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Canoemates
Canoemates

Chapter VI

Chapter 6 of Canoemates is here in full — 69 sentences across 14 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Canoemates
Context Illustration Reading 1/13 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
PINEAPPLES AND SPONGES.
The next instant Worth uttered a startled cry and very nearly dropped his torch, as a mullet, leaping from the water, struck him on the side of the head, and fell flapping into the canoe.
"Never mind a little thing like that," cried Sumner.
"Hold your torch a trifle lower.
That's the kind!"
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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.

Canoemates

Chapter VI

Chapter 6 of Canoemates is here in full — 69 sentences across 14 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/13 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
PINEAPPLES AND SPONGES.
/ˈpaɪnæpəlz ənd ˈspʌndʒəz/
Line 2
The next instant Worth uttered a startled cry and very nearly dropped his torch, as a mullet, leaping from the water, struck him on the side of the head, and fell flapping into the canoe.
/ðə nekst ˈɪnstənt wɜːrθ ˈʌtərd ə ˈstɑːrtəld kraɪ ənd ˈveri ˈnɪrli drɑːpt hɪz tɔːrtʃ æz ə ˈmʌlət ˈliːpɪŋ frʌm ðə ˈwɔːtər strʌk hɪm ɑːn ðə saɪd ʌv ðə hed ənd fel ˈflæpɪŋ ˈɪntuː ðə kəˈnuː/
Line 3
"Never mind a little thing like that," cried Sumner.
/ˈnevər maɪnd ə ˈlɪtəl θɪŋ laɪk ðæt kraɪd ˈsʌmnər/
Line 4
"Hold your torch a trifle lower.
/hoʊld jɔːr tɔːrtʃ ə ˈtraɪfəl ˈloʊər/
Line 5
That's the kind!"

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.

flapping noun US /ˈflæpɪŋ/

the motion made by flapping up and down

From this reading “The next instant Worth uttered a startled cry and very nearly dropped his torch, as a mullet, leaping from the water, struck him on the side of the head, and fell flapping into the canoe.”

leaping noun US /ˈliːpɪŋ/

a light, self-propelled movement upwards or forwards

From this reading “The next instant Worth uttered a startled cry and very nearly dropped his torch, as a mullet, leaping from the water, struck him on the side of the head, and fell flapping into the canoe.”

mullet noun US /ˈmʌlət/

highly valued lean flesh of marine or freshwater mullet

From this reading “The next instant Worth uttered a startled cry and very nearly dropped his torch, as a mullet, leaping from the water, struck him on the side of the head, and fell flapping into the canoe.”

pineapples noun US /ˈpaɪnæpəlz/

plural of “pineapple” — a tropical American plant bearing a large fleshy edible fruit with a terminal tuft of stiff leaves; widely cultivated in the tropics

From this reading “PINEAPPLES AND SPONGES.”

sponges noun US /ˈspʌndʒəz/

plural of “sponge” — a porous mass of interlacing fibers that forms the internal skeleton of various marine animals and usable to absorb water or any porous rubber or cellulose product similarly used

From this reading “PINEAPPLES AND SPONGES.”

Sumner noun US /ˈsʌmnər/

United States sociologist (1840-1910)

From this reading “"Never mind a little thing like that," cried Sumner.”

torch noun US /tɔːrtʃ/

a light usually carried in the hand; consists of some flammable substance

From this reading “The next instant Worth uttered a startled cry and very nearly dropped his torch, as a mullet, leaping from the water, struck him on the side of the head, and fell flapping into the canoe.”

trifle noun US /ˈtraɪfəl/

a cold pudding made of layers of sponge cake spread with fruit or jelly; may be decorated with nuts, cream, or chocolate

From this reading “"Hold your torch a trifle lower.”

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.

next instant adjective + noun

In this reading “The next instant Worth uttered a startled cry and very nearly dropped his torch, as a mullet, leaping from the water, struck him on the side of the head, and fell flapping into the canoe.”

little thing adjective + noun

In this reading “"Never mind a little thing like that," cried Sumner.”

All words in this reading · 45

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 The next instant Worth uttered a startled cry and very nearly dropped his torch, as a mullet, leaping from the water, struck him on the side of the head, and fell flapping into the canoe.

ANDconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading PINEAPPLES AND SPONGES.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading The next instant Worth uttered a startled cry and very nearly dropped his torch, as a mullet, leaping from the water, struck him on the side of the head, and fell flapping into the canoe.

canoenounUS /kəˈnuː/

small and light boat; pointed at both ends; propelled with a paddle

From this reading The next instant Worth uttered a startled cry and very nearly dropped his torch, as a mullet, leaping from the water, struck him on the side of the head, and fell flapping into the canoe.

criedverbUS /kraɪd/

inflected form of “cry” — utter a sudden loud cry

From this reading "Never mind a little thing like that," cried Sumner.

cryverbUS /kraɪ/

utter a sudden loud cry

From this reading The next instant Worth uttered a startled cry and very nearly dropped his torch, as a mullet, leaping from the water, struck him on the side of the head, and fell flapping into the canoe.

droppedverbUS /drɑːpt/

inflected form of “drop” — let fall to the ground

From this reading The next instant Worth uttered a startled cry and very nearly dropped his torch, as a mullet, leaping from the water, struck him on the side of the head, and fell flapping into the canoe.

fellverbUS /fel/

cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow

From this reading The next instant Worth uttered a startled cry and very nearly dropped his torch, as a mullet, leaping from the water, struck him on the side of the head, and fell flapping into the canoe.

flappingnounUS /ˈflæpɪŋ/

the motion made by flapping up and down

From this reading The next instant Worth uttered a startled cry and very nearly dropped his torch, as a mullet, leaping from the water, struck him on the side of the head, and fell flapping into the canoe.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading The next instant Worth uttered a startled cry and very nearly dropped his torch, as a mullet, leaping from the water, struck him on the side of the head, and fell flapping into the canoe.

headnounUS /hed/

the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains

From this reading The next instant Worth uttered a startled cry and very nearly dropped his torch, as a mullet, leaping from the water, struck him on the side of the head, and fell flapping into the canoe.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading The next instant Worth uttered a startled cry and very nearly dropped his torch, as a mullet, leaping from the water, struck him on the side of the head, and fell flapping into the canoe.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading The next instant Worth uttered a startled cry and very nearly dropped his torch, as a mullet, leaping from the water, struck him on the side of the head, and fell flapping into the canoe.

HoldverbUS /hoʊld/

cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”

From this reading "Hold your torch a trifle lower.

instantnounUS /ˈɪnstənt/

a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)

From this reading The next instant Worth uttered a startled cry and very nearly dropped his torch, as a mullet, leaping from the water, struck him on the side of the head, and fell flapping into the canoe.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading The next instant Worth uttered a startled cry and very nearly dropped his torch, as a mullet, leaping from the water, struck him on the side of the head, and fell flapping into the canoe.

kindadjectiveUS /kaɪnd/

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

From this reading That's the kind!"

leapingnounUS /ˈliːpɪŋ/

a light, self-propelled movement upwards or forwards

From this reading The next instant Worth uttered a startled cry and very nearly dropped his torch, as a mullet, leaping from the water, struck him on the side of the head, and fell flapping into the canoe.

likeverbUS /laɪk/

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading "Never mind a little thing like that," cried Sumner.

littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading "Never mind a little thing like that," cried Sumner.

lowerverbUS /ˈloʊər/

move something or somebody to a lower position

From this reading "Hold your torch a trifle lower.

mindnounUS /maɪnd/

The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.

From this reading "Never mind a little thing like that," cried Sumner.

mulletnounUS /ˈmʌlət/

highly valued lean flesh of marine or freshwater mullet

From this reading The next instant Worth uttered a startled cry and very nearly dropped his torch, as a mullet, leaping from the water, struck him on the side of the head, and fell flapping into the canoe.

nearlyadverbUS /ˈnɪrli/

(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but

From this reading The next instant Worth uttered a startled cry and very nearly dropped his torch, as a mullet, leaping from the water, struck him on the side of the head, and fell flapping into the canoe.

NeveradverbUS /ˈnevər/

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading "Never mind a little thing like that," cried Sumner.

nextadjectiveUS /nekst/

immediately following in time or order

From this reading The next instant Worth uttered a startled cry and very nearly dropped his torch, as a mullet, leaping from the water, struck him on the side of the head, and fell flapping into the canoe.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The next instant Worth uttered a startled cry and very nearly dropped his torch, as a mullet, leaping from the water, struck him on the side of the head, and fell flapping into the canoe.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading The next instant Worth uttered a startled cry and very nearly dropped his torch, as a mullet, leaping from the water, struck him on the side of the head, and fell flapping into the canoe.

PINEAPPLESnounUS /ˈpaɪnæpəlz/

plural of “pineapple” — a tropical American plant bearing a large fleshy edible fruit with a terminal tuft of stiff leaves; widely cultivated in the tropics

From this reading PINEAPPLES AND SPONGES.

sidenounUS /saɪd/

a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location

From this reading The next instant Worth uttered a startled cry and very nearly dropped his torch, as a mullet, leaping from the water, struck him on the side of the head, and fell flapping into the canoe.

SPONGESnounUS /ˈspʌndʒəz/

plural of “sponge” — a porous mass of interlacing fibers that forms the internal skeleton of various marine animals and usable to absorb water or any porous rubber or cellulose product similarly used

From this reading PINEAPPLES AND SPONGES.

startledadjectiveUS /ˈstɑːrtəld/

excited by sudden surprise or alarm and making a quick involuntary movement

From this reading The next instant Worth uttered a startled cry and very nearly dropped his torch, as a mullet, leaping from the water, struck him on the side of the head, and fell flapping into the canoe.

struckadjectiveUS /strʌk/

(used in combination) affected by something overwhelming

From this reading The next instant Worth uttered a startled cry and very nearly dropped his torch, as a mullet, leaping from the water, struck him on the side of the head, and fell flapping into the canoe.

SumnernounUS /ˈsʌmnər/

United States sociologist (1840-1910)

From this reading "Never mind a little thing like that," cried Sumner.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading "Never mind a little thing like that," cried Sumner.

That's

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

From this reading That's the kind!"

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The next instant Worth uttered a startled cry and very nearly dropped his torch, as a mullet, leaping from the water, struck him on the side of the head, and fell flapping into the canoe.

thingnounUS /θɪŋ/

a special situation

From this reading "Never mind a little thing like that," cried Sumner.

torchnounUS /tɔːrtʃ/

a light usually carried in the hand; consists of some flammable substance

From this reading The next instant Worth uttered a startled cry and very nearly dropped his torch, as a mullet, leaping from the water, struck him on the side of the head, and fell flapping into the canoe.

triflenounUS /ˈtraɪfəl/

a cold pudding made of layers of sponge cake spread with fruit or jelly; may be decorated with nuts, cream, or chocolate

From this reading "Hold your torch a trifle lower.

utteredadjectiveUS /ˈʌtərd/

communicated in words

From this reading The next instant Worth uttered a startled cry and very nearly dropped his torch, as a mullet, leaping from the water, struck him on the side of the head, and fell flapping into the canoe.

veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/

precisely as stated

From this reading The next instant Worth uttered a startled cry and very nearly dropped his torch, as a mullet, leaping from the water, struck him on the side of the head, and fell flapping into the canoe.

waternounUS /ˈwɔːtər/

binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent

From this reading The next instant Worth uttered a startled cry and very nearly dropped his torch, as a mullet, leaping from the water, struck him on the side of the head, and fell flapping into the canoe.

WorthnounUS /wɜːrθ/

an indefinite quantity of something having a specified value

From this reading The next instant Worth uttered a startled cry and very nearly dropped his torch, as a mullet, leaping from the water, struck him on the side of the head, and fell flapping into the canoe.

yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "Hold your torch a trifle lower.

Chapter 6 of Canoemates by Kirk Munroe holds 69 sentences, grouped into 14 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 6 of Canoemates contain?

Chapter 6 holds 69 sentences of Canoemates, unabridged, divided into 14 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 6 of Canoemates by Kirk Munroe exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 69 sentences, grouped into 14 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 6 of Canoemates?

Work through the 14 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 14 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 6 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 6 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 Canoemates

Common questions about reading Canoemates by Kirk Munroe on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Canoemates?

Yes. All 3008 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #62301 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Canoemates is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #62301, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Canoemates take to read?

About 250 minutes of reading across 602 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Canoemates section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 39 chapters of Canoemates 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 Canoemates

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

South
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Canoemates; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Really
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Canoemates; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Mother
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Canoemates; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Doesn't
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Canoemates; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.