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A Watch-Dog of the North Sea
A Watch-Dog of the North Sea

Chapter IV

Chapter 4 of A Watch-Dog of the North Sea is here in full — 146 sentences across 30 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Percy F. (Percy Francis) Westerman • Curated US English Learning Edition
Cover illustration for A Watch-Dog of the North Sea
Context Illustration Reading 1/29 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE SECRET PETROL-DEPÔT "NO, I don't want to meet Max & Co.--at least, not just yet," soliloquised Mr. Greenwood as he hurriedly and silently descended to the floor of the tunnel.
His first thought was to retrace his steps, scramble through the opening and lie at full length upon the outside ledge, until he realised that the mysterious frequenters of the cave would still be between him and freedom.
Then he remembered that there was a space between the foot of the ladder and the end of the tunnel.
It was not at all likely that this would be examined.
With an agility that he did not think himself capable of, Mr. Greenwood crawled between two of the steps and crouched in his place of concealment.
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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 Watch-Dog of the North Sea

Chapter IV

Chapter 4 of A Watch-Dog of the North Sea is here in full — 146 sentences across 30 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/29 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE SECRET PETROL-DEPÔT "NO, I don't want to meet Max & Co.--at least, not just yet," soliloquised Mr. Greenwood as he hurriedly and silently descended to the floor of the tunnel.
Line 2
His first thought was to retrace his steps, scramble through the opening and lie at full length upon the outside ledge, until he realised that the mysterious frequenters of the cave would still be between him and freedom.
Line 3
Then he remembered that there was a space between the foot of the ladder and the end of the tunnel.
/ðen hiː rɪˈmembərd ðæt ðer wɑːz ə speɪs bɪˈtwiːn ðə fʊt ʌv ðə ˈlædər ənd ðə end ʌv ðə ˈtʌnəl/
Line 4
It was not at all likely that this would be examined.
/ɪt wɑːz nɑːt æt ɔːl ˈlaɪkli ðæt ðɪs wʊd biː ɪɡˈzæmənd/
Line 5
With an agility that he did not think himself capable of, Mr. Greenwood crawled between two of the steps and crouched in his place of concealment.
/wɪð æn əˈdʒɪləti ðæt hiː dɪd nɑːt θɪŋk hɪmˈself ˈkeɪpəbəl ʌv ˈmɪstər ˈɡriːnwʊd krɔːld bɪˈtwiːn tuː ʌv ðə steps ənd kraʊtʃt ɪn hɪz pleɪs ʌv kənˈsiːlmənt/

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.

agility noun US /əˈdʒɪləti/

the gracefulness of a person or animal that is quick and nimble

From this reading “With an agility that he did not think himself capable of, Mr. Greenwood crawled between two of the steps and crouched in his place of concealment.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
concealment noun US /kənˈsiːlmənt/

the condition of being concealed or hidden

From this reading “With an agility that he did not think himself capable of, Mr. Greenwood crawled between two of the steps and crouched in his place of concealment.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
crouched verb US /kraʊtʃt/

past form of “crouch” — bend one's back forward from the waist on down

From this reading “With an agility that he did not think himself capable of, Mr. Greenwood crawled between two of the steps and crouched in his place of concealment.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Greenwood noun US /ˈɡriːnwʊd/

woodlands in full leaf

From this reading “THE SECRET PETROL-DEPÔT "NO, I don't want to meet Max & Co.--at least, not just yet," soliloquised Mr. Greenwood as he hurriedly and silently descended to the floor of the tunnel.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ledge noun US /ledʒ/

a projecting ridge on a mountain or submerged under water

From this reading “His first thought was to retrace his steps, scramble through the opening and lie at full length upon the outside ledge, until he realised that the mysterious frequenters of the cave would still be between him and freedom.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
retrace verb US /riˈtreɪs/

to go back over again

From this reading “His first thought was to retrace his steps, scramble through the opening and lie at full length upon the outside ledge, until he realised that the mysterious frequenters of the cave would still be between him and freedom.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
scramble verb US /ˈskræmbəl/

to move hurriedly

From this reading “His first thought was to retrace his steps, scramble through the opening and lie at full length upon the outside ledge, until he realised that the mysterious frequenters of the cave would still be between him and freedom.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
tunnel verb US /ˈtʌnəl/

move through by or as by digging

From this reading “THE SECRET PETROL-DEPÔT "NO, I don't want to meet Max & Co.--at least, not just yet," soliloquised Mr. Greenwood as he hurriedly and silently descended to the floor of the tunnel.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1

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.

full length adjective + noun

In this reading “His first thought was to retrace his steps, scramble through the opening and lie at full length upon the outside ledge, until he realised that the mysterious frequenters of the cave would still be between him and freedom.”

5,199 times in 426,211 chapters
through the opening preposition + article + noun counted as “through … opening”

In this reading “His first thought was to retrace his steps, scramble through the opening and lie at full length upon the outside ledge, until he realised that the mysterious frequenters of the cave would still be between him and freedom.”

2,992 times in 426,211 chapters
between two preposition + noun

In this reading “With an agility that he did not think himself capable of, Mr. Greenwood crawled between two of the steps and crouched in his place of concealment.”

13,765 times in 426,211 chapters
scramble through verb + particle

In this reading “His first thought was to retrace his steps, scramble through the opening and lie at full length upon the outside ledge, until he realised that the mysterious frequenters of the cave would still be between him and freedom.”

219 times in 426,211 chapters
With an agility preposition + article + noun counted as “with … agility”

In this reading “With an agility that he did not think himself capable of, Mr. Greenwood crawled between two of the steps and crouched in his place of concealment.”

657 times in 426,211 chapters
crouched in verb + particle counted as “crouch in”

In this reading “With an agility that he did not think himself capable of, Mr. Greenwood crawled between two of the steps and crouched in his place of concealment.”

2,210 times in 426,211 chapters

All words in this reading · 81

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.

adeterminerUS /ə/

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

From this reading Then he remembered that there was a space between the foot of the ladder and the end of the tunnel.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
agilitynounUS /əˈdʒɪləti/

the gracefulness of a person or animal that is quick and nimble

From this reading With an agility that he did not think himself capable of, Mr. Greenwood crawled between two of the steps and crouched in his place of concealment.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading It was not at all likely that this would be examined.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading With an agility that he did not think himself capable of, Mr. Greenwood crawled between two of the steps and crouched in his place of concealment.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading THE SECRET PETROL-DEPÔT "NO, I don't want to meet Max & Co.--at least, not just yet," soliloquised Mr. Greenwood as he hurriedly and silently descended to the floor of the tunnel.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading THE SECRET PETROL-DEPÔT "NO, I don't want to meet Max & Co.--at least, not just yet," soliloquised Mr. Greenwood as he hurriedly and silently descended to the floor of the tunnel.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading THE SECRET PETROL-DEPÔT "NO, I don't want to meet Max & Co.--at least, not just yet," soliloquised Mr. Greenwood as he hurriedly and silently descended to the floor of the tunnel.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading His first thought was to retrace his steps, scramble through the opening and lie at full length upon the outside ledge, until he realised that the mysterious frequenters of the cave would still be between him and freedom.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading His first thought was to retrace his steps, scramble through the opening and lie at full length upon the outside ledge, until he realised that the mysterious frequenters of the cave would still be between him and freedom.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
capableadjectiveUS /ˈkeɪpəbəl/

(usually followed by “of”) having capacity or ability

From this reading With an agility that he did not think himself capable of, Mr. Greenwood crawled between two of the steps and crouched in his place of concealment.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
cavenounUS /keɪv/

a geological formation consisting of an underground enclosure with access from the surface of the ground or from the sea

From this reading His first thought was to retrace his steps, scramble through the opening and lie at full length upon the outside ledge, until he realised that the mysterious frequenters of the cave would still be between him and freedom.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ConounUS /koʊ/

an odorless very poisonous gas that is a product of incomplete combustion of carbon

From this reading THE SECRET PETROL-DEPÔT "NO, I don't want to meet Max & Co.--at least, not just yet," soliloquised Mr. Greenwood as he hurriedly and silently descended to the floor of the tunnel.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
concealmentnounUS /kənˈsiːlmənt/

the condition of being concealed or hidden

From this reading With an agility that he did not think himself capable of, Mr. Greenwood crawled between two of the steps and crouched in his place of concealment.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
crawledverbUS /krɔːld/

past form of “crawl” — move slowly; in the case of people or animals with the body near the ground

From this reading With an agility that he did not think himself capable of, Mr. Greenwood crawled between two of the steps and crouched in his place of concealment.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
crouchedverbUS /kraʊtʃt/

past form of “crouch” — bend one's back forward from the waist on down

From this reading With an agility that he did not think himself capable of, Mr. Greenwood crawled between two of the steps and crouched in his place of concealment.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
descendedverbUS /dɪˈsendəd/

past form of “descend” — move downward and lower, but not necessarily all the way

From this reading THE SECRET PETROL-DEPÔT "NO, I don't want to meet Max & Co.--at least, not just yet," soliloquised Mr. Greenwood as he hurriedly and silently descended to the floor of the tunnel.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading With an agility that he did not think himself capable of, Mr. Greenwood crawled between two of the steps and crouched in his place of concealment.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
don't

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

From this reading THE SECRET PETROL-DEPÔT "NO, I don't want to meet Max & Co.--at least, not just yet," soliloquised Mr. Greenwood as he hurriedly and silently descended to the floor of the tunnel.

Pending verification
endnounUS /end/

either extremity of something that has length

From this reading Then he remembered that there was a space between the foot of the ladder and the end of the tunnel.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
examinedverbUS /ɪɡˈzæmənd/

past form of “examine” — consider in detail and subject to an analysis in order to discover essential features or meaning

From this reading It was not at all likely that this would be examined.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading His first thought was to retrace his steps, scramble through the opening and lie at full length upon the outside ledge, until he realised that the mysterious frequenters of the cave would still be between him and freedom.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
floornounUS /flɔːr/

the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)

From this reading THE SECRET PETROL-DEPÔT "NO, I don't want to meet Max & Co.--at least, not just yet," soliloquised Mr. Greenwood as he hurriedly and silently descended to the floor of the tunnel.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
footnounUS /fʊt/

the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint

From this reading Then he remembered that there was a space between the foot of the ladder and the end of the tunnel.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
freedomnounUS /ˈfriːdəm/

the condition of being free; the power to act or speak or think without externally imposed restraints

From this reading His first thought was to retrace his steps, scramble through the opening and lie at full length upon the outside ledge, until he realised that the mysterious frequenters of the cave would still be between him and freedom.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
frequenters

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

From this reading His first thought was to retrace his steps, scramble through the opening and lie at full length upon the outside ledge, until he realised that the mysterious frequenters of the cave would still be between him and freedom.

Pending verification
fulladjectiveUS /fʊl/

containing as much or as many as is possible or normal

From this reading His first thought was to retrace his steps, scramble through the opening and lie at full length upon the outside ledge, until he realised that the mysterious frequenters of the cave would still be between him and freedom.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
GreenwoodnounUS /ˈɡriːnwʊd/

woodlands in full leaf

From this reading THE SECRET PETROL-DEPÔT "NO, I don't want to meet Max & Co.--at least, not just yet," soliloquised Mr. Greenwood as he hurriedly and silently descended to the floor of the tunnel.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading THE SECRET PETROL-DEPÔT "NO, I don't want to meet Max & Co.--at least, not just yet," soliloquised Mr. Greenwood as he hurriedly and silently descended to the floor of the tunnel.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
himpronounUS /hɪm/

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading His first thought was to retrace his steps, scramble through the opening and lie at full length upon the outside ledge, until he realised that the mysterious frequenters of the cave would still be between him and freedom.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading With an agility that he did not think himself capable of, Mr. Greenwood crawled between two of the steps and crouched in his place of concealment.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
HisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading His first thought was to retrace his steps, scramble through the opening and lie at full length upon the outside ledge, until he realised that the mysterious frequenters of the cave would still be between him and freedom.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
hurriedlyadverbUS /ˈhɜːridli/

in a hurried or hasty manner

From this reading THE SECRET PETROL-DEPÔT "NO, I don't want to meet Max & Co.--at least, not just yet," soliloquised Mr. Greenwood as he hurriedly and silently descended to the floor of the tunnel.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading THE SECRET PETROL-DEPÔT "NO, I don't want to meet Max & Co.--at least, not just yet," soliloquised Mr. Greenwood as he hurriedly and silently descended to the floor of the tunnel.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading With an agility that he did not think himself capable of, Mr. Greenwood crawled between two of the steps and crouched in his place of concealment.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was not at all likely that this would be examined.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
justadverbUS /dʒʌst/

and nothing more

From this reading THE SECRET PETROL-DEPÔT "NO, I don't want to meet Max & Co.--at least, not just yet," soliloquised Mr. Greenwood as he hurriedly and silently descended to the floor of the tunnel.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
laddernounUS /ˈlædər/

steps consisting of two parallel members connected by rungs; for climbing up or down

From this reading Then he remembered that there was a space between the foot of the ladder and the end of the tunnel.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
leastadjectiveUS /liːst/

the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree

From this reading THE SECRET PETROL-DEPÔT "NO, I don't want to meet Max & Co.--at least, not just yet," soliloquised Mr. Greenwood as he hurriedly and silently descended to the floor of the tunnel.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ledgenounUS /ledʒ/

a projecting ridge on a mountain or submerged under water

From this reading His first thought was to retrace his steps, scramble through the opening and lie at full length upon the outside ledge, until he realised that the mysterious frequenters of the cave would still be between him and freedom.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
lengthnounUS /leŋkθ/

the linear extent in space from one end to the other; the longest dimension of something that is fixed in place

From this reading His first thought was to retrace his steps, scramble through the opening and lie at full length upon the outside ledge, until he realised that the mysterious frequenters of the cave would still be between him and freedom.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
lieverbUS /laɪ/

be located or situated somewhere; occupy a certain position

From this reading His first thought was to retrace his steps, scramble through the opening and lie at full length upon the outside ledge, until he realised that the mysterious frequenters of the cave would still be between him and freedom.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
likelyadjectiveUS /ˈlaɪkli/

has a good chance of being the case or of coming about

From this reading It was not at all likely that this would be examined.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
MaxnounUS /mæks/

street names for gamma hydroxybutyrate

From this reading THE SECRET PETROL-DEPÔT "NO, I don't want to meet Max & Co.--at least, not just yet," soliloquised Mr. Greenwood as he hurriedly and silently descended to the floor of the tunnel.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
meetverbUS /miːt/

come together

From this reading THE SECRET PETROL-DEPÔT "NO, I don't want to meet Max & Co.--at least, not just yet," soliloquised Mr. Greenwood as he hurriedly and silently descended to the floor of the tunnel.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
MrnounUS /ˈmɪstər/

a form of address for a man

From this reading THE SECRET PETROL-DEPÔT "NO, I don't want to meet Max & Co.--at least, not just yet," soliloquised Mr. Greenwood as he hurriedly and silently descended to the floor of the tunnel.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
mysteriousadjectiveUS /mɪˈstɪriəs/

of an obscure nature

From this reading His first thought was to retrace his steps, scramble through the opening and lie at full length upon the outside ledge, until he realised that the mysterious frequenters of the cave would still be between him and freedom.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
NOdeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading THE SECRET PETROL-DEPÔT "NO, I don't want to meet Max & Co.--at least, not just yet," soliloquised Mr. Greenwood as he hurriedly and silently descended to the floor of the tunnel.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading THE SECRET PETROL-DEPÔT "NO, I don't want to meet Max & Co.--at least, not just yet," soliloquised Mr. Greenwood as he hurriedly and silently descended to the floor of the tunnel.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading THE SECRET PETROL-DEPÔT "NO, I don't want to meet Max & Co.--at least, not just yet," soliloquised Mr. Greenwood as he hurriedly and silently descended to the floor of the tunnel.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
openingnounUS /ˈoʊpənɪŋ/

an open or empty space in or between things

From this reading His first thought was to retrace his steps, scramble through the opening and lie at full length upon the outside ledge, until he realised that the mysterious frequenters of the cave would still be between him and freedom.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
outsideadjectiveUS /ˈaʊtˈsaɪd/

relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit

From this reading His first thought was to retrace his steps, scramble through the opening and lie at full length upon the outside ledge, until he realised that the mysterious frequenters of the cave would still be between him and freedom.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
PETROL-DEPÔT

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

From this reading THE SECRET PETROL-DEPÔT "NO, I don't want to meet Max & Co.--at least, not just yet," soliloquised Mr. Greenwood as he hurriedly and silently descended to the floor of the tunnel.

Pending verification
placenounUS /pleɪs/

a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading With an agility that he did not think himself capable of, Mr. Greenwood crawled between two of the steps and crouched in his place of concealment.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
realisedadjectiveUS /ˈriːəlaɪzd/

successfully completed or brought to an end

From this reading His first thought was to retrace his steps, scramble through the opening and lie at full length upon the outside ledge, until he realised that the mysterious frequenters of the cave would still be between him and freedom.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
rememberedverbUS /rɪˈmembərd/

past form of “remember” — recall knowledge from memory; have a recollection

From this reading Then he remembered that there was a space between the foot of the ladder and the end of the tunnel.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
retraceverbUS /riˈtreɪs/

to go back over again

From this reading His first thought was to retrace his steps, scramble through the opening and lie at full length upon the outside ledge, until he realised that the mysterious frequenters of the cave would still be between him and freedom.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
scrambleverbUS /ˈskræmbəl/

to move hurriedly

From this reading His first thought was to retrace his steps, scramble through the opening and lie at full length upon the outside ledge, until he realised that the mysterious frequenters of the cave would still be between him and freedom.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
SECRETnounUS /ˈsiː.krət/

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

From this reading THE SECRET PETROL-DEPÔT "NO, I don't want to meet Max & Co.--at least, not just yet," soliloquised Mr. Greenwood as he hurriedly and silently descended to the floor of the tunnel.

Velmora curated lexicon
silentlyadverbUS /ˈsaɪləntli/

without speaking

From this reading THE SECRET PETROL-DEPÔT "NO, I don't want to meet Max & Co.--at least, not just yet," soliloquised Mr. Greenwood as he hurriedly and silently descended to the floor of the tunnel.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
soliloquised

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

From this reading THE SECRET PETROL-DEPÔT "NO, I don't want to meet Max & Co.--at least, not just yet," soliloquised Mr. Greenwood as he hurriedly and silently descended to the floor of the tunnel.

Pending verification
spacenounUS /speɪs/

the unlimited expanse in which everything is located

From this reading Then he remembered that there was a space between the foot of the ladder and the end of the tunnel.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
stepsnounUS /steps/

a flight of stairs or a flight of steps

From this reading His first thought was to retrace his steps, scramble through the opening and lie at full length upon the outside ledge, until he realised that the mysterious frequenters of the cave would still be between him and freedom.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
stilladjectiveUS /stɪl/

not in physical motion

From this reading His first thought was to retrace his steps, scramble through the opening and lie at full length upon the outside ledge, until he realised that the mysterious frequenters of the cave would still be between him and freedom.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading His first thought was to retrace his steps, scramble through the opening and lie at full length upon the outside ledge, until he realised that the mysterious frequenters of the cave would still be between him and freedom.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE SECRET PETROL-DEPÔT "NO, I don't want to meet Max & Co.--at least, not just yet," soliloquised Mr. Greenwood as he hurriedly and silently descended to the floor of the tunnel.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
ThenadverbUS /ðen/

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading Then he remembered that there was a space between the foot of the ladder and the end of the tunnel.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
thereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading Then he remembered that there was a space between the foot of the ladder and the end of the tunnel.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
thinkverbUS /θɪŋk/

judge or regard; look upon; judge

From this reading With an agility that he did not think himself capable of, Mr. Greenwood crawled between two of the steps and crouched in his place of concealment.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading It was not at all likely that this would be examined.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
thoughtnounUS /θɔːt/

the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading His first thought was to retrace his steps, scramble through the opening and lie at full length upon the outside ledge, until he realised that the mysterious frequenters of the cave would still be between him and freedom.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
throughprepositionUS /θruː/

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading His first thought was to retrace his steps, scramble through the opening and lie at full length upon the outside ledge, until he realised that the mysterious frequenters of the cave would still be between him and freedom.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading THE SECRET PETROL-DEPÔT "NO, I don't want to meet Max & Co.--at least, not just yet," soliloquised Mr. Greenwood as he hurriedly and silently descended to the floor of the tunnel.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
tunnelverbUS /ˈtʌnəl/

move through by or as by digging

From this reading THE SECRET PETROL-DEPÔT "NO, I don't want to meet Max & Co.--at least, not just yet," soliloquised Mr. Greenwood as he hurriedly and silently descended to the floor of the tunnel.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
twonounUS /tuː/

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading With an agility that he did not think himself capable of, Mr. Greenwood crawled between two of the steps and crouched in his place of concealment.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading His first thought was to retrace his steps, scramble through the opening and lie at full length upon the outside ledge, until he realised that the mysterious frequenters of the cave would still be between him and freedom.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading His first thought was to retrace his steps, scramble through the opening and lie at full length upon the outside ledge, until he realised that the mysterious frequenters of the cave would still be between him and freedom.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
wantverbUS /wɑːnt/

feel or have a desire for; want strongly

From this reading THE SECRET PETROL-DEPÔT "NO, I don't want to meet Max & Co.--at least, not just yet," soliloquised Mr. Greenwood as he hurriedly and silently descended to the floor of the tunnel.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading His first thought was to retrace his steps, scramble through the opening and lie at full length upon the outside ledge, until he realised that the mysterious frequenters of the cave would still be between him and freedom.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
WithprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading With an agility that he did not think himself capable of, Mr. Greenwood crawled between two of the steps and crouched in his place of concealment.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading His first thought was to retrace his steps, scramble through the opening and lie at full length upon the outside ledge, until he realised that the mysterious frequenters of the cave would still be between him and freedom.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
yetconjunctionUS /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading THE SECRET PETROL-DEPÔT "NO, I don't want to meet Max & Co.--at least, not just yet," soliloquised Mr. Greenwood as he hurriedly and silently descended to the floor of the tunnel.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary

Chapter 4 of A Watch-Dog of the North Sea by Percy F. (Percy Francis) Westerman holds 146 sentences, grouped into 30 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 Watch-Dog of the North Sea contain?

Chapter 4 holds 146 sentences of A Watch-Dog of the North Sea, unabridged, divided into 30 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 4 of A Watch-Dog of the North Sea by Percy F. (Percy Francis) Westerman exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 146 sentences, grouped into 30 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 Watch-Dog of the North Sea?

Work through the 30 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 30 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 Watch-Dog of the North Sea

Common questions about reading A Watch-Dog of the North Sea by Percy F. (Percy Francis) Westerman on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of A Watch-Dog of the North Sea?

Yes. All 5021 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #49267 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of A Watch-Dog of the North Sea is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #49267, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does A Watch-Dog of the North Sea take to read?

About 418 minutes of reading across 1005 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read A Watch-Dog of the North Sea section by section

How to work through A Watch-Dog of the North Sea section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

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  3. Listen and tap

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

Vocabulary met early in A Watch-Dog of the North Sea

Words and structures a reader meets early in A Watch-Dog of the North Sea, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Author
A word that appears in the opening chapter of A Watch-Dog of the North Sea; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Dreadnought
A word that appears in the opening chapter of A Watch-Dog of the North Sea; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Great
A word that appears in the opening chapter of A Watch-Dog of the North Sea; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Britain
A word that appears in the opening chapter of A Watch-Dog of the North Sea; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.