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Carson of Red River
Carson of Red River

Chapter II

Chapter 2 of Carson of Red River is here in full — 149 sentences across 30 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Harold Bindloss • Curated US English Learning Edition
Cover illustration for Carson of Red River
Context Illustration Reading 1/29 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE DRAWING-OFFICE At the top of the steps to the drawing-office Kit stopped and leaned against the rails.
The building slips were occupied, and when work was pushed ahead at night he liked to look about the yard.
Smoke rolled across the river; the tide ebbed and wet mudbanks reflected the steelworks fires.
When the flames got dim, smaller lights trembled on the curving channel.
On one side bare, skeletons of ships melted in the gloom, and behind dark walls wheels rolled.
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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.

Carson of Red River

Chapter II

Chapter 2 of Carson of Red River is here in full — 149 sentences across 30 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/29 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE DRAWING-OFFICE At the top of the steps to the drawing-office Kit stopped and leaned against the rails.
Line 2
The building slips were occupied, and when work was pushed ahead at night he liked to look about the yard.
/ðə ˈbɪldɪŋ slɪps wɜːr ˈɑːkjəpaɪd ənd wen wɜːrk wɑːz pʊʃt əˈhed æt naɪt hiː laɪkt tuː lʊk əˈbaʊt ðə jɑːrd/
Line 3
Smoke rolled across the river; the tide ebbed and wet mudbanks reflected the steelworks fires.
Line 4
When the flames got dim, smaller lights trembled on the curving channel.
/wen ðə fleɪmz ɡɑːt dɪm ˈsmɔːlər laɪts ˈtrembəld ɑːn ðə ˈkɜːrvɪŋ ˈtʃænəl/
Line 5
On one side bare, skeletons of ships melted in the gloom, and behind dark walls wheels rolled.
/ɑːn wʌn saɪd ber ˈskelətənz ʌv ʃɪps ˈmeltəd ɪn ðə ɡluːm ənd bɪˈhaɪnd dɑːrk wɔːlz wiːlz roʊld/

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.

curving adjective US /ˈkɜːrvɪŋ/

having or marked by a curve or smoothly rounded bend

From this reading “When the flames got dim, smaller lights trembled on the curving channel.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ebbed verb US /ˈebəd/

past form of “ebb” — flow back or recede

From this reading “Smoke rolled across the river; the tide ebbed and wet mudbanks reflected the steelworks fires.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Kit noun US /kɪt/

a case for containing a set of articles

From this reading “THE DRAWING-OFFICE At the top of the steps to the drawing-office Kit stopped and leaned against the rails.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
melted adjective US /ˈmeltəd/

changed from a solid to a liquid state

From this reading “On one side bare, skeletons of ships melted in the gloom, and behind dark walls wheels rolled.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
rails noun US /reɪlz/

a bar or pair of parallel bars of rolled steel making the railway along which railroad cars or other vehicles can roll

From this reading “THE DRAWING-OFFICE At the top of the steps to the drawing-office Kit stopped and leaned against the rails.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
skeletons noun US /ˈskelətənz/

plural of “skeleton” — something reduced to its minimal form

From this reading “On one side bare, skeletons of ships melted in the gloom, and behind dark walls wheels rolled.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
slips noun US /slɪps/

plural of “slip” — a socially awkward or tactless act

From this reading “The building slips were occupied, and when work was pushed ahead at night he liked to look about the yard.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
steelworks noun US /ˈstiːlwɜːrks/

a factory where steel is made

From this reading “Smoke rolled across the river; the tide ebbed and wet mudbanks reflected the steelworks fires.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1

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.

leaned against verb + particle counted as “lean against”

rest on for support

In this reading “THE DRAWING-OFFICE At the top of the steps to the drawing-office Kit stopped and leaned against the rails.”

7,060 times in 426,211 chapters
across the river preposition + article + noun counted as “across … river”

In this reading “Smoke rolled across the river; the tide ebbed and wet mudbanks reflected the steelworks fires.”

4,535 times in 426,211 chapters
pushed ahead verb + particle counted as “push ahead”

In this reading “The building slips were occupied, and when work was pushed ahead at night he liked to look about the yard.”

343 times in 426,211 chapters
At the top preposition + article + noun counted as “at … top”

In this reading “THE DRAWING-OFFICE At the top of the steps to the drawing-office Kit stopped and leaned against the rails.”

20,091 times in 426,211 chapters
at night preposition + noun

In this reading “The building slips were occupied, and when work was pushed ahead at night he liked to look about the yard.”

45,941 times in 426,211 chapters
in the gloom preposition + article + noun counted as “in … gloom”

In this reading “On one side bare, skeletons of ships melted in the gloom, and behind dark walls wheels rolled.”

3,739 times in 426,211 chapters
look about verb + particle

In this reading “The building slips were occupied, and when work was pushed ahead at night he liked to look about the yard.”

18,809 times in 426,211 chapters

All words in this reading · 60

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.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading The building slips were occupied, and when work was pushed ahead at night he liked to look about the yard.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/

from one side of something to the other

From this reading Smoke rolled across the river; the tide ebbed and wet mudbanks reflected the steelworks fires.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading THE DRAWING-OFFICE At the top of the steps to the drawing-office Kit stopped and leaned against the rails.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
aheadadverbUS /əˈhed/

at or in the front

From this reading The building slips were occupied, and when work was pushed ahead at night he liked to look about the yard.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading THE DRAWING-OFFICE At the top of the steps to the drawing-office Kit stopped and leaned against the rails.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
AtprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading THE DRAWING-OFFICE At the top of the steps to the drawing-office Kit stopped and leaned against the rails.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
bareadjectiveUS /ber/

completely unclothed

From this reading On one side bare, skeletons of ships melted in the gloom, and behind dark walls wheels rolled.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/

at or toward the back of something

From this reading On one side bare, skeletons of ships melted in the gloom, and behind dark walls wheels rolled.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
buildingnounUS /ˈbɪldɪŋ/

a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place

From this reading The building slips were occupied, and when work was pushed ahead at night he liked to look about the yard.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
channelnounUS /ˈtʃænəl/

a path over which electrical signals can pass

From this reading When the flames got dim, smaller lights trembled on the curving channel.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
curvingadjectiveUS /ˈkɜːrvɪŋ/

having or marked by a curve or smoothly rounded bend

From this reading When the flames got dim, smaller lights trembled on the curving channel.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
darknounUS /dɑːrk/

absence of light or illumination

From this reading On one side bare, skeletons of ships melted in the gloom, and behind dark walls wheels rolled.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
dimadjectiveUS /dɪm/

lacking in light; not bright or harsh

From this reading When the flames got dim, smaller lights trembled on the curving channel.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
DRAWING-OFFICE

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

From this reading THE DRAWING-OFFICE At the top of the steps to the drawing-office Kit stopped and leaned against the rails.

Pending verification
ebbedverbUS /ˈebəd/

past form of “ebb” — flow back or recede

From this reading Smoke rolled across the river; the tide ebbed and wet mudbanks reflected the steelworks fires.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
firesnounUS /ˈfaɪərz/

plural of “fire” — the event of something burning (often destructive)

From this reading Smoke rolled across the river; the tide ebbed and wet mudbanks reflected the steelworks fires.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
flamesnounUS /fleɪmz/

plural of “flame” — the process of combustion of inflammable materials producing heat and light and (often) smoke

From this reading When the flames got dim, smaller lights trembled on the curving channel.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
gloomnounUS /ɡluːm/

a state of partial or total darkness

From this reading On one side bare, skeletons of ships melted in the gloom, and behind dark walls wheels rolled.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
gotverbUS /ɡɑːt/

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

From this reading When the flames got dim, smaller lights trembled on the curving channel.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading The building slips were occupied, and when work was pushed ahead at night he liked to look about the yard.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading On one side bare, skeletons of ships melted in the gloom, and behind dark walls wheels rolled.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
KitnounUS /kɪt/

a case for containing a set of articles

From this reading THE DRAWING-OFFICE At the top of the steps to the drawing-office Kit stopped and leaned against the rails.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
leanedverbUS /liːnd/

past form of “lean” — to incline or bend from a vertical position

From this reading THE DRAWING-OFFICE At the top of the steps to the drawing-office Kit stopped and leaned against the rails.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
lightsnounUS /laɪts/

plural of “light” — (physics) electromagnetic radiation that can produce a visual sensation

From this reading When the flames got dim, smaller lights trembled on the curving channel.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
likedadjectiveUS /laɪkt/

found pleasant or attractive; often used as a combining form

From this reading The building slips were occupied, and when work was pushed ahead at night he liked to look about the yard.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
lookverbUS /lʊk/

perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards

From this reading The building slips were occupied, and when work was pushed ahead at night he liked to look about the yard.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
meltedadjectiveUS /ˈmeltəd/

changed from a solid to a liquid state

From this reading On one side bare, skeletons of ships melted in the gloom, and behind dark walls wheels rolled.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
mudbanks

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

From this reading Smoke rolled across the river; the tide ebbed and wet mudbanks reflected the steelworks fires.

Pending verification
nightnounUS /naɪt/

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

From this reading The building slips were occupied, and when work was pushed ahead at night he liked to look about the yard.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
occupiedadjectiveUS /ˈɑːkjəpaɪd/

held or filled or in use

From this reading The building slips were occupied, and when work was pushed ahead at night he liked to look about the yard.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading THE DRAWING-OFFICE At the top of the steps to the drawing-office Kit stopped and leaned against the rails.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading When the flames got dim, smaller lights trembled on the curving channel.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading On one side bare, skeletons of ships melted in the gloom, and behind dark walls wheels rolled.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
pushedverbUS /pʊʃt/

past form of “push” — move with force

From this reading The building slips were occupied, and when work was pushed ahead at night he liked to look about the yard.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
railsnounUS /reɪlz/

a bar or pair of parallel bars of rolled steel making the railway along which railroad cars or other vehicles can roll

From this reading THE DRAWING-OFFICE At the top of the steps to the drawing-office Kit stopped and leaned against the rails.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
reflectedadjectiveUS /rɪˈflektɪd/

(especially of incident sound or light) bent or sent back

From this reading Smoke rolled across the river; the tide ebbed and wet mudbanks reflected the steelworks fires.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
rivernounUS /ˈrɪvər/

a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)

From this reading Smoke rolled across the river; the tide ebbed and wet mudbanks reflected the steelworks fires.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
rolledadjectiveUS /roʊld/

especially of petals or leaves in bud; having margins rolled inward

From this reading Smoke rolled across the river; the tide ebbed and wet mudbanks reflected the steelworks fires.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
shipsnounUS /ʃɪps/

plural of “ship” — a vessel that carries passengers or freight

From this reading On one side bare, skeletons of ships melted in the gloom, and behind dark walls wheels rolled.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
sidenounUS /saɪd/

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

From this reading On one side bare, skeletons of ships melted in the gloom, and behind dark walls wheels rolled.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
skeletonsnounUS /ˈskelətənz/

plural of “skeleton” — something reduced to its minimal form

From this reading On one side bare, skeletons of ships melted in the gloom, and behind dark walls wheels rolled.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
slipsnounUS /slɪps/

plural of “slip” — a socially awkward or tactless act

From this reading The building slips were occupied, and when work was pushed ahead at night he liked to look about the yard.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
smalleradjectiveUS /ˈsmɔːlər/

small or little relative to something else

From this reading When the flames got dim, smaller lights trembled on the curving channel.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
SmokenounUS /smoʊk/

a cloud of fine particles suspended in a gas

From this reading Smoke rolled across the river; the tide ebbed and wet mudbanks reflected the steelworks fires.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
steelworksnounUS /ˈstiːlwɜːrks/

a factory where steel is made

From this reading Smoke rolled across the river; the tide ebbed and wet mudbanks reflected the steelworks fires.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
stepsnounUS /steps/

a flight of stairs or a flight of steps

From this reading THE DRAWING-OFFICE At the top of the steps to the drawing-office Kit stopped and leaned against the rails.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
stoppedadjectiveUS /stɑːpt/

(of a nose) blocked

From this reading THE DRAWING-OFFICE At the top of the steps to the drawing-office Kit stopped and leaned against the rails.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE DRAWING-OFFICE At the top of the steps to the drawing-office Kit stopped and leaned against the rails.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
tidenounUS /taɪd/

the periodic rise and fall of the sea level under the gravitational pull of the moon

From this reading Smoke rolled across the river; the tide ebbed and wet mudbanks reflected the steelworks fires.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading THE DRAWING-OFFICE At the top of the steps to the drawing-office Kit stopped and leaned against the rails.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
topnounUS /tɑːp/

the upper part of anything

From this reading THE DRAWING-OFFICE At the top of the steps to the drawing-office Kit stopped and leaned against the rails.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
trembledverbUS /ˈtrembəld/

past form of “tremble” — move or jerk quickly and involuntarily up and down or sideways

From this reading When the flames got dim, smaller lights trembled on the curving channel.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
wallsnounUS /wɔːlz/

plural of “wall” — an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure

From this reading On one side bare, skeletons of ships melted in the gloom, and behind dark walls wheels rolled.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading The building slips were occupied, and when work was pushed ahead at night he liked to look about the yard.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading The building slips were occupied, and when work was pushed ahead at night he liked to look about the yard.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
wetadjectiveUS /wet/

covered or soaked with a liquid such as water

From this reading Smoke rolled across the river; the tide ebbed and wet mudbanks reflected the steelworks fires.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
wheelsnounUS /wiːlz/

plural of “wheel” — a simple machine consisting of a circular frame with spokes (or a solid disc) that can rotate on a shaft or axle (as in vehicles or other machines)

From this reading On one side bare, skeletons of ships melted in the gloom, and behind dark walls wheels rolled.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading The building slips were occupied, and when work was pushed ahead at night he liked to look about the yard.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
workverbUS /wɜːrk/

exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity

From this reading The building slips were occupied, and when work was pushed ahead at night he liked to look about the yard.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
yardnounUS /jɑːrd/

a unit of length equal to 3 feet; defined as 91.44 centimeters; originally taken to be the average length of a stride

From this reading The building slips were occupied, and when work was pushed ahead at night he liked to look about the yard.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1

Chapter 2 of Carson of Red River by Harold Bindloss holds 149 sentences, grouped into 30 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 2 of Carson of Red River contain?

Chapter 2 holds 149 sentences of Carson of Red River, unabridged, divided into 30 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 2 of Carson of Red River by Harold Bindloss exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 149 sentences, grouped into 30 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 2 of Carson of Red River?

Work through the 30 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 30 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 2 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 2 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 Carson of Red River

Common questions about reading Carson of Red River by Harold Bindloss on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Carson of Red River?

Yes. All 6729 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #67051 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Carson of Red River is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #67051, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Carson of Red River take to read?

About 560 minutes of reading across 1346 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

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How to work through Carson of Red River 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 Carson of Red River

Words and structures a reader meets early in Carson of Red River, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Carson
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Carson of Red River; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
River
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Carson of Red River; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
League
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Carson of Red River; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Leopard
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Carson of Red River; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.