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Boy Scouts in the Coal Caverns
Boy Scouts in the Coal Caverns

Chapter XVII · Chapter 17

Chapter 17 of Boy Scouts in the Coal Caverns is here in full — 127 sentences across 26 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

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Context Illustration Reading 1/25 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
TWO HOLD-UP MEN "That's Boy Scout talk all right!" exclaimed Elmer.
"Yes, the three stones, piled one on top of the other, mean that there is danger in following the trail.
I don't understand exactly what kind of danger can be threatening us, and so the only thing we cart do is to go on and find out," Will said with a glance backward.
The other boys now came up and a short consultation was held.
It was decided to leave Sandy and Dick at the point where the explosion had taken place, while Will, Elmer and Jimmie followed on down the gangway.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Boy Scouts in the Coal Caverns

Chapter XVII · Chapter 17

Chapter 17 of Boy Scouts in the Coal Caverns is here in full — 127 sentences across 26 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/25 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
TWO HOLD-UP MEN "That's Boy Scout talk all right!" exclaimed Elmer.
Line 2
"Yes, the three stones, piled one on top of the other, mean that there is danger in following the trail.
/jes ðə θriː stoʊnz paɪld wʌn ɑːn tɑːp ʌv ðə ˈʌðər miːn ðæt ðer ɪz ˈdeɪndʒər ɪn ˈfɑːloʊɪŋ ðə treɪl/
Line 3
I don't understand exactly what kind of danger can be threatening us, and so the only thing we cart do is to go on and find out," Will said with a glance backward.
Line 4
The other boys now came up and a short consultation was held.
/ðə ˈʌðər bɔɪz naʊ keɪm ʌp ənd ə ʃɔːrt ˌkɑːnsəlˈteɪʃən wɑːz held/
Line 5
It was decided to leave Sandy and Dick at the point where the explosion had taken place, while Will, Elmer and Jimmie followed on down the gangway.

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.

backward adverb US /ˈbækwərd/

at or to or toward the back or rear

From this reading “I don't understand exactly what kind of danger can be threatening us, and so the only thing we cart do is to go on and find out," Will said with a glance backward.”

cart noun US /kɑːrt/

a heavy open wagon usually having two wheels and drawn by an animal

From this reading “I don't understand exactly what kind of danger can be threatening us, and so the only thing we cart do is to go on and find out," Will said with a glance backward.”

consultation noun US /ˌkɑːnsəlˈteɪʃən/

a conference (usually with someone important)

From this reading “The other boys now came up and a short consultation was held.”

explosion noun US /ɪkˈsploʊʒən/

a violent release of energy caused by a chemical or nuclear reaction

From this reading “It was decided to leave Sandy and Dick at the point where the explosion had taken place, while Will, Elmer and Jimmie followed on down the gangway.”

piled verb US /paɪld/

past form of “pile” — arrange in stacks

From this reading “"Yes, the three stones, piled one on top of the other, mean that there is danger in following the trail.”

Sandy adjective US /ˈsændi/

of hair color; pale yellowish to yellowish brown

From this reading “It was decided to leave Sandy and Dick at the point where the explosion had taken place, while Will, Elmer and Jimmie followed on down the gangway.”

Scout noun US /skaʊt/

a person employed to keep watch for some anticipated event

From this reading “TWO HOLD-UP MEN "That's Boy Scout talk all right!" exclaimed Elmer.”

threatening adjective US /ˈθretənɪŋ/

threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments

From this reading “I don't understand exactly what kind of danger can be threatening us, and so the only thing we cart do is to go on and find out," Will said with a glance backward.”

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 I don't understand exactly what kind of danger can be threatening us, and so the only thing we cart do is to go on and find out," Will said with a glance backward.

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 TWO HOLD-UP MEN "That's Boy Scout talk all right!" exclaimed Elmer.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading I don't understand exactly what kind of danger can be threatening us, and so the only thing we cart do is to go on and find out," Will said with a glance backward.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading It was decided to leave Sandy and Dick at the point where the explosion had taken place, while Will, Elmer and Jimmie followed on down the gangway.

backwardadverbUS /ˈbækwərd/

at or to or toward the back or rear

From this reading I don't understand exactly what kind of danger can be threatening us, and so the only thing we cart do is to go on and find out," Will said with a glance backward.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading I don't understand exactly what kind of danger can be threatening us, and so the only thing we cart do is to go on and find out," Will said with a glance backward.

BoynounUS /bɔɪ/

a youthful male person

From this reading TWO HOLD-UP MEN "That's Boy Scout talk all right!" exclaimed Elmer.

boysnounUS /bɔɪz/

plural of “boy” — a youthful male person

From this reading The other boys now came up and a short consultation was held.

cameverbUS /keɪm/

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

From this reading The other boys now came up and a short consultation was held.

canmodal verbUS /kæn/

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading I don't understand exactly what kind of danger can be threatening us, and so the only thing we cart do is to go on and find out," Will said with a glance backward.

cartnounUS /kɑːrt/

a heavy open wagon usually having two wheels and drawn by an animal

From this reading I don't understand exactly what kind of danger can be threatening us, and so the only thing we cart do is to go on and find out," Will said with a glance backward.

consultationnounUS /ˌkɑːnsəlˈteɪʃən/

a conference (usually with someone important)

From this reading The other boys now came up and a short consultation was held.

dangernounUS /ˈdeɪndʒər/

the condition of being susceptible to harm or injury

From this reading "Yes, the three stones, piled one on top of the other, mean that there is danger in following the trail.

decidedadjectiveUS /ˌdɪˈsaɪdɪd/

recognizable; marked

From this reading It was decided to leave Sandy and Dick at the point where the explosion had taken place, while Will, Elmer and Jimmie followed on down the gangway.

DicknounUS /dɪk/

someone who is a detective

From this reading It was decided to leave Sandy and Dick at the point where the explosion had taken place, while Will, Elmer and Jimmie followed on down the gangway.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading I don't understand exactly what kind of danger can be threatening us, and so the only thing we cart do is to go on and find out," Will said with a glance backward.

don't

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

From this reading I don't understand exactly what kind of danger can be threatening us, and so the only thing we cart do is to go on and find out," Will said with a glance backward.

downadjectiveUS /daʊn/

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading It was decided to leave Sandy and Dick at the point where the explosion had taken place, while Will, Elmer and Jimmie followed on down the gangway.

Elmer

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

From this reading TWO HOLD-UP MEN "That's Boy Scout talk all right!" exclaimed Elmer.

exactlyadverbUS /ɪɡˈzæktli/

indicating exactness or preciseness

From this reading I don't understand exactly what kind of danger can be threatening us, and so the only thing we cart do is to go on and find out," Will said with a glance backward.

exclaimedverbUS /ɪkˈskleɪmd/

past form of “exclaim” — utter aloud; often with surprise, horror, or joy

From this reading TWO HOLD-UP MEN "That's Boy Scout talk all right!" exclaimed Elmer.

explosionnounUS /ɪkˈsploʊʒən/

a violent release of energy caused by a chemical or nuclear reaction

From this reading It was decided to leave Sandy and Dick at the point where the explosion had taken place, while Will, Elmer and Jimmie followed on down the gangway.

findverbUS /faɪnd/

come upon, as if by accident; meet with

From this reading I don't understand exactly what kind of danger can be threatening us, and so the only thing we cart do is to go on and find out," Will said with a glance backward.

followedverbUS /ˈfɑːloʊd/

past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after

From this reading It was decided to leave Sandy and Dick at the point where the explosion had taken place, while Will, Elmer and Jimmie followed on down the gangway.

followingadjectiveUS /ˈfɑːloʊɪŋ/

about to be mentioned or specified

From this reading "Yes, the three stones, piled one on top of the other, mean that there is danger in following the trail.

gangwaynoun

a temporary passageway of planks (as over mud on a building site)

From this reading It was decided to leave Sandy and Dick at the point where the explosion had taken place, while Will, Elmer and Jimmie followed on down the gangway.

glanceverbUS /ɡlæns/

throw a glance at; take a brief look at

From this reading I don't understand exactly what kind of danger can be threatening us, and so the only thing we cart do is to go on and find out," Will said with a glance backward.

goverbUS /ɡoʊ/

change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading I don't understand exactly what kind of danger can be threatening us, and so the only thing we cart do is to go on and find out," Will said with a glance backward.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading It was decided to leave Sandy and Dick at the point where the explosion had taken place, while Will, Elmer and Jimmie followed on down the gangway.

heldadjectiveUS /held/

occupied or in the control of; often used in combination

From this reading The other boys now came up and a short consultation was held.

HOLD-UP

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

From this reading TWO HOLD-UP MEN "That's Boy Scout talk all right!" exclaimed Elmer.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading I don't understand exactly what kind of danger can be threatening us, and so the only thing we cart do is to go on and find out," Will said with a glance backward.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading "Yes, the three stones, piled one on top of the other, mean that there is danger in following the trail.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading "Yes, the three stones, piled one on top of the other, mean that there is danger in following the trail.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was decided to leave Sandy and Dick at the point where the explosion had taken place, while Will, Elmer and Jimmie followed on down the gangway.

Jimmie

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

From this reading It was decided to leave Sandy and Dick at the point where the explosion had taken place, while Will, Elmer and Jimmie followed on down the gangway.

kindadjectiveUS /kaɪnd/

having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior

From this reading I don't understand exactly what kind of danger can be threatening us, and so the only thing we cart do is to go on and find out," Will said with a glance backward.

leaveverbUS /liːv/

go away from a place

From this reading It was decided to leave Sandy and Dick at the point where the explosion had taken place, while Will, Elmer and Jimmie followed on down the gangway.

meanverbUS /miːn/

mean or intend to express or convey

From this reading "Yes, the three stones, piled one on top of the other, mean that there is danger in following the trail.

MENnounUS /men/

the force of workers available

From this reading TWO HOLD-UP MEN "That's Boy Scout talk all right!" exclaimed Elmer.

nowadverbUS /naʊ/

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading The other boys now came up and a short consultation was held.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading "Yes, the three stones, piled one on top of the other, mean that there is danger in following the trail.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading "Yes, the three stones, piled one on top of the other, mean that there is danger in following the trail.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading "Yes, the three stones, piled one on top of the other, mean that there is danger in following the trail.

onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/

and nothing more

From this reading I don't understand exactly what kind of danger can be threatening us, and so the only thing we cart do is to go on and find out," Will said with a glance backward.

otheradjectiveUS /ˈʌðər/

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading "Yes, the three stones, piled one on top of the other, mean that there is danger in following the trail.

outadjectiveUS /aʊt/

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading I don't understand exactly what kind of danger can be threatening us, and so the only thing we cart do is to go on and find out," Will said with a glance backward.

piledverbUS /paɪld/

past form of “pile” — arrange in stacks

From this reading "Yes, the three stones, piled one on top of the other, mean that there is danger in following the trail.

placenounUS /pleɪs/

a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading It was decided to leave Sandy and Dick at the point where the explosion had taken place, while Will, Elmer and Jimmie followed on down the gangway.

pointnounUS /pɔɪnt/

a geometric element that has position but no extension

From this reading It was decided to leave Sandy and Dick at the point where the explosion had taken place, while Will, Elmer and Jimmie followed on down the gangway.

rightadverbUS /raɪt/

precisely, exactly

From this reading TWO HOLD-UP MEN "That's Boy Scout talk all right!" exclaimed Elmer.

saidadjectiveUS /sed/

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading I don't understand exactly what kind of danger can be threatening us, and so the only thing we cart do is to go on and find out," Will said with a glance backward.

SandyadjectiveUS /ˈsændi/

of hair color; pale yellowish to yellowish brown

From this reading It was decided to leave Sandy and Dick at the point where the explosion had taken place, while Will, Elmer and Jimmie followed on down the gangway.

ScoutnounUS /skaʊt/

a person employed to keep watch for some anticipated event

From this reading TWO HOLD-UP MEN "That's Boy Scout talk all right!" exclaimed Elmer.

shortadjectiveUS /ʃɔːrt/

primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration

From this reading The other boys now came up and a short consultation was held.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading I don't understand exactly what kind of danger can be threatening us, and so the only thing we cart do is to go on and find out," Will said with a glance backward.

stonesnounUS /stoʊnz/

plural of “stone” — a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter

From this reading "Yes, the three stones, piled one on top of the other, mean that there is danger in following the trail.

takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/

understood in a certain way; made sense of

From this reading It was decided to leave Sandy and Dick at the point where the explosion had taken place, while Will, Elmer and Jimmie followed on down the gangway.

talkverbUS /tɔːk/

exchange thoughts; talk with

From this reading TWO HOLD-UP MEN "That's Boy Scout talk all right!" exclaimed Elmer.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading "Yes, the three stones, piled one on top of the other, mean that there is danger in following the trail.

That's

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

From this reading TWO HOLD-UP MEN "That's Boy Scout talk all right!" exclaimed Elmer.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading "Yes, the three stones, piled one on top of the other, mean that there is danger in following the trail.

thereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading "Yes, the three stones, piled one on top of the other, mean that there is danger in following the trail.

thingnounUS /θɪŋ/

a special situation

From this reading I don't understand exactly what kind of danger can be threatening us, and so the only thing we cart do is to go on and find out," Will said with a glance backward.

threateningadjectiveUS /ˈθretənɪŋ/

threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments

From this reading I don't understand exactly what kind of danger can be threatening us, and so the only thing we cart do is to go on and find out," Will said with a glance backward.

threenounUS /θriː/

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one

From this reading "Yes, the three stones, piled one on top of the other, mean that there is danger in following the trail.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading I don't understand exactly what kind of danger can be threatening us, and so the only thing we cart do is to go on and find out," Will said with a glance backward.

topnounUS /tɑːp/

the upper part of anything

From this reading "Yes, the three stones, piled one on top of the other, mean that there is danger in following the trail.

trailnounUS /treɪl/

a track or mark left by something that has passed

From this reading "Yes, the three stones, piled one on top of the other, mean that there is danger in following the trail.

TWOnounUS /tuː/

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

From this reading TWO HOLD-UP MEN "That's Boy Scout talk all right!" exclaimed Elmer.

understandverbUS /ˌʌndərˈstænd/

know and comprehend the nature or meaning of

From this reading I don't understand exactly what kind of danger can be threatening us, and so the only thing we cart do is to go on and find out," Will said with a glance backward.

upadjectiveUS /ʌp/

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading The other boys now came up and a short consultation was held.

uspronounUS /ʌs/

the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading I don't understand exactly what kind of danger can be threatening us, and so the only thing we cart do is to go on and find out," Will said with a glance backward.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading The other boys now came up and a short consultation was held.

wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading I don't understand exactly what kind of danger can be threatening us, and so the only thing we cart do is to go on and find out," Will said with a glance backward.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading I don't understand exactly what kind of danger can be threatening us, and so the only thing we cart do is to go on and find out," Will said with a glance backward.

whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading It was decided to leave Sandy and Dick at the point where the explosion had taken place, while Will, Elmer and Jimmie followed on down the gangway.

whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading It was decided to leave Sandy and Dick at the point where the explosion had taken place, while Will, Elmer and Jimmie followed on down the gangway.

Willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading I don't understand exactly what kind of danger can be threatening us, and so the only thing we cart do is to go on and find out," Will said with a glance backward.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading I don't understand exactly what kind of danger can be threatening us, and so the only thing we cart do is to go on and find out," Will said with a glance backward.

YesnounUS /jes/

an affirmative

From this reading "Yes, the three stones, piled one on top of the other, mean that there is danger in following the trail.

Chapter 17 of Boy Scouts in the Coal Caverns by Archibald Lee Fletcher holds 127 sentences, grouped into 26 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 17 of Boy Scouts in the Coal Caverns contain?

Chapter 17 holds 127 sentences of Boy Scouts in the Coal Caverns, unabridged, divided into 26 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 17 of Boy Scouts in the Coal Caverns by Archibald Lee Fletcher exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 127 sentences, grouped into 26 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 17 of Boy Scouts in the Coal Caverns?

Work through the 26 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 26 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 17 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 17 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

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  2. Read one section

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  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.