCED AND MARRIED Hasseena’s thievish propensities—I am compelled to divorce her—The Khaleefa finds me a wife—I forestall his good offices—Umm es Shole—Mohammedan divorce and re-marriage—A further dilemma—The second child dies—Hasseena proves irreclaimable .

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading A PRISONER AT LARGE Belief in evil spirits—Shwybo as an alchemist—He is flogged for his pains—I am told to make saltpetre—Released from my fetters—The gunpowder factory at Halfeyeh—Death of Makkieh—I am transferred to Khartoum—Our gunpowder a deliberate failure—Visits of Father Ohrwalder—News of his escape .

furtheradverbUS /ˈfɜːrðər/

to or at a greater extent or degree or a more advanced stage (“further” is used more often than “farther” in this abstract sense)

From this reading 170–184 DIVORCED AND MARRIED Hasseena’s thievish propensities—I am compelled to divorce her—The Khaleefa finds me a wife—I forestall his good offices—Umm es Shole—Mohammedan divorce and re-marriage—A further dilemma—The second child dies—Hasseena proves irreclaimable .

goodadjectiveUS /ɡʊd/

having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified

From this reading 170–184 DIVORCED AND MARRIED Hasseena’s thievish propensities—I am compelled to divorce her—The Khaleefa finds me a wife—I forestall his good offices—Umm es Shole—Mohammedan divorce and re-marriage—A further dilemma—The second child dies—Hasseena proves irreclaimable .

gunpowdernounUS /ˈɡʌnpaʊdər/

a mixture of potassium nitrate, charcoal, and sulfur in a 75:15:10 ratio which is used in gunnery, time fuses, and fireworks

From this reading A PRISONER AT LARGE Belief in evil spirits—Shwybo as an alchemist—He is flogged for his pains—I am told to make saltpetre—Released from my fetters—The gunpowder factory at Halfeyeh—Death of Makkieh—I am transferred to Khartoum—Our gunpowder a deliberate failure—Visits of Father Ohrwalder—News of his escape .

Halfeyeh

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

From this reading A PRISONER AT LARGE Belief in evil spirits—Shwybo as an alchemist—He is flogged for his pains—I am told to make saltpetre—Released from my fetters—The gunpowder factory at Halfeyeh—Death of Makkieh—I am transferred to Khartoum—Our gunpowder a deliberate failure—Visits of Father Ohrwalder—News of his escape .

Hasseena

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

From this reading 170–184 DIVORCED AND MARRIED Hasseena’s thievish propensities—I am compelled to divorce her—The Khaleefa finds me a wife—I forestall his good offices—Umm es Shole—Mohammedan divorce and re-marriage—A further dilemma—The second child dies—Hasseena proves irreclaimable .

Hasseena's

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

From this reading 170–184 DIVORCED AND MARRIED Hasseena’s thievish propensities—I am compelled to divorce her—The Khaleefa finds me a wife—I forestall his good offices—Umm es Shole—Mohammedan divorce and re-marriage—A further dilemma—The second child dies—Hasseena proves irreclaimable .

HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading A PRISONER AT LARGE Belief in evil spirits—Shwybo as an alchemist—He is flogged for his pains—I am told to make saltpetre—Released from my fetters—The gunpowder factory at Halfeyeh—Death of Makkieh—I am transferred to Khartoum—Our gunpowder a deliberate failure—Visits of Father Ohrwalder—News of his escape .

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading 170–184 DIVORCED AND MARRIED Hasseena’s thievish propensities—I am compelled to divorce her—The Khaleefa finds me a wife—I forestall his good offices—Umm es Shole—Mohammedan divorce and re-marriage—A further dilemma—The second child dies—Hasseena proves irreclaimable .

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading A PRISONER AT LARGE Belief in evil spirits—Shwybo as an alchemist—He is flogged for his pains—I am told to make saltpetre—Released from my fetters—The gunpowder factory at Halfeyeh—Death of Makkieh—I am transferred to Khartoum—Our gunpowder a deliberate failure—Visits of Father Ohrwalder—News of his escape .

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading A PRISONER AT LARGE Belief in evil spirits—Shwybo as an alchemist—He is flogged for his pains—I am told to make saltpetre—Released from my fetters—The gunpowder factory at Halfeyeh—Death of Makkieh—I am transferred to Khartoum—Our gunpowder a deliberate failure—Visits of Father Ohrwalder—News of his escape .

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading A PRISONER AT LARGE Belief in evil spirits—Shwybo as an alchemist—He is flogged for his pains—I am told to make saltpetre—Released from my fetters—The gunpowder factory at Halfeyeh—Death of Makkieh—I am transferred to Khartoum—Our gunpowder a deliberate failure—Visits of Father Ohrwalder—News of his escape .

irreclaimableadjective

insusceptible of reform

From this reading 170–184 DIVORCED AND MARRIED Hasseena’s thievish propensities—I am compelled to divorce her—The Khaleefa finds me a wife—I forestall his good offices—Umm es Shole—Mohammedan divorce and re-marriage—A further dilemma—The second child dies—Hasseena proves irreclaimable .

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading A PRISONER AT LARGE Belief in evil spirits—Shwybo as an alchemist—He is flogged for his pains—I am told to make saltpetre—Released from my fetters—The gunpowder factory at Halfeyeh—Death of Makkieh—I am transferred to Khartoum—Our gunpowder a deliberate failure—Visits of Father Ohrwalder—News of his escape .

Khaleefa

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

From this reading 170–184 DIVORCED AND MARRIED Hasseena’s thievish propensities—I am compelled to divorce her—The Khaleefa finds me a wife—I forestall his good offices—Umm es Shole—Mohammedan divorce and re-marriage—A further dilemma—The second child dies—Hasseena proves irreclaimable .

KhartoumnounUS /ˌkɑːrˈtuːm/

the capital of Sudan located at the confluence of the Blue Nile and White Nile

From this reading A PRISONER AT LARGE Belief in evil spirits—Shwybo as an alchemist—He is flogged for his pains—I am told to make saltpetre—Released from my fetters—The gunpowder factory at Halfeyeh—Death of Makkieh—I am transferred to Khartoum—Our gunpowder a deliberate failure—Visits of Father Ohrwalder—News of his escape .

LARGEadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/

above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading A PRISONER AT LARGE Belief in evil spirits—Shwybo as an alchemist—He is flogged for his pains—I am told to make saltpetre—Released from my fetters—The gunpowder factory at Halfeyeh—Death of Makkieh—I am transferred to Khartoum—Our gunpowder a deliberate failure—Visits of Father Ohrwalder—News of his escape .

makeverbUS /meɪk/

engage in

From this reading A PRISONER AT LARGE Belief in evil spirits—Shwybo as an alchemist—He is flogged for his pains—I am told to make saltpetre—Released from my fetters—The gunpowder factory at Halfeyeh—Death of Makkieh—I am transferred to Khartoum—Our gunpowder a deliberate failure—Visits of Father Ohrwalder—News of his escape .

Makkieh

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

From this reading A PRISONER AT LARGE Belief in evil spirits—Shwybo as an alchemist—He is flogged for his pains—I am told to make saltpetre—Released from my fetters—The gunpowder factory at Halfeyeh—Death of Makkieh—I am transferred to Khartoum—Our gunpowder a deliberate failure—Visits of Father Ohrwalder—News of his escape .

MARRIEDadjectiveUS /ˈmerid/

joined in matrimony

From this reading 170–184 DIVORCED AND MARRIED Hasseena’s thievish propensities—I am compelled to divorce her—The Khaleefa finds me a wife—I forestall his good offices—Umm es Shole—Mohammedan divorce and re-marriage—A further dilemma—The second child dies—Hasseena proves irreclaimable .

mepronounUS /miː/

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading 170–184 DIVORCED AND MARRIED Hasseena’s thievish propensities—I am compelled to divorce her—The Khaleefa finds me a wife—I forestall his good offices—Umm es Shole—Mohammedan divorce and re-marriage—A further dilemma—The second child dies—Hasseena proves irreclaimable .

Mohammedannoun

a follower of Mohammed

From this reading 170–184 DIVORCED AND MARRIED Hasseena’s thievish propensities—I am compelled to divorce her—The Khaleefa finds me a wife—I forestall his good offices—Umm es Shole—Mohammedan divorce and re-marriage—A further dilemma—The second child dies—Hasseena proves irreclaimable .

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading A PRISONER AT LARGE Belief in evil spirits—Shwybo as an alchemist—He is flogged for his pains—I am told to make saltpetre—Released from my fetters—The gunpowder factory at Halfeyeh—Death of Makkieh—I am transferred to Khartoum—Our gunpowder a deliberate failure—Visits of Father Ohrwalder—News of his escape .

NewsnounUS /nuːz/

information about recent and important events

From this reading A PRISONER AT LARGE Belief in evil spirits—Shwybo as an alchemist—He is flogged for his pains—I am told to make saltpetre—Released from my fetters—The gunpowder factory at Halfeyeh—Death of Makkieh—I am transferred to Khartoum—Our gunpowder a deliberate failure—Visits of Father Ohrwalder—News of his escape .

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading A PRISONER AT LARGE Belief in evil spirits—Shwybo as an alchemist—He is flogged for his pains—I am told to make saltpetre—Released from my fetters—The gunpowder factory at Halfeyeh—Death of Makkieh—I am transferred to Khartoum—Our gunpowder a deliberate failure—Visits of Father Ohrwalder—News of his escape .

officesnounUS /ˈɔːfəsəz/

plural of “office” — place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed

From this reading 170–184 DIVORCED AND MARRIED Hasseena’s thievish propensities—I am compelled to divorce her—The Khaleefa finds me a wife—I forestall his good offices—Umm es Shole—Mohammedan divorce and re-marriage—A further dilemma—The second child dies—Hasseena proves irreclaimable .

Ohrwalder

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

From this reading A PRISONER AT LARGE Belief in evil spirits—Shwybo as an alchemist—He is flogged for his pains—I am told to make saltpetre—Released from my fetters—The gunpowder factory at Halfeyeh—Death of Makkieh—I am transferred to Khartoum—Our gunpowder a deliberate failure—Visits of Father Ohrwalder—News of his escape .

OurdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading A PRISONER AT LARGE Belief in evil spirits—Shwybo as an alchemist—He is flogged for his pains—I am told to make saltpetre—Released from my fetters—The gunpowder factory at Halfeyeh—Death of Makkieh—I am transferred to Khartoum—Our gunpowder a deliberate failure—Visits of Father Ohrwalder—News of his escape .

painsnounUS /peɪnz/

an effortful attempt to attain a goal

From this reading A PRISONER AT LARGE Belief in evil spirits—Shwybo as an alchemist—He is flogged for his pains—I am told to make saltpetre—Released from my fetters—The gunpowder factory at Halfeyeh—Death of Makkieh—I am transferred to Khartoum—Our gunpowder a deliberate failure—Visits of Father Ohrwalder—News of his escape .

PRISONERnounUS /ˈprɪzənər/

a person who is confined; especially a prisoner of war

From this reading A PRISONER AT LARGE Belief in evil spirits—Shwybo as an alchemist—He is flogged for his pains—I am told to make saltpetre—Released from my fetters—The gunpowder factory at Halfeyeh—Death of Makkieh—I am transferred to Khartoum—Our gunpowder a deliberate failure—Visits of Father Ohrwalder—News of his escape .

propensitiesnounUS /prəˈpensətiz/

plural of “propensity” — an inclination to do something

From this reading 170–184 DIVORCED AND MARRIED Hasseena’s thievish propensities—I am compelled to divorce her—The Khaleefa finds me a wife—I forestall his good offices—Umm es Shole—Mohammedan divorce and re-marriage—A further dilemma—The second child dies—Hasseena proves irreclaimable .

provesverbUS /pruːvz/

third-person singular of “prove” — be shown or be found to be

From this reading 170–184 DIVORCED AND MARRIED Hasseena’s thievish propensities—I am compelled to divorce her—The Khaleefa finds me a wife—I forestall his good offices—Umm es Shole—Mohammedan divorce and re-marriage—A further dilemma—The second child dies—Hasseena proves irreclaimable .

re-marriage

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

From this reading 170–184 DIVORCED AND MARRIED Hasseena’s thievish propensities—I am compelled to divorce her—The Khaleefa finds me a wife—I forestall his good offices—Umm es Shole—Mohammedan divorce and re-marriage—A further dilemma—The second child dies—Hasseena proves irreclaimable .

ReleasedverbUS /riˈliːst/

past form of “release” — release, as from one's grip

From this reading A PRISONER AT LARGE Belief in evil spirits—Shwybo as an alchemist—He is flogged for his pains—I am told to make saltpetre—Released from my fetters—The gunpowder factory at Halfeyeh—Death of Makkieh—I am transferred to Khartoum—Our gunpowder a deliberate failure—Visits of Father Ohrwalder—News of his escape .

saltpetrenoun

(KNO3) used especially as a fertilizer and explosive

From this reading A PRISONER AT LARGE Belief in evil spirits—Shwybo as an alchemist—He is flogged for his pains—I am told to make saltpetre—Released from my fetters—The gunpowder factory at Halfeyeh—Death of Makkieh—I am transferred to Khartoum—Our gunpowder a deliberate failure—Visits of Father Ohrwalder—News of his escape .

secondnounUS /ˈsekənd/

1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites

From this reading 170–184 DIVORCED AND MARRIED Hasseena’s thievish propensities—I am compelled to divorce her—The Khaleefa finds me a wife—I forestall his good offices—Umm es Shole—Mohammedan divorce and re-marriage—A further dilemma—The second child dies—Hasseena proves irreclaimable .

Shole

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

From this reading 170–184 DIVORCED AND MARRIED Hasseena’s thievish propensities—I am compelled to divorce her—The Khaleefa finds me a wife—I forestall his good offices—Umm es Shole—Mohammedan divorce and re-marriage—A further dilemma—The second child dies—Hasseena proves irreclaimable .

Shwybo

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

From this reading A PRISONER AT LARGE Belief in evil spirits—Shwybo as an alchemist—He is flogged for his pains—I am told to make saltpetre—Released from my fetters—The gunpowder factory at Halfeyeh—Death of Makkieh—I am transferred to Khartoum—Our gunpowder a deliberate failure—Visits of Father Ohrwalder—News of his escape .

spiritsnounUS /ˈspɪrɪts/

an alcoholic beverage that is distilled rather than fermented

From this reading A PRISONER AT LARGE Belief in evil spirits—Shwybo as an alchemist—He is flogged for his pains—I am told to make saltpetre—Released from my fetters—The gunpowder factory at Halfeyeh—Death of Makkieh—I am transferred to Khartoum—Our gunpowder a deliberate failure—Visits of Father Ohrwalder—News of his escape .

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading A PRISONER AT LARGE Belief in evil spirits—Shwybo as an alchemist—He is flogged for his pains—I am told to make saltpetre—Released from my fetters—The gunpowder factory at Halfeyeh—Death of Makkieh—I am transferred to Khartoum—Our gunpowder a deliberate failure—Visits of Father Ohrwalder—News of his escape .

thievishadjective

given to thievery

From this reading 170–184 DIVORCED AND MARRIED Hasseena’s thievish propensities—I am compelled to divorce her—The Khaleefa finds me a wife—I forestall his good offices—Umm es Shole—Mohammedan divorce and re-marriage—A further dilemma—The second child dies—Hasseena proves irreclaimable .

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading A PRISONER AT LARGE Belief in evil spirits—Shwybo as an alchemist—He is flogged for his pains—I am told to make saltpetre—Released from my fetters—The gunpowder factory at Halfeyeh—Death of Makkieh—I am transferred to Khartoum—Our gunpowder a deliberate failure—Visits of Father Ohrwalder—News of his escape .

toldverbUS /toʊld/

inflected form of “tell” — express in words

From this reading A PRISONER AT LARGE Belief in evil spirits—Shwybo as an alchemist—He is flogged for his pains—I am told to make saltpetre—Released from my fetters—The gunpowder factory at Halfeyeh—Death of Makkieh—I am transferred to Khartoum—Our gunpowder a deliberate failure—Visits of Father Ohrwalder—News of his escape .

transferredverbUS /trænˈsfɜːrd/

inflected form of “transfer” — transfer somebody to a different position or location of work

From this reading A PRISONER AT LARGE Belief in evil spirits—Shwybo as an alchemist—He is flogged for his pains—I am told to make saltpetre—Released from my fetters—The gunpowder factory at Halfeyeh—Death of Makkieh—I am transferred to Khartoum—Our gunpowder a deliberate failure—Visits of Father Ohrwalder—News of his escape .

Umm

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

From this reading 170–184 DIVORCED AND MARRIED Hasseena’s thievish propensities—I am compelled to divorce her—The Khaleefa finds me a wife—I forestall his good offices—Umm es Shole—Mohammedan divorce and re-marriage—A further dilemma—The second child dies—Hasseena proves irreclaimable .

VisitsnounUS /ˈvɪzɪts/

plural of “visit” — the act of going to see some person or place or thing for a short time

From this reading A PRISONER AT LARGE Belief in evil spirits—Shwybo as an alchemist—He is flogged for his pains—I am told to make saltpetre—Released from my fetters—The gunpowder factory at Halfeyeh—Death of Makkieh—I am transferred to Khartoum—Our gunpowder a deliberate failure—Visits of Father Ohrwalder—News of his escape .

wifenounUS /waɪf/

a married woman; a man's partner in marriage

From this reading 170–184 DIVORCED AND MARRIED Hasseena’s thievish propensities—I am compelled to divorce her—The Khaleefa finds me a wife—I forestall his good offices—Umm es Shole—Mohammedan divorce and re-marriage—A further dilemma—The second child dies—Hasseena proves irreclaimable .

Chapter 4 of A Prisoner of the Khaleefa by Charles Neufeld holds 6 sentences, grouped into 2 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the source edition, unabridged, and the chapter records which sentences cover which part of the work so that nothing is dropped. Every word can be tapped for its pronunciation and dictionary entry.

What does chapter 4 of A Prisoner of the Khaleefa contain?

Chapter 4 holds 6 sentences of A Prisoner of the Khaleefa, unabridged, divided into 2 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 4 of A Prisoner of the Khaleefa by Charles Neufeld exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 6 sentences, grouped into 2 sections of at most 5 sentences so that a reader can take the chapter in steady, finishable pieces. The chapter also stores a coverage record mapping every one of its sentences to a part of the work, which is how the edition demonstrates that no line was dropped.

How do I study chapter 4 of A Prisoner of the Khaleefa?

Work through the 2 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 2 sections in this chapter is short enough to read once, hear once, and then re-read with the vocabulary in view. Tapping a word plays it alone and opens its dictionary entry with IPA, part of speech and meaning, so the reader is never forced to guess a pronunciation from spelling. Working section by section keeps a long chapter from becoming an undifferentiated wall of text, which is the usual reason a reader abandons a work of this period.

Can chapter 4 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 4 can be played aloud in United States English.

Audio covers the whole chapter: any sentence can be played, and any single word within it can be played on its own. The voice uses United States English. For a work of this period that matters, because spelling is an unreliable guide to pronunciation for vocabulary that has fallen out of daily use, and a learner who guesses wrong tends to keep the error. Hearing the word in its own sentence, and then alone, settles it.

Questions about reading A Prisoner of the Khaleefa

Common questions about reading A Prisoner of the Khaleefa by Charles Neufeld on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of A Prisoner of the Khaleefa?

Yes. All 3267 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #52226 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of A Prisoner of the Khaleefa is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #52226, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does A Prisoner of the Khaleefa take to read?

About 272 minutes of reading across 654 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read A Prisoner of the Khaleefa section by section

How to work through A Prisoner of the Khaleefa section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 27 chapters of A Prisoner of the Khaleefa to begin.

  2. Read one section

    Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.

  3. Listen and tap

    Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.

Vocabulary met early in A Prisoner of the Khaleefa

Words and structures a reader meets early in A Prisoner of the Khaleefa, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Start
A word that appears in the opening chapter of A Prisoner of the Khaleefa; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Kordofan
A word that appears in the opening chapter of A Prisoner of the Khaleefa; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Engagement
A word that appears in the opening chapter of A Prisoner of the Khaleefa; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Guides
A word that appears in the opening chapter of A Prisoner of the Khaleefa; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.