Learn English through classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
Boy Scouts in the Coal Caverns
Boy Scouts in the Coal Caverns

Chapter X · Chapter 10

Chapter 10 of Boy Scouts in the Coal Caverns is here in full — 107 sentences across 22 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Boy Scouts in the Coal Caverns
Context Illustration Reading 1/21 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
A KNOCK AT THE DOOR When Will and George came to the back of the weigh-house they heard some one moving about at the front.
"That's probably the caretaker, taking his last look for the night," suggested Will.
"He pokes around all the outbuildings every night before he goes to bed.
At least, he is supposed to."
"But this fellow hasn't got any lantern," urged George.
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.

Boy Scouts in the Coal Caverns

Chapter X · Chapter 10

Chapter 10 of Boy Scouts in the Coal Caverns is here in full — 107 sentences across 22 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/21 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
A KNOCK AT THE DOOR When Will and George came to the back of the weigh-house they heard some one moving about at the front.
Line 2
"That's probably the caretaker, taking his last look for the night," suggested Will.
Line 3
"He pokes around all the outbuildings every night before he goes to bed.
Line 4
At least, he is supposed to."
/æt liːst hiː ɪz səˈpoʊzd tuː/
Line 5
"But this fellow hasn't got any lantern," urged George.

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.

caretaker noun US /ˈkerteɪkər/

a custodian who is hired to take care of something (property or a person)

From this reading “"That's probably the caretaker, taking his last look for the night," suggested Will.”

knock verb US /nɑːk/

deliver a sharp blow or push

From this reading “A KNOCK AT THE DOOR When Will and George came to the back of the weigh-house they heard some one moving about at the front.”

lantern noun US /ˈlæntərn/

light in a transparent protective case

From this reading “"But this fellow hasn't got any lantern," urged George.”

moving adjective US /ˈmuːvɪŋ/

in motion

From this reading “A KNOCK AT THE DOOR When Will and George came to the back of the weigh-house they heard some one moving about at the front.”

pokes noun US /poʊks/

plural of “poke” — tall coarse perennial American herb having small white flowers followed by blackish-red berries on long drooping racemes; young fleshy stems are edible; berries and root are poisonous

From this reading “"He pokes around all the outbuildings every night before he goes to bed.”

suggested verb US /səˈdʒestɪd/

past form of “suggest” — make a proposal, declare a plan for something

From this reading “"That's probably the caretaker, taking his last look for the night," suggested Will.”

supposed adjective US /səˈpoʊzd/

required or under orders

From this reading “At least, he is supposed to."”

urged verb US /ɜːrdʒd/

past form of “urge” — force or impel in an indicated direction

From this reading “"But this fellow hasn't got any lantern," urged George.”

All words in this reading · 51

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 A KNOCK AT THE DOOR When Will and George came to the back of the weigh-house they heard some one moving about at the front.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading A KNOCK AT THE DOOR When Will and George came to the back of the weigh-house they heard some one moving about at the front.

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 "He pokes around all the outbuildings every night before he goes to bed.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading A KNOCK AT THE DOOR When Will and George came to the back of the weigh-house they heard some one moving about at the front.

anyadjectiveUS /ˈeni/

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading "But this fellow hasn't got any lantern," urged George.

aroundprepositionUS /ərˈaʊnd/

surrounding, or on every side of, something

From this reading "He pokes around all the outbuildings every night before he goes to bed.

ATprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading A KNOCK AT THE DOOR When Will and George came to the back of the weigh-house they heard some one moving about at the front.

backadverbUS /bæk/

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading A KNOCK AT THE DOOR When Will and George came to the back of the weigh-house they heard some one moving about at the front.

bednounUS /bed/

a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep

From this reading "He pokes around all the outbuildings every night before he goes to bed.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading "He pokes around all the outbuildings every night before he goes to bed.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading "But this fellow hasn't got any lantern," urged George.

cameverbUS /keɪm/

inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading A KNOCK AT THE DOOR When Will and George came to the back of the weigh-house they heard some one moving about at the front.

caretakernounUS /ˈkerteɪkər/

a custodian who is hired to take care of something (property or a person)

From this reading "That's probably the caretaker, taking his last look for the night," suggested Will.

DOORnounUS /dɔːr/

a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle

From this reading A KNOCK AT THE DOOR When Will and George came to the back of the weigh-house they heard some one moving about at the front.

everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading "He pokes around all the outbuildings every night before he goes to bed.

fellownounUS /ˈfeloʊ/

a boy or man

From this reading "But this fellow hasn't got any lantern," urged George.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading "That's probably the caretaker, taking his last look for the night," suggested Will.

frontnounUS /frʌnt/

the side that is forward or prominent

From this reading A KNOCK AT THE DOOR When Will and George came to the back of the weigh-house they heard some one moving about at the front.

GeorgenounUS /dʒɔːrdʒ/

Christian martyr; patron saint of England; hero of the legend of Saint George and the Dragon in which he slew a dragon and saved a princess (?-303)

From this reading A KNOCK AT THE DOOR When Will and George came to the back of the weigh-house they heard some one moving about at the front.

goesnounUS /ɡoʊz/

plural of “go” — a time period for working (after which you will be relieved by someone else)

From this reading "He pokes around all the outbuildings every night before he goes to bed.

gotverbUS /ɡɑːt/

inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading "But this fellow hasn't got any lantern," urged George.

hasn't

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

From this reading "But this fellow hasn't got any lantern," urged George.

HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading "He pokes around all the outbuildings every night before he goes to bed.

heardadjectiveUS /hɜːrd/

detected or perceived by the sense of hearing

From this reading A KNOCK AT THE DOOR When Will and George came to the back of the weigh-house they heard some one moving about at the front.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading "That's probably the caretaker, taking his last look for the night," suggested Will.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading At least, he is supposed to."

KNOCKverbUS /nɑːk/

deliver a sharp blow or push

From this reading A KNOCK AT THE DOOR When Will and George came to the back of the weigh-house they heard some one moving about at the front.

lanternnounUS /ˈlæntərn/

light in a transparent protective case

From this reading "But this fellow hasn't got any lantern," urged George.

lastadjectiveUS /læst/

immediately past

From this reading "That's probably the caretaker, taking his last look for the night," suggested Will.

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 At least, he is supposed to."

lookverbUS /lʊk/

perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards

From this reading "That's probably the caretaker, taking his last look for the night," suggested Will.

movingadjectiveUS /ˈmuːvɪŋ/

in motion

From this reading A KNOCK AT THE DOOR When Will and George came to the back of the weigh-house they heard some one moving about at the front.

nightnounUS /naɪt/

the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside

From this reading "That's probably the caretaker, taking his last look for the night," suggested Will.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading A KNOCK AT THE DOOR When Will and George came to the back of the weigh-house they heard some one moving about at the front.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading A KNOCK AT THE DOOR When Will and George came to the back of the weigh-house they heard some one moving about at the front.

outbuildings

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

From this reading "He pokes around all the outbuildings every night before he goes to bed.

pokesnounUS /poʊks/

plural of “poke” — tall coarse perennial American herb having small white flowers followed by blackish-red berries on long drooping racemes; young fleshy stems are edible; berries and root are poisonous

From this reading "He pokes around all the outbuildings every night before he goes to bed.

probablyadverbUS /ˈprɑːbəbliː/

with considerable certainty; without much doubt

From this reading "That's probably the caretaker, taking his last look for the night," suggested Will.

someadjectiveUS /sʌm/

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading A KNOCK AT THE DOOR When Will and George came to the back of the weigh-house they heard some one moving about at the front.

suggestedverbUS /səˈdʒestɪd/

past form of “suggest” — make a proposal, declare a plan for something

From this reading "That's probably the caretaker, taking his last look for the night," suggested Will.

supposedadjectiveUS /səˈpoʊzd/

required or under orders

From this reading At least, he is supposed to."

takingnounUS /ˈteɪkɪŋ/

the act of someone who picks up or takes something

From this reading "That's probably the caretaker, taking his last look for the night," suggested Will.

That's

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

From this reading "That's probably the caretaker, taking his last look for the night," suggested Will.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading A KNOCK AT THE DOOR When Will and George came to the back of the weigh-house they heard some one moving about at the front.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading A KNOCK AT THE DOOR When Will and George came to the back of the weigh-house they heard some one moving about at the front.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading "But this fellow hasn't got any lantern," urged George.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading A KNOCK AT THE DOOR When Will and George came to the back of the weigh-house they heard some one moving about at the front.

urgedverbUS /ɜːrdʒd/

past form of “urge” — force or impel in an indicated direction

From this reading "But this fellow hasn't got any lantern," urged George.

weigh-house

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

From this reading A KNOCK AT THE DOOR When Will and George came to the back of the weigh-house they heard some one moving about at the front.

WhenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading A KNOCK AT THE DOOR When Will and George came to the back of the weigh-house they heard some one moving about at the front.

Willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading A KNOCK AT THE DOOR When Will and George came to the back of the weigh-house they heard some one moving about at the front.

Chapter 10 of Boy Scouts in the Coal Caverns by Archibald Lee Fletcher holds 107 sentences, grouped into 22 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 10 of Boy Scouts in the Coal Caverns contain?

Chapter 10 holds 107 sentences of Boy Scouts in the Coal Caverns, unabridged, divided into 22 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 10 of Boy Scouts in the Coal Caverns by Archibald Lee Fletcher exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 107 sentences, grouped into 22 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 10 of Boy Scouts in the Coal Caverns?

Work through the 22 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 22 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 10 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 10 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 Boy Scouts in the Coal Caverns

Common questions about reading Boy Scouts in the Coal Caverns by Archibald Lee Fletcher on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Boy Scouts in the Coal Caverns?

Yes. All 2494 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #6338 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Boy Scouts in the Coal Caverns is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #6338, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Boy Scouts in the Coal Caverns take to read?

About 207 minutes of reading across 499 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Boy Scouts in the Coal Caverns section by section

How to work through Boy Scouts in the Coal Caverns section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 21 chapters of Boy Scouts in the Coal Caverns 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 Boy Scouts in the Coal Caverns

Words and structures a reader meets early in Boy Scouts in the Coal Caverns, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Somewhere
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Boy Scouts in the Coal Caverns; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Midnight
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Boy Scouts in the Coal Caverns; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Sought
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Boy Scouts in the Coal Caverns; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
George
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Boy Scouts in the Coal Caverns; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.