Chapter 24 of Cringle and cross-tree is here in full — 124 sentences across 25 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter XXIV
Chapter 24 of Cringle and cross-tree is here in full — 124 sentences across 25 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
IN WHICH PHIL PREPARES FOR A STRUGGLE, AND OPENS THE FORE SCUTTLE. "Were you asleep, Franklin, when you were overpowered?" I asked. "No, I was not," he protested, warmly. "I had just been round and looked at the pirates.
Chapter 24 of Cringle and cross-tree is here in full — 124 sentences across 25 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/24 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5
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.
front part of a vessel or aircraft
From this reading “IN WHICH PHIL PREPARES FOR A STRUGGLE, AND OPENS THE FORE SCUTTLE.”
United States historian noted for studies of Black American history (born in 1915)
From this reading “"Were you asleep, Franklin, when you were overpowered?"”
plural of “open” — a clear or unobstructed space or expanse of land or water
From this reading “IN WHICH PHIL PREPARES FOR A STRUGGLE, AND OPENS THE FORE SCUTTLE.”
past form of “overpower” — overcome by superior force
From this reading “"Were you asleep, Franklin, when you were overpowered?"”
plural of “pirate” — someone who uses another person's words or ideas as if they were his own
From this reading “"I had just been round and looked at the pirates.”
third-person singular of “prepare” — make ready or suitable or equip in advance for a particular purpose or for some use, event, etc
From this reading “IN WHICH PHIL PREPARES FOR A STRUGGLE, AND OPENS THE FORE SCUTTLE.”
to move about or proceed hurriedly
From this reading “IN WHICH PHIL PREPARES FOR A STRUGGLE, AND OPENS THE FORE SCUTTLE.”
in a hearty manner
From this reading “"No, I was not," he protested, warmly.”
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.
take into consideration for exemplifying purposes
In this reading “"I had just been round and looked at the pirates.”
prepare mentally or emotionally for something unpleasant
In this reading “IN WHICH PHIL PREPARES FOR A STRUGGLE, AND OPENS THE FORE SCUTTLE.”
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.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading IN WHICH PHIL PREPARES FOR A STRUGGLE, AND OPENS THE FORE SCUTTLE.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading IN WHICH PHIL PREPARES FOR A STRUGGLE, AND OPENS THE FORE SCUTTLE.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading I asked.
in a state of sleep
From this reading "Were you asleep, Franklin, when you were overpowered?"
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading "I had just been round and looked at the pirates.
the past participle of “be”
From this reading "I had just been round and looked at the pirates.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading IN WHICH PHIL PREPARES FOR A STRUGGLE, AND OPENS THE FORE SCUTTLE.
front part of a vessel or aircraft
From this reading IN WHICH PHIL PREPARES FOR A STRUGGLE, AND OPENS THE FORE SCUTTLE.
United States historian noted for studies of Black American history (born in 1915)
From this reading "Were you asleep, Franklin, when you were overpowered?"
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading "I had just been round and looked at the pirates.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "No, I was not," he protested, warmly.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I asked.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading IN WHICH PHIL PREPARES FOR A STRUGGLE, AND OPENS THE FORE SCUTTLE.
and nothing more
From this reading "I had just been round and looked at the pirates.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading "I had just been round and looked at the pirates.
not any; not one
From this reading "No, I was not," he protested, warmly.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading "No, I was not," he protested, warmly.
plural of “open” — a clear or unobstructed space or expanse of land or water
From this reading IN WHICH PHIL PREPARES FOR A STRUGGLE, AND OPENS THE FORE SCUTTLE.
past form of “overpower” — overcome by superior force
From this reading "Were you asleep, Franklin, when you were overpowered?"
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN WHICH PHIL PREPARES FOR A STRUGGLE, AND OPENS THE FORE SCUTTLE.
plural of “pirate” — someone who uses another person's words or ideas as if they were his own
From this reading "I had just been round and looked at the pirates.
third-person singular of “prepare” — make ready or suitable or equip in advance for a particular purpose or for some use, event, etc
From this reading IN WHICH PHIL PREPARES FOR A STRUGGLE, AND OPENS THE FORE SCUTTLE.
past form of “protest” — utter words of protest
From this reading "No, I was not," he protested, warmly.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading "I had just been round and looked at the pirates.
to move about or proceed hurriedly
From this reading IN WHICH PHIL PREPARES FOR A STRUGGLE, AND OPENS THE FORE SCUTTLE.
make a strenuous or labored effort
From this reading IN WHICH PHIL PREPARES FOR A STRUGGLE, AND OPENS THE FORE SCUTTLE.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading IN WHICH PHIL PREPARES FOR A STRUGGLE, AND OPENS THE FORE SCUTTLE.
in a hearty manner
From this reading "No, I was not," he protested, warmly.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "No, I was not," he protested, warmly.
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "Were you asleep, Franklin, when you were overpowered?"
at the time that
From this reading "Were you asleep, Franklin, when you were overpowered?"
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading IN WHICH PHIL PREPARES FOR A STRUGGLE, AND OPENS THE FORE SCUTTLE.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Were you asleep, Franklin, when you were overpowered?"
Chapter 24 of Cringle and cross-tree by Oliver Optic holds 124 sentences, grouped into 25 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.
Chapter 24 holds 124 sentences of Cringle and cross-tree, unabridged, divided into 25 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 24 of Cringle and cross-tree by Oliver Optic exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 124 sentences, grouped into 25 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.
Work through the 25 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 25 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.
Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 24 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.
Common questions about reading Cringle and cross-tree by Oliver Optic on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 3451 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #71482 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #71482, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 287 minutes of reading across 691 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through Cringle and cross-tree section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 26 chapters of Cringle and cross-tree to begin.
Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.
Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.
Words and structures a reader meets early in Cringle and cross-tree, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
