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Cowboy Life on the Sidetrack
Cowboy Life on the Sidetrack

Chapter XII

Chapter 12 of Cowboy Life on the Sidetrack is here in full — 45 sentences across 9 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Cowboy Life on the Sidetrack
Context Illustration Reading 1/9 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
OUR ARRIVAL IN CHEYENNE.
We arrived in Cheyenne, and after reporting to the dispatcher what time our special stock train would arrive, we exposed Jackdo to the gentle breeze, which is always on tap in Cheyenne, and it blew all the cactus slivers out of his anatomy that he had accumulated in his nine miles slide in just thirteen seconds.
We then started out to see the town.
We asked an expressman on the corner of Main Street--he was the only live human being in sight--what was the main features of Cheyenne.
He said Tom Horn and Senator Warren.
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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.

Cowboy Life on the Sidetrack

Chapter XII

Chapter 12 of Cowboy Life on the Sidetrack is here in full — 45 sentences across 9 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/9 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
OUR ARRIVAL IN CHEYENNE.
/ˈaʊər ərˈaɪvəl ɪn ʃaɪˈen/
Line 2
We arrived in Cheyenne, and after reporting to the dispatcher what time our special stock train would arrive, we exposed Jackdo to the gentle breeze, which is always on tap in Cheyenne, and it blew all the cactus slivers out of his anatomy that he had accumulated in his nine miles slide in just thirteen seconds.
Line 3
We then started out to see the town.
/wiː ðen ˈstɑːrtɪd aʊt tuː siː ðə taʊn/
Line 4
We asked an expressman on the corner of Main Street--he was the only live human being in sight--what was the main features of Cheyenne.
Line 5
He said Tom Horn and Senator Warren.
/hiː sed tɑːm hɔːrn ənd ˈsenətər ˈwɔːrən/

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.

accumulated adjective US /əˈkjuːmjəleɪtɪd/

periodically accumulated over time

From this reading “We arrived in Cheyenne, and after reporting to the dispatcher what time our special stock train would arrive, we exposed Jackdo to the gentle breeze, which is always on tap in Cheyenne, and it blew all the cactus slivers out of his anatomy that he had accumulated in his nine miles slide in just thirteen seconds.”

anatomy noun US /əˈnætəmi/

the branch of morphology that deals with the structure of animals

From this reading “We arrived in Cheyenne, and after reporting to the dispatcher what time our special stock train would arrive, we exposed Jackdo to the gentle breeze, which is always on tap in Cheyenne, and it blew all the cactus slivers out of his anatomy that he had accumulated in his nine miles slide in just thirteen seconds.”

cactus noun US /ˈkæktəs/

any succulent plant of the family Cactaceae native chiefly to arid regions of the New World and usually having spines

From this reading “We arrived in Cheyenne, and after reporting to the dispatcher what time our special stock train would arrive, we exposed Jackdo to the gentle breeze, which is always on tap in Cheyenne, and it blew all the cactus slivers out of his anatomy that he had accumulated in his nine miles slide in just thirteen seconds.”

cheyenne noun US /ʃaɪˈen/

the capital and largest city of Wyoming; located in the southeastern corner of the state

From this reading “OUR ARRIVAL IN CHEYENNE.”

dispatcher noun US /dɪˈspætʃər/

the official who signals the beginning of a race or competition

From this reading “We arrived in Cheyenne, and after reporting to the dispatcher what time our special stock train would arrive, we exposed Jackdo to the gentle breeze, which is always on tap in Cheyenne, and it blew all the cactus slivers out of his anatomy that he had accumulated in his nine miles slide in just thirteen seconds.”

reporting noun US /riˈpɔːrtɪŋ/

the news as presented by reporters for newspapers or radio or television

From this reading “We arrived in Cheyenne, and after reporting to the dispatcher what time our special stock train would arrive, we exposed Jackdo to the gentle breeze, which is always on tap in Cheyenne, and it blew all the cactus slivers out of his anatomy that he had accumulated in his nine miles slide in just thirteen seconds.”

slivers noun US /ˈslɪvərz/

plural of “sliver” — a small thin sharp bit or wood or glass or metal

From this reading “We arrived in Cheyenne, and after reporting to the dispatcher what time our special stock train would arrive, we exposed Jackdo to the gentle breeze, which is always on tap in Cheyenne, and it blew all the cactus slivers out of his anatomy that he had accumulated in his nine miles slide in just thirteen seconds.”

tap verb US /tæp/

cut a female screw thread with a tap

From this reading “We arrived in Cheyenne, and after reporting to the dispatcher what time our special stock train would arrive, we exposed Jackdo to the gentle breeze, which is always on tap in Cheyenne, and it blew all the cactus slivers out of his anatomy that he had accumulated in his nine miles slide in just thirteen seconds.”

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.

gentle breeze adjective + noun

wind moving 8-12 knots; 3 on the Beaufort scale

In this reading “We arrived in Cheyenne, and after reporting to the dispatcher what time our special stock train would arrive, we exposed Jackdo to the gentle breeze, which is always on tap in Cheyenne, and it blew all the cactus slivers out of his anatomy that he had accumulated in his nine miles slide in just thirteen seconds.”

nine miles noun + noun counted as “nine mile”

In this reading “We arrived in Cheyenne, and after reporting to the dispatcher what time our special stock train would arrive, we exposed Jackdo to the gentle breeze, which is always on tap in Cheyenne, and it blew all the cactus slivers out of his anatomy that he had accumulated in his nine miles slide in just thirteen seconds.”

main features adjective + noun counted as “main feature”

In this reading “We asked an expressman on the corner of Main Street--he was the only live human being in sight--what was the main features of Cheyenne.”

started out verb + adjective counted as “start out”

take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

In this reading “We then started out to see the town.”

arrived in verb + particle counted as “arrive in”

In this reading “We arrived in Cheyenne, and after reporting to the dispatcher what time our special stock train would arrive, we exposed Jackdo to the gentle breeze, which is always on tap in Cheyenne, and it blew all the cactus slivers out of his anatomy that he had accumulated in his nine miles slide in just thirteen seconds.”

on the corner preposition + article + noun counted as “on … corner”

In this reading “We asked an expressman on the corner of Main Street--he was the only live human being in sight--what was the main features of Cheyenne.”

All words in this reading · 69

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.

accumulatedadjectiveUS /əˈkjuːmjəleɪtɪd/

periodically accumulated over time

From this reading We arrived in Cheyenne, and after reporting to the dispatcher what time our special stock train would arrive, we exposed Jackdo to the gentle breeze, which is always on tap in Cheyenne, and it blew all the cactus slivers out of his anatomy that he had accumulated in his nine miles slide in just thirteen seconds.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading We arrived in Cheyenne, and after reporting to the dispatcher what time our special stock train would arrive, we exposed Jackdo to the gentle breeze, which is always on tap in Cheyenne, and it blew all the cactus slivers out of his anatomy that he had accumulated in his nine miles slide in just thirteen seconds.

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 We arrived in Cheyenne, and after reporting to the dispatcher what time our special stock train would arrive, we exposed Jackdo to the gentle breeze, which is always on tap in Cheyenne, and it blew all the cactus slivers out of his anatomy that he had accumulated in his nine miles slide in just thirteen seconds.

alwaysadverbUS /ˈɔːlweɪz/

at all times; all the time and on every occasion

From this reading We arrived in Cheyenne, and after reporting to the dispatcher what time our special stock train would arrive, we exposed Jackdo to the gentle breeze, which is always on tap in Cheyenne, and it blew all the cactus slivers out of his anatomy that he had accumulated in his nine miles slide in just thirteen seconds.

andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading We asked an expressman on the corner of Main Street--he was the only live human being in sight--what was the main features of Cheyenne.

anatomynounUS /əˈnætəmi/

the branch of morphology that deals with the structure of animals

From this reading We arrived in Cheyenne, and after reporting to the dispatcher what time our special stock train would arrive, we exposed Jackdo to the gentle breeze, which is always on tap in Cheyenne, and it blew all the cactus slivers out of his anatomy that he had accumulated in his nine miles slide in just thirteen seconds.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading We arrived in Cheyenne, and after reporting to the dispatcher what time our special stock train would arrive, we exposed Jackdo to the gentle breeze, which is always on tap in Cheyenne, and it blew all the cactus slivers out of his anatomy that he had accumulated in his nine miles slide in just thirteen seconds.

ARRIVALnounUS /ərˈaɪvəl/

accomplishment of an objective

From this reading OUR ARRIVAL IN CHEYENNE.

arriveverbUS /ərˈaɪv/

reach a destination; arrive by movement or progress

From this reading We arrived in Cheyenne, and after reporting to the dispatcher what time our special stock train would arrive, we exposed Jackdo to the gentle breeze, which is always on tap in Cheyenne, and it blew all the cactus slivers out of his anatomy that he had accumulated in his nine miles slide in just thirteen seconds.

arrivedverbUS /ərˈaɪvd/

past form of “arrive” — reach a destination; arrive by movement or progress

From this reading We arrived in Cheyenne, and after reporting to the dispatcher what time our special stock train would arrive, we exposed Jackdo to the gentle breeze, which is always on tap in Cheyenne, and it blew all the cactus slivers out of his anatomy that he had accumulated in his nine miles slide in just thirteen seconds.

askedverbUS /æskt/

past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody

From this reading We asked an expressman on the corner of Main Street--he was the only live human being in sight--what was the main features of Cheyenne.

beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading We asked an expressman on the corner of Main Street--he was the only live human being in sight--what was the main features of Cheyenne.

blewverbUS /bluː/

inflected form of “blow” — exhale hard

From this reading We arrived in Cheyenne, and after reporting to the dispatcher what time our special stock train would arrive, we exposed Jackdo to the gentle breeze, which is always on tap in Cheyenne, and it blew all the cactus slivers out of his anatomy that he had accumulated in his nine miles slide in just thirteen seconds.

breezenounUS /briːz/

a slight wind (usually refreshing)

From this reading We arrived in Cheyenne, and after reporting to the dispatcher what time our special stock train would arrive, we exposed Jackdo to the gentle breeze, which is always on tap in Cheyenne, and it blew all the cactus slivers out of his anatomy that he had accumulated in his nine miles slide in just thirteen seconds.

cactusnounUS /ˈkæktəs/

any succulent plant of the family Cactaceae native chiefly to arid regions of the New World and usually having spines

From this reading We arrived in Cheyenne, and after reporting to the dispatcher what time our special stock train would arrive, we exposed Jackdo to the gentle breeze, which is always on tap in Cheyenne, and it blew all the cactus slivers out of his anatomy that he had accumulated in his nine miles slide in just thirteen seconds.

CHEYENNEnounUS /ʃaɪˈen/

the capital and largest city of Wyoming; located in the southeastern corner of the state

From this reading OUR ARRIVAL IN CHEYENNE.

cornernounUS /ˈkɔːrnər/

a place off to the side of an area

From this reading We asked an expressman on the corner of Main Street--he was the only live human being in sight--what was the main features of Cheyenne.

dispatchernounUS /dɪˈspætʃər/

the official who signals the beginning of a race or competition

From this reading We arrived in Cheyenne, and after reporting to the dispatcher what time our special stock train would arrive, we exposed Jackdo to the gentle breeze, which is always on tap in Cheyenne, and it blew all the cactus slivers out of his anatomy that he had accumulated in his nine miles slide in just thirteen seconds.

exposedadjectiveUS /ɪkˈspoʊzd/

with no protection or shield

From this reading We arrived in Cheyenne, and after reporting to the dispatcher what time our special stock train would arrive, we exposed Jackdo to the gentle breeze, which is always on tap in Cheyenne, and it blew all the cactus slivers out of his anatomy that he had accumulated in his nine miles slide in just thirteen seconds.

expressman

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

From this reading We asked an expressman on the corner of Main Street--he was the only live human being in sight--what was the main features of Cheyenne.

featuresnounUS /ˈfiːtʃərz/

plural of “feature” — a prominent attribute or aspect of something

From this reading We asked an expressman on the corner of Main Street--he was the only live human being in sight--what was the main features of Cheyenne.

gentleadjectiveUS /ˈdʒentəl/

soft and mild; not harsh or stern or severe

From this reading We arrived in Cheyenne, and after reporting to the dispatcher what time our special stock train would arrive, we exposed Jackdo to the gentle breeze, which is always on tap in Cheyenne, and it blew all the cactus slivers out of his anatomy that he had accumulated in his nine miles slide in just thirteen seconds.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading We arrived in Cheyenne, and after reporting to the dispatcher what time our special stock train would arrive, we exposed Jackdo to the gentle breeze, which is always on tap in Cheyenne, and it blew all the cactus slivers out of his anatomy that he had accumulated in his nine miles slide in just thirteen seconds.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading We arrived in Cheyenne, and after reporting to the dispatcher what time our special stock train would arrive, we exposed Jackdo to the gentle breeze, which is always on tap in Cheyenne, and it blew all the cactus slivers out of his anatomy that he had accumulated in his nine miles slide in just thirteen seconds.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading We arrived in Cheyenne, and after reporting to the dispatcher what time our special stock train would arrive, we exposed Jackdo to the gentle breeze, which is always on tap in Cheyenne, and it blew all the cactus slivers out of his anatomy that he had accumulated in his nine miles slide in just thirteen seconds.

HornnounUS /hɔːrn/

a noisemaker (as at parties or games) that makes a loud noise when you blow through it

From this reading He said Tom Horn and Senator Warren.

humanadjectiveUS /ˈhjuːmən/

characteristic of humanity

From this reading We asked an expressman on the corner of Main Street--he was the only live human being in sight--what was the main features of Cheyenne.

INprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading OUR ARRIVAL IN CHEYENNE.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading We arrived in Cheyenne, and after reporting to the dispatcher what time our special stock train would arrive, we exposed Jackdo to the gentle breeze, which is always on tap in Cheyenne, and it blew all the cactus slivers out of his anatomy that he had accumulated in his nine miles slide in just thirteen seconds.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading We arrived in Cheyenne, and after reporting to the dispatcher what time our special stock train would arrive, we exposed Jackdo to the gentle breeze, which is always on tap in Cheyenne, and it blew all the cactus slivers out of his anatomy that he had accumulated in his nine miles slide in just thirteen seconds.

Jackdo

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

From this reading We arrived in Cheyenne, and after reporting to the dispatcher what time our special stock train would arrive, we exposed Jackdo to the gentle breeze, which is always on tap in Cheyenne, and it blew all the cactus slivers out of his anatomy that he had accumulated in his nine miles slide in just thirteen seconds.

justadverbUS /dʒʌst/

and nothing more

From this reading We arrived in Cheyenne, and after reporting to the dispatcher what time our special stock train would arrive, we exposed Jackdo to the gentle breeze, which is always on tap in Cheyenne, and it blew all the cactus slivers out of his anatomy that he had accumulated in his nine miles slide in just thirteen seconds.

liveverbUS /laɪv/

be an inhabitant of or reside in

From this reading We asked an expressman on the corner of Main Street--he was the only live human being in sight--what was the main features of Cheyenne.

MainadjectiveUS /meɪn/

most important element

From this reading We asked an expressman on the corner of Main Street--he was the only live human being in sight--what was the main features of Cheyenne.

milesnounUS /maɪlz/

plural of “mile” — a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters

From this reading We arrived in Cheyenne, and after reporting to the dispatcher what time our special stock train would arrive, we exposed Jackdo to the gentle breeze, which is always on tap in Cheyenne, and it blew all the cactus slivers out of his anatomy that he had accumulated in his nine miles slide in just thirteen seconds.

ninenounUS /naɪn/

the cardinal number that is the sum of eight and one

From this reading We arrived in Cheyenne, and after reporting to the dispatcher what time our special stock train would arrive, we exposed Jackdo to the gentle breeze, which is always on tap in Cheyenne, and it blew all the cactus slivers out of his anatomy that he had accumulated in his nine miles slide in just thirteen seconds.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading We arrived in Cheyenne, and after reporting to the dispatcher what time our special stock train would arrive, we exposed Jackdo to the gentle breeze, which is always on tap in Cheyenne, and it blew all the cactus slivers out of his anatomy that he had accumulated in his nine miles slide in just thirteen seconds.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading We arrived in Cheyenne, and after reporting to the dispatcher what time our special stock train would arrive, we exposed Jackdo to the gentle breeze, which is always on tap in Cheyenne, and it blew all the cactus slivers out of his anatomy that he had accumulated in his nine miles slide in just thirteen seconds.

onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/

and nothing more

From this reading We asked an expressman on the corner of Main Street--he was the only live human being in sight--what was the main features of Cheyenne.

OURdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading OUR ARRIVAL IN CHEYENNE.

outadjectiveUS /aʊt/

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading We arrived in Cheyenne, and after reporting to the dispatcher what time our special stock train would arrive, we exposed Jackdo to the gentle breeze, which is always on tap in Cheyenne, and it blew all the cactus slivers out of his anatomy that he had accumulated in his nine miles slide in just thirteen seconds.

reportingnounUS /riˈpɔːrtɪŋ/

the news as presented by reporters for newspapers or radio or television

From this reading We arrived in Cheyenne, and after reporting to the dispatcher what time our special stock train would arrive, we exposed Jackdo to the gentle breeze, which is always on tap in Cheyenne, and it blew all the cactus slivers out of his anatomy that he had accumulated in his nine miles slide in just thirteen seconds.

saidadjectiveUS /sed/

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading He said Tom Horn and Senator Warren.

secondsnounUS /ˈsekəndz/

plural of “second” — 1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites

From this reading We arrived in Cheyenne, and after reporting to the dispatcher what time our special stock train would arrive, we exposed Jackdo to the gentle breeze, which is always on tap in Cheyenne, and it blew all the cactus slivers out of his anatomy that he had accumulated in his nine miles slide in just thirteen seconds.

seeverbUS /siː/

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading We then started out to see the town.

SenatornounUS /ˈsenətər/

a member of a senate

From this reading He said Tom Horn and Senator Warren.

sightnounUS /saɪt/

an instance of visual perception

From this reading We asked an expressman on the corner of Main Street--he was the only live human being in sight--what was the main features of Cheyenne.

slidenounUS /slaɪd/

a small flat rectangular piece of glass on which specimens can be mounted for microscopic study

From this reading We arrived in Cheyenne, and after reporting to the dispatcher what time our special stock train would arrive, we exposed Jackdo to the gentle breeze, which is always on tap in Cheyenne, and it blew all the cactus slivers out of his anatomy that he had accumulated in his nine miles slide in just thirteen seconds.

sliversnounUS /ˈslɪvərz/

plural of “sliver” — a small thin sharp bit or wood or glass or metal

From this reading We arrived in Cheyenne, and after reporting to the dispatcher what time our special stock train would arrive, we exposed Jackdo to the gentle breeze, which is always on tap in Cheyenne, and it blew all the cactus slivers out of his anatomy that he had accumulated in his nine miles slide in just thirteen seconds.

specialadjectiveUS /ˈspeʃəl/

unique or specific to a person or thing or category

From this reading We arrived in Cheyenne, and after reporting to the dispatcher what time our special stock train would arrive, we exposed Jackdo to the gentle breeze, which is always on tap in Cheyenne, and it blew all the cactus slivers out of his anatomy that he had accumulated in his nine miles slide in just thirteen seconds.

startedverbUS /ˈstɑːrtɪd/

past form of “start” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

From this reading We then started out to see the town.

stocknounUS /stɑːk/

the capital raised by a corporation through the issue of shares entitling holders to an ownership interest

From this reading We arrived in Cheyenne, and after reporting to the dispatcher what time our special stock train would arrive, we exposed Jackdo to the gentle breeze, which is always on tap in Cheyenne, and it blew all the cactus slivers out of his anatomy that he had accumulated in his nine miles slide in just thirteen seconds.

StreetnounUS /striːt/

a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings

From this reading We asked an expressman on the corner of Main Street--he was the only live human being in sight--what was the main features of Cheyenne.

tapverbUS /tæp/

cut a female screw thread with a tap

From this reading We arrived in Cheyenne, and after reporting to the dispatcher what time our special stock train would arrive, we exposed Jackdo to the gentle breeze, which is always on tap in Cheyenne, and it blew all the cactus slivers out of his anatomy that he had accumulated in his nine miles slide in just thirteen seconds.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading We arrived in Cheyenne, and after reporting to the dispatcher what time our special stock train would arrive, we exposed Jackdo to the gentle breeze, which is always on tap in Cheyenne, and it blew all the cactus slivers out of his anatomy that he had accumulated in his nine miles slide in just thirteen seconds.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading We arrived in Cheyenne, and after reporting to the dispatcher what time our special stock train would arrive, we exposed Jackdo to the gentle breeze, which is always on tap in Cheyenne, and it blew all the cactus slivers out of his anatomy that he had accumulated in his nine miles slide in just thirteen seconds.

thenadverbUS /ðen/

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading We then started out to see the town.

thirteennounUS /ˈθɜːrˈtiːn/

the cardinal number that is the sum of twelve and one

From this reading We arrived in Cheyenne, and after reporting to the dispatcher what time our special stock train would arrive, we exposed Jackdo to the gentle breeze, which is always on tap in Cheyenne, and it blew all the cactus slivers out of his anatomy that he had accumulated in his nine miles slide in just thirteen seconds.

timenounUS /taɪm/

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading We arrived in Cheyenne, and after reporting to the dispatcher what time our special stock train would arrive, we exposed Jackdo to the gentle breeze, which is always on tap in Cheyenne, and it blew all the cactus slivers out of his anatomy that he had accumulated in his nine miles slide in just thirteen seconds.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading We arrived in Cheyenne, and after reporting to the dispatcher what time our special stock train would arrive, we exposed Jackdo to the gentle breeze, which is always on tap in Cheyenne, and it blew all the cactus slivers out of his anatomy that he had accumulated in his nine miles slide in just thirteen seconds.

TomnounUS /tɑːm/

male cat

From this reading He said Tom Horn and Senator Warren.

townnounUS /taʊn/

an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city

From this reading We then started out to see the town.

trainverbUS /treɪn/

create by training and teaching

From this reading We arrived in Cheyenne, and after reporting to the dispatcher what time our special stock train would arrive, we exposed Jackdo to the gentle breeze, which is always on tap in Cheyenne, and it blew all the cactus slivers out of his anatomy that he had accumulated in his nine miles slide in just thirteen seconds.

WarrennounUS /ˈwɔːrən/

United States writer and poet (1905-1989)

From this reading He said Tom Horn and Senator Warren.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading We asked an expressman on the corner of Main Street--he was the only live human being in sight--what was the main features of Cheyenne.

WepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading We arrived in Cheyenne, and after reporting to the dispatcher what time our special stock train would arrive, we exposed Jackdo to the gentle breeze, which is always on tap in Cheyenne, and it blew all the cactus slivers out of his anatomy that he had accumulated in his nine miles slide in just thirteen seconds.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading We arrived in Cheyenne, and after reporting to the dispatcher what time our special stock train would arrive, we exposed Jackdo to the gentle breeze, which is always on tap in Cheyenne, and it blew all the cactus slivers out of his anatomy that he had accumulated in his nine miles slide in just thirteen seconds.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading We arrived in Cheyenne, and after reporting to the dispatcher what time our special stock train would arrive, we exposed Jackdo to the gentle breeze, which is always on tap in Cheyenne, and it blew all the cactus slivers out of his anatomy that he had accumulated in his nine miles slide in just thirteen seconds.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading We arrived in Cheyenne, and after reporting to the dispatcher what time our special stock train would arrive, we exposed Jackdo to the gentle breeze, which is always on tap in Cheyenne, and it blew all the cactus slivers out of his anatomy that he had accumulated in his nine miles slide in just thirteen seconds.

Chapter 12 of Cowboy Life on the Sidetrack by Frank Benton holds 45 sentences, grouped into 9 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 12 of Cowboy Life on the Sidetrack contain?

Chapter 12 holds 45 sentences of Cowboy Life on the Sidetrack, unabridged, divided into 9 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 12 of Cowboy Life on the Sidetrack by Frank Benton exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 45 sentences, grouped into 9 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 Cowboy Life on the Sidetrack?

Work through the 9 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 9 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 Cowboy Life on the Sidetrack

Common questions about reading Cowboy Life on the Sidetrack by Frank Benton on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Cowboy Life on the Sidetrack?

Yes. All 1059 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #39777 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Cowboy Life on the Sidetrack is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #39777, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Cowboy Life on the Sidetrack take to read?

About 88 minutes of reading across 212 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Cowboy Life on the Sidetrack section by section

How to work through Cowboy Life on the Sidetrack section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 24 chapters of Cowboy Life on the Sidetrack 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 Cowboy Life on the Sidetrack

Words and structures a reader meets early in Cowboy Life on the Sidetrack, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Being
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Cowboy Life on the Sidetrack; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Extremely
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Cowboy Life on the Sidetrack; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Humorous
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Cowboy Life on the Sidetrack; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Sarcastic
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Cowboy Life on the Sidetrack; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.