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Before Adam

Chapter XII · Chapter 12

Chapter 12 of Before Adam is here in full — 123 sentences across 25 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Jack London • Curated US English Learning Edition

Cover illustration for Before Adam

English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5

I have no idea how long Lop-Ear and I wandered in the land north of the river.

We were like mariners wrecked on a desert isle, so far as concerned the likelihood of our getting home again.

We turned our backs upon the river, and for weeks and months adventured in that wilderness where there were no Folk.

It is very difficult for me to reconstruct our journeying, and impossible to do it from day to day.

Most of it is hazy and indistinct, though here and there I have vivid recollections of things that happened.

Narrator

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.

Chapter XII Reading 1/24

Before Adam

Chapter XII · Chapter 12

Chapter 12 of Before Adam is here in full — 123 sentences across 25 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/24 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1

I have no idea how long Lop-Ear and I wandered in the land north of the river.

Line 2

We were like mariners wrecked on a desert isle, so far as concerned the likelihood of our getting home again.

Line 3

We turned our backs upon the river, and for weeks and months adventured in that wilderness where there were no Folk.

Line 4

It is very difficult for me to reconstruct our journeying, and impossible to do it from day to day.

Line 5

Most of it is hazy and indistinct, though here and there I have vivid recollections of things that happened.

All words in this reading · 66

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.

a

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

From this reading We were like mariners wrecked on a desert isle, so far as concerned the likelihood of our getting home again.

adventured

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

From this reading We turned our backs upon the river, and for weeks and months adventured in that wilderness where there were no Folk.

again

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

From this reading We were like mariners wrecked on a desert isle, so far as concerned the likelihood of our getting home again.

and

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

From this reading I have no idea how long Lop-Ear and I wandered in the land north of the river.

as

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

From this reading We were like mariners wrecked on a desert isle, so far as concerned the likelihood of our getting home again.

backs

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

From this reading We turned our backs upon the river, and for weeks and months adventured in that wilderness where there were no Folk.

concerned

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

From this reading We were like mariners wrecked on a desert isle, so far as concerned the likelihood of our getting home again.

day

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

From this reading It is very difficult for me to reconstruct our journeying, and impossible to do it from day to day.

desert

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

From this reading We were like mariners wrecked on a desert isle, so far as concerned the likelihood of our getting home again.

difficult

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

From this reading It is very difficult for me to reconstruct our journeying, and impossible to do it from day to day.

do

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

From this reading It is very difficult for me to reconstruct our journeying, and impossible to do it from day to day.

far

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

From this reading We were like mariners wrecked on a desert isle, so far as concerned the likelihood of our getting home again.

Folk

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

From this reading We turned our backs upon the river, and for weeks and months adventured in that wilderness where there were no Folk.

for

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

From this reading We turned our backs upon the river, and for weeks and months adventured in that wilderness where there were no Folk.

from

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

From this reading It is very difficult for me to reconstruct our journeying, and impossible to do it from day to day.

getting

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

From this reading We were like mariners wrecked on a desert isle, so far as concerned the likelihood of our getting home again.

happened

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

From this reading Most of it is hazy and indistinct, though here and there I have vivid recollections of things that happened.

have

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

From this reading I have no idea how long Lop-Ear and I wandered in the land north of the river.

hazy

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

From this reading Most of it is hazy and indistinct, though here and there I have vivid recollections of things that happened.

here

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

From this reading Most of it is hazy and indistinct, though here and there I have vivid recollections of things that happened.

home

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

From this reading We were like mariners wrecked on a desert isle, so far as concerned the likelihood of our getting home again.

how

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

From this reading I have no idea how long Lop-Ear and I wandered in the land north of the river.

I

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

From this reading I have no idea how long Lop-Ear and I wandered in the land north of the river.

idea

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

From this reading I have no idea how long Lop-Ear and I wandered in the land north of the river.

impossible

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

From this reading It is very difficult for me to reconstruct our journeying, and impossible to do it from day to day.

in

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

From this reading I have no idea how long Lop-Ear and I wandered in the land north of the river.

indistinct

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

From this reading Most of it is hazy and indistinct, though here and there I have vivid recollections of things that happened.

is

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

From this reading It is very difficult for me to reconstruct our journeying, and impossible to do it from day to day.

isle

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

From this reading We were like mariners wrecked on a desert isle, so far as concerned the likelihood of our getting home again.

It

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

From this reading It is very difficult for me to reconstruct our journeying, and impossible to do it from day to day.

journeying

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

From this reading It is very difficult for me to reconstruct our journeying, and impossible to do it from day to day.

land

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

From this reading I have no idea how long Lop-Ear and I wandered in the land north of the river.

like

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

From this reading We were like mariners wrecked on a desert isle, so far as concerned the likelihood of our getting home again.

likelihood

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

From this reading We were like mariners wrecked on a desert isle, so far as concerned the likelihood of our getting home again.

long

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

From this reading I have no idea how long Lop-Ear and I wandered in the land north of the river.

Lop-Ear

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

From this reading I have no idea how long Lop-Ear and I wandered in the land north of the river.

mariners

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

From this reading We were like mariners wrecked on a desert isle, so far as concerned the likelihood of our getting home again.

me

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

From this reading It is very difficult for me to reconstruct our journeying, and impossible to do it from day to day.

months

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

From this reading We turned our backs upon the river, and for weeks and months adventured in that wilderness where there were no Folk.

Most

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

From this reading Most of it is hazy and indistinct, though here and there I have vivid recollections of things that happened.

no

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

From this reading I have no idea how long Lop-Ear and I wandered in the land north of the river.

north

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

From this reading I have no idea how long Lop-Ear and I wandered in the land north of the river.

of

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

From this reading I have no idea how long Lop-Ear and I wandered in the land north of the river.

on

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

From this reading We were like mariners wrecked on a desert isle, so far as concerned the likelihood of our getting home again.

our

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

From this reading We were like mariners wrecked on a desert isle, so far as concerned the likelihood of our getting home again.

recollections

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

From this reading Most of it is hazy and indistinct, though here and there I have vivid recollections of things that happened.

reconstruct

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

From this reading It is very difficult for me to reconstruct our journeying, and impossible to do it from day to day.

river

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

From this reading I have no idea how long Lop-Ear and I wandered in the land north of the river.

so

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

From this reading We were like mariners wrecked on a desert isle, so far as concerned the likelihood of our getting home again.

that

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

From this reading We turned our backs upon the river, and for weeks and months adventured in that wilderness where there were no Folk.

the

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

From this reading I have no idea how long Lop-Ear and I wandered in the land north of the river.

there

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

From this reading We turned our backs upon the river, and for weeks and months adventured in that wilderness where there were no Folk.

things

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

From this reading Most of it is hazy and indistinct, though here and there I have vivid recollections of things that happened.

though

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

From this reading Most of it is hazy and indistinct, though here and there I have vivid recollections of things that happened.

to

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

From this reading It is very difficult for me to reconstruct our journeying, and impossible to do it from day to day.

turned

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

From this reading We turned our backs upon the river, and for weeks and months adventured in that wilderness where there were no Folk.

upon

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

From this reading We turned our backs upon the river, and for weeks and months adventured in that wilderness where there were no Folk.

very

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

From this reading It is very difficult for me to reconstruct our journeying, and impossible to do it from day to day.

vivid

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

From this reading Most of it is hazy and indistinct, though here and there I have vivid recollections of things that happened.

wandered

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

From this reading I have no idea how long Lop-Ear and I wandered in the land north of the river.

We

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

From this reading We were like mariners wrecked on a desert isle, so far as concerned the likelihood of our getting home again.

weeks

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

From this reading We turned our backs upon the river, and for weeks and months adventured in that wilderness where there were no Folk.

were

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

From this reading We were like mariners wrecked on a desert isle, so far as concerned the likelihood of our getting home again.

where

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

From this reading We turned our backs upon the river, and for weeks and months adventured in that wilderness where there were no Folk.

wilderness

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

From this reading We turned our backs upon the river, and for weeks and months adventured in that wilderness where there were no Folk.

wrecked

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

From this reading We were like mariners wrecked on a desert isle, so far as concerned the likelihood of our getting home again.

Chapter 12 of Before Adam by Jack London holds 123 sentences, grouped into 25 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the public-domain source, 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 Before Adam contain?

Chapter 12 holds 123 sentences of Before Adam, unabridged, divided into 25 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 12 of Before Adam by Jack London exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 123 sentences, grouped into 25 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 Before Adam?

Work through the 25 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 25 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 Before Adam

Common questions about reading Before Adam by Jack London on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Before Adam?

Yes. All 2488 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #310 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Before Adam is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #310, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Before Adam take to read?

About 207 minutes of reading across 498 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Before Adam section by section

How to work through Before Adam section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

Open a chapter

Choose one of the 18 chapters of Before Adam to begin.
Read one section

Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.
Listen and tap

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

Vocabulary met early in Before Adam

Words and structures a reader meets early in Before Adam, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Pictures: A word that appears in the opening chapter of Before Adam; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Often: A word that appears in the opening chapter of Before Adam; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Learned: A word that appears in the opening chapter of Before Adam; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Wonder: A word that appears in the opening chapter of Before Adam; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.