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Among the River Pirates
Among the River Pirates

Chapter XII · Drifting

Chapter XII of Among the River Pirates, “Drifting,” is here in full — 35 sentences across 7 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Among the River Pirates
Context Illustration Reading 1/7 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Skippy nosed the motor boat toward the Hook.
He had no thought of anything save that he was angry and hurt and wanted to feel the fresh, salt breeze blow over his burning face.
He felt that he must think over this new and humiliating status in which Marty Skinner had so cruelly placed him, and he wanted to think of it where no one could see the unhappiness that it caused him.
He hadn’t the heart to turn back toward the Basin and home.
Home!
0:00 / 0:00
Speed 0.75x
AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
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Among the River Pirates

Chapter XII · Drifting

Chapter XII of Among the River Pirates, “Drifting,” is here in full — 35 sentences across 7 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/7 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Skippy nosed the motor boat toward the Hook.
Line 2
He had no thought of anything save that he was angry and hurt and wanted to feel the fresh, salt breeze blow over his burning face.
/hiː hæd noʊ θɔːt ʌv ˈeniθɪŋ seɪv ðæt hiː wɑːz ˈæŋɡri ənd hɜːrt ənd ˈwɔːntɪd tuː fiːl ðə freʃ sɔːlt briːz bloʊ ˈoʊvər hɪz ˈbɜːrnɪŋ feɪs/
Line 3
He felt that he must think over this new and humiliating status in which Marty Skinner had so cruelly placed him, and he wanted to think of it where no one could see the unhappiness that it caused him.
Line 4
He hadn’t the heart to turn back toward the Basin and home.
Line 5
Home!
/hoʊm/

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.

Basin noun US /ˈbeɪsən/

a bowl-shaped vessel; usually used for holding food or liquids

From this reading “He hadn’t the heart to turn back toward the Basin and home.”

cruelly adverb US /ˈkruːli/

excessively

From this reading “He felt that he must think over this new and humiliating status in which Marty Skinner had so cruelly placed him, and he wanted to think of it where no one could see the unhappiness that it caused him.”

Hook verb US /hʊk/

fasten with a hook

From this reading “Skippy nosed the motor boat toward the Hook.”

humiliating adjective US /hjuːˈmɪlieɪtɪŋ/

causing awareness of your shortcomings

From this reading “He felt that he must think over this new and humiliating status in which Marty Skinner had so cruelly placed him, and he wanted to think of it where no one could see the unhappiness that it caused him.”

nosed adjective US /noʊzd/

having a nose (either literal or metaphoric) especially of a specified kind

From this reading “Skippy nosed the motor boat toward the Hook.”

Skinner noun US /ˈskɪnər/

United States actor (1858-1942)

From this reading “He felt that he must think over this new and humiliating status in which Marty Skinner had so cruelly placed him, and he wanted to think of it where no one could see the unhappiness that it caused him.”

status noun US /ˈstætəs/

the relative position or standing of things or especially persons in a society

From this reading “He felt that he must think over this new and humiliating status in which Marty Skinner had so cruelly placed him, and he wanted to think of it where no one could see the unhappiness that it caused him.”

unhappiness noun US /ənˈhæpinɪs/

emotions experienced when not in a state of well-being

From this reading “He felt that he must think over this new and humiliating status in which Marty Skinner had so cruelly placed him, and he wanted to think of it where no one could see the unhappiness that it caused him.”

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.

motor boat noun + noun

In this reading “Skippy nosed the motor boat toward the Hook.”

salt breeze noun + noun

In this reading “He had no thought of anything save that he was angry and hurt and wanted to feel the fresh, salt breeze blow over his burning face.”

turn back verb + particle

retrace one's course

In this reading “He hadn’t the heart to turn back toward the Basin and home.”

blow over verb + particle

disappear gradually

In this reading “He had no thought of anything save that he was angry and hurt and wanted to feel the fresh, salt breeze blow over his burning face.”

think of verb + particle

keep in mind for attention or consideration

In this reading “He felt that he must think over this new and humiliating status in which Marty Skinner had so cruelly placed him, and he wanted to think of it where no one could see the unhappiness that it caused him.”

All words in this reading · 58

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.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading He had no thought of anything save that he was angry and hurt and wanted to feel the fresh, salt breeze blow over his burning face.

angryadjectiveUS /ˈæŋɡri/

feeling or showing anger

From this reading He had no thought of anything save that he was angry and hurt and wanted to feel the fresh, salt breeze blow over his burning face.

anythingpronounUS /ˈeniθɪŋ/

any thing at all

From this reading He had no thought of anything save that he was angry and hurt and wanted to feel the fresh, salt breeze blow over his burning face.

backadverbUS /bæk/

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading He hadn’t the heart to turn back toward the Basin and home.

BasinnounUS /ˈbeɪsən/

a bowl-shaped vessel; usually used for holding food or liquids

From this reading He hadn’t the heart to turn back toward the Basin and home.

blowverbUS /bloʊ/

exhale hard

From this reading He had no thought of anything save that he was angry and hurt and wanted to feel the fresh, salt breeze blow over his burning face.

boatnounUS /boʊt/

a small vessel for travel on water

From this reading Skippy nosed the motor boat toward the Hook.

breezenounUS /briːz/

a slight wind (usually refreshing)

From this reading He had no thought of anything save that he was angry and hurt and wanted to feel the fresh, salt breeze blow over his burning face.

burningnounUS /ˈbɜːrnɪŋ/

the act of burning something

From this reading He had no thought of anything save that he was angry and hurt and wanted to feel the fresh, salt breeze blow over his burning face.

causedverbUS /kɑːzd/

past form of “cause” — give rise to; cause to happen or occur, not always intentionally

From this reading He felt that he must think over this new and humiliating status in which Marty Skinner had so cruelly placed him, and he wanted to think of it where no one could see the unhappiness that it caused him.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading He felt that he must think over this new and humiliating status in which Marty Skinner had so cruelly placed him, and he wanted to think of it where no one could see the unhappiness that it caused him.

cruellyadverbUS /ˈkruːli/

excessively

From this reading He felt that he must think over this new and humiliating status in which Marty Skinner had so cruelly placed him, and he wanted to think of it where no one could see the unhappiness that it caused him.

facenounUS /feɪs/

the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear

From this reading He had no thought of anything save that he was angry and hurt and wanted to feel the fresh, salt breeze blow over his burning face.

feelverbUS /fiːl/

undergo an emotional sensation or be in a particular state of mind

From this reading He had no thought of anything save that he was angry and hurt and wanted to feel the fresh, salt breeze blow over his burning face.

feltverbUS /felt/

mat together and make felt-like

From this reading He felt that he must think over this new and humiliating status in which Marty Skinner had so cruelly placed him, and he wanted to think of it where no one could see the unhappiness that it caused him.

freshadjectiveUS /freʃ/

recently made, produced, or harvested

From this reading He had no thought of anything save that he was angry and hurt and wanted to feel the fresh, salt breeze blow over his burning face.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading He had no thought of anything save that he was angry and hurt and wanted to feel the fresh, salt breeze blow over his burning face.

hadn't

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

From this reading He hadn’t the heart to turn back toward the Basin and home.

HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading He had no thought of anything save that he was angry and hurt and wanted to feel the fresh, salt breeze blow over his burning face.

heartnounUS /hɑːrt/

the locus of feelings and intuitions

From this reading He hadn’t the heart to turn back toward the Basin and home.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading He felt that he must think over this new and humiliating status in which Marty Skinner had so cruelly placed him, and he wanted to think of it where no one could see the unhappiness that it caused him.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading He had no thought of anything save that he was angry and hurt and wanted to feel the fresh, salt breeze blow over his burning face.

homenounUS /hoʊm/

where you live at a particular time

From this reading He hadn’t the heart to turn back toward the Basin and home.

HookverbUS /hʊk/

fasten with a hook

From this reading Skippy nosed the motor boat toward the Hook.

humiliatingadjectiveUS /hjuːˈmɪlieɪtɪŋ/

causing awareness of your shortcomings

From this reading He felt that he must think over this new and humiliating status in which Marty Skinner had so cruelly placed him, and he wanted to think of it where no one could see the unhappiness that it caused him.

hurtverbUS /hɜːrt/

be the source of pain

From this reading He had no thought of anything save that he was angry and hurt and wanted to feel the fresh, salt breeze blow over his burning face.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading He felt that he must think over this new and humiliating status in which Marty Skinner had so cruelly placed him, and he wanted to think of it where no one could see the unhappiness that it caused him.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading He felt that he must think over this new and humiliating status in which Marty Skinner had so cruelly placed him, and he wanted to think of it where no one could see the unhappiness that it caused him.

Marty

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

From this reading He felt that he must think over this new and humiliating status in which Marty Skinner had so cruelly placed him, and he wanted to think of it where no one could see the unhappiness that it caused him.

motornounUS /ˈmoʊtər/

machine that converts other forms of energy into mechanical energy and so imparts motion

From this reading Skippy nosed the motor boat toward the Hook.

mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading He felt that he must think over this new and humiliating status in which Marty Skinner had so cruelly placed him, and he wanted to think of it where no one could see the unhappiness that it caused him.

newadjectiveUS /nuː/

not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered

From this reading He felt that he must think over this new and humiliating status in which Marty Skinner had so cruelly placed him, and he wanted to think of it where no one could see the unhappiness that it caused him.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading He had no thought of anything save that he was angry and hurt and wanted to feel the fresh, salt breeze blow over his burning face.

nosedadjectiveUS /noʊzd/

having a nose (either literal or metaphoric) especially of a specified kind

From this reading Skippy nosed the motor boat toward the Hook.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading He had no thought of anything save that he was angry and hurt and wanted to feel the fresh, salt breeze blow over his burning face.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading He felt that he must think over this new and humiliating status in which Marty Skinner had so cruelly placed him, and he wanted to think of it where no one could see the unhappiness that it caused him.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading He had no thought of anything save that he was angry and hurt and wanted to feel the fresh, salt breeze blow over his burning face.

placedadjectiveUS /pleɪst/

situated in a particular spot or position

From this reading He felt that he must think over this new and humiliating status in which Marty Skinner had so cruelly placed him, and he wanted to think of it where no one could see the unhappiness that it caused him.

saltnounUS /sɔːlt/

a compound formed by replacing hydrogen in an acid by a metal (or a radical that acts like a metal)

From this reading He had no thought of anything save that he was angry and hurt and wanted to feel the fresh, salt breeze blow over his burning face.

saveprepositionUS /seɪv/

except for; apart from

From this reading He had no thought of anything save that he was angry and hurt and wanted to feel the fresh, salt breeze blow over his burning face.

seeverbUS /siː/

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading He felt that he must think over this new and humiliating status in which Marty Skinner had so cruelly placed him, and he wanted to think of it where no one could see the unhappiness that it caused him.

SkinnernounUS /ˈskɪnər/

United States actor (1858-1942)

From this reading He felt that he must think over this new and humiliating status in which Marty Skinner had so cruelly placed him, and he wanted to think of it where no one could see the unhappiness that it caused him.

Skippy

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

From this reading Skippy nosed the motor boat toward the Hook.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading He felt that he must think over this new and humiliating status in which Marty Skinner had so cruelly placed him, and he wanted to think of it where no one could see the unhappiness that it caused him.

statusnounUS /ˈstætəs/

the relative position or standing of things or especially persons in a society

From this reading He felt that he must think over this new and humiliating status in which Marty Skinner had so cruelly placed him, and he wanted to think of it where no one could see the unhappiness that it caused him.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading He had no thought of anything save that he was angry and hurt and wanted to feel the fresh, salt breeze blow over his burning face.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Skippy nosed the motor boat toward the Hook.

thinkverbUS /θɪŋk/

judge or regard; look upon; judge

From this reading He felt that he must think over this new and humiliating status in which Marty Skinner had so cruelly placed him, and he wanted to think of it where no one could see the unhappiness that it caused him.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading He felt that he must think over this new and humiliating status in which Marty Skinner had so cruelly placed him, and he wanted to think of it where no one could see the unhappiness that it caused him.

thoughtnounUS /θɔːt/

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

From this reading He had no thought of anything save that he was angry and hurt and wanted to feel the fresh, salt breeze blow over his burning face.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading He had no thought of anything save that he was angry and hurt and wanted to feel the fresh, salt breeze blow over his burning face.

towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/

in the direction of

From this reading Skippy nosed the motor boat toward the Hook.

turnverbUS /tɜːrn/

change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense

From this reading He hadn’t the heart to turn back toward the Basin and home.

unhappinessnounUS /ənˈhæpinɪs/

emotions experienced when not in a state of well-being

From this reading He felt that he must think over this new and humiliating status in which Marty Skinner had so cruelly placed him, and he wanted to think of it where no one could see the unhappiness that it caused him.

wantedadjectiveUS /ˈwɔːntɪd/

desired or wished for or sought

From this reading He had no thought of anything save that he was angry and hurt and wanted to feel the fresh, salt breeze blow over his burning face.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading He had no thought of anything save that he was angry and hurt and wanted to feel the fresh, salt breeze blow over his burning face.

whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading He felt that he must think over this new and humiliating status in which Marty Skinner had so cruelly placed him, and he wanted to think of it where no one could see the unhappiness that it caused him.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading He felt that he must think over this new and humiliating status in which Marty Skinner had so cruelly placed him, and he wanted to think of it where no one could see the unhappiness that it caused him.

Chapter 12 of Among the River Pirates by Percy Keese Fitzhugh holds 35 sentences, grouped into 7 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 12 of Among the River Pirates contain?

Chapter 12 holds 35 sentences of Among the River Pirates, unabridged, divided into 7 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 12 of Among the River Pirates by Percy Keese Fitzhugh exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 35 sentences, grouped into 7 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 12 of Among the River Pirates?

Work through the 7 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 7 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 12 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 12 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 Among the River Pirates

Common questions about reading Among the River Pirates by Percy Keese Fitzhugh on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Among the River Pirates?

Yes. All 2620 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #53695 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Among the River Pirates is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #53695, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Among the River Pirates take to read?

About 218 minutes of reading across 524 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Among the River Pirates section by section

How to work through Among the River Pirates section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 34 chapters of Among the River Pirates 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 Among the River Pirates

Words and structures a reader meets early in Among the River Pirates, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Lloyd
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Among the River Pirates; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Author
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Among the River Pirates; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Mystery
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Among the River Pirates; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Stories
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Among the River Pirates; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.