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Dead Man's Rock
Dead Man's Rock

Chapter XXI · Chapter 21

Chapter 21 of Dead Man's Rock is here in full — 513 sentences across 103 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Dead Man's Rock
Context Illustration Reading 1/102 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
TELLS HOW AT LAST I FOUND MY REVENGE AND THE GREAT RUBY.
"Speak--speak to me!
Oh, look up and tell me you are not dead!"
Down through the misty defiles and dark gates of the Valley of the Shadow of Death came these words faintly as though spoken far away.
So distant did they seem that my eyes opened with vague expectation of another world; opened and then wearily closed again.
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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.

Dead Man's Rock

Chapter XXI · Chapter 21

Chapter 21 of Dead Man's Rock is here in full — 513 sentences across 103 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/102 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
TELLS HOW AT LAST I FOUND MY REVENGE AND THE GREAT RUBY.
Line 2
"Speak--speak to me!
Line 3
Oh, look up and tell me you are not dead!"
/oʊ lʊk ʌp ənd tel miː juː ɑːr nɑːt ded/
Line 4
Down through the misty defiles and dark gates of the Valley of the Shadow of Death came these words faintly as though spoken far away.
Line 5
So distant did they seem that my eyes opened with vague expectation of another world; opened and then wearily closed again.
/soʊ ˈdɪstənt dɪd ðeɪ siːm ðæt maɪ aɪz ˈoʊpənd wɪð veɪɡ ˌekspekˈteɪʃən ʌv əˈnʌðər wɜːrld ˈoʊpənd ənd ðen ˈwerəli kloʊzd əˈɡen/

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.

expectation noun US /ˌekspekˈteɪʃən/

belief about (or mental picture of) the future

From this reading “So distant did they seem that my eyes opened with vague expectation of another world; opened and then wearily closed again.”

faintly adverb US /ˈfeɪntli/

to a faint degree or weakly perceived

From this reading “Down through the misty defiles and dark gates of the Valley of the Shadow of Death came these words faintly as though spoken far away.”

gates noun US /ɡeɪts/

United States computer entrepreneur whose software company made him the youngest multi-billionaire in the history of the United States (born in 1955)

From this reading “Down through the misty defiles and dark gates of the Valley of the Shadow of Death came these words faintly as though spoken far away.”

misty adjective US /ˈmɪsti/

filled or abounding with fog or mist

From this reading “Down through the misty defiles and dark gates of the Valley of the Shadow of Death came these words faintly as though spoken far away.”

revenge noun US /riˈvendʒ/

action taken in return for an injury or offense

From this reading “TELLS HOW AT LAST I FOUND MY REVENGE AND THE GREAT RUBY.”

ruby noun US /ˈruːbi/

a transparent piece of ruby that has been cut and polished and is valued as a precious gem

From this reading “TELLS HOW AT LAST I FOUND MY REVENGE AND THE GREAT RUBY.”

vague adjective US /veɪɡ/

not clearly expressed or understood

From this reading “So distant did they seem that my eyes opened with vague expectation of another world; opened and then wearily closed again.”

wearily adverb US /ˈwerəli/

in a weary manner

From this reading “So distant did they seem that my eyes opened with vague expectation of another world; opened and then wearily closed again.”

All words in this reading · 59

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.

againadverbUS /əˈɡen/

anew

From this reading So distant did they seem that my eyes opened with vague expectation of another world; opened and then wearily closed again.

ANDconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading TELLS HOW AT LAST I FOUND MY REVENGE AND THE GREAT RUBY.

anotherdeterminerUS /əˈnʌðər/

one more of the same kind, or a different one

From this reading So distant did they seem that my eyes opened with vague expectation of another world; opened and then wearily closed again.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading Oh, look up and tell me you are not dead!"

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading Down through the misty defiles and dark gates of the Valley of the Shadow of Death came these words faintly as though spoken far away.

ATprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading TELLS HOW AT LAST I FOUND MY REVENGE AND THE GREAT RUBY.

awayadverbUS /əˈweɪ/

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading Down through the misty defiles and dark gates of the Valley of the Shadow of Death came these words faintly as though spoken far away.

cameverbUS /keɪm/

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

From this reading Down through the misty defiles and dark gates of the Valley of the Shadow of Death came these words faintly as though spoken far away.

closedadjectiveUS /kloʊzd/

not open or affording passage or access

From this reading So distant did they seem that my eyes opened with vague expectation of another world; opened and then wearily closed again.

darknounUS /dɑːrk/

absence of light or illumination

From this reading Down through the misty defiles and dark gates of the Valley of the Shadow of Death came these words faintly as though spoken far away.

deadadjectiveUS /ded/

no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life

From this reading Oh, look up and tell me you are not dead!"

DeathnounUS /deθ/

the event of dying or departure from life

From this reading Down through the misty defiles and dark gates of the Valley of the Shadow of Death came these words faintly as though spoken far away.

defiles

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

From this reading Down through the misty defiles and dark gates of the Valley of the Shadow of Death came these words faintly as though spoken far away.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading So distant did they seem that my eyes opened with vague expectation of another world; opened and then wearily closed again.

distantadjectiveUS /ˈdɪstənt/

separated in space or coming from or going to a distance

From this reading So distant did they seem that my eyes opened with vague expectation of another world; opened and then wearily closed again.

DownadjectiveUS /daʊn/

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading Down through the misty defiles and dark gates of the Valley of the Shadow of Death came these words faintly as though spoken far away.

expectationnounUS /ˌekspekˈteɪʃən/

belief about (or mental picture of) the future

From this reading So distant did they seem that my eyes opened with vague expectation of another world; opened and then wearily closed again.

eyesnounUS /aɪz/

opinion or judgment

From this reading So distant did they seem that my eyes opened with vague expectation of another world; opened and then wearily closed again.

faintlyadverbUS /ˈfeɪntli/

to a faint degree or weakly perceived

From this reading Down through the misty defiles and dark gates of the Valley of the Shadow of Death came these words faintly as though spoken far away.

faradverbUS /fɑːr/

to a considerable degree; very much

From this reading Down through the misty defiles and dark gates of the Valley of the Shadow of Death came these words faintly as though spoken far away.

FOUNDverbUS /faʊnd/

set up or found

From this reading TELLS HOW AT LAST I FOUND MY REVENGE AND THE GREAT RUBY.

gatesnounUS /ɡeɪts/

United States computer entrepreneur whose software company made him the youngest multi-billionaire in the history of the United States (born in 1955)

From this reading Down through the misty defiles and dark gates of the Valley of the Shadow of Death came these words faintly as though spoken far away.

GREATadjectiveUS /ɡreɪt/

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind

From this reading TELLS HOW AT LAST I FOUND MY REVENGE AND THE GREAT RUBY.

HOW

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

From this reading TELLS HOW AT LAST I FOUND MY REVENGE AND THE GREAT RUBY.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading TELLS HOW AT LAST I FOUND MY REVENGE AND THE GREAT RUBY.

LASTadjectiveUS /læst/

immediately past

From this reading TELLS HOW AT LAST I FOUND MY REVENGE AND THE GREAT RUBY.

lookverbUS /lʊk/

perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards

From this reading Oh, look up and tell me you are not dead!"

mepronounUS /miː/

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading "Speak--speak to me!

mistyadjectiveUS /ˈmɪsti/

filled or abounding with fog or mist

From this reading Down through the misty defiles and dark gates of the Valley of the Shadow of Death came these words faintly as though spoken far away.

MYdeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading TELLS HOW AT LAST I FOUND MY REVENGE AND THE GREAT RUBY.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Oh, look up and tell me you are not dead!"

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Down through the misty defiles and dark gates of the Valley of the Shadow of Death came these words faintly as though spoken far away.

OhnounUS /oʊ/

a midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region

From this reading Oh, look up and tell me you are not dead!"

openedadjectiveUS /ˈoʊpənd/

used of mouth or eyes

From this reading So distant did they seem that my eyes opened with vague expectation of another world; opened and then wearily closed again.

REVENGEnounUS /riˈvendʒ/

action taken in return for an injury or offense

From this reading TELLS HOW AT LAST I FOUND MY REVENGE AND THE GREAT RUBY.

RUBYnounUS /ˈruːbi/

a transparent piece of ruby that has been cut and polished and is valued as a precious gem

From this reading TELLS HOW AT LAST I FOUND MY REVENGE AND THE GREAT RUBY.

seemverbUS /siːm/

give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading So distant did they seem that my eyes opened with vague expectation of another world; opened and then wearily closed again.

ShadownounUS /ˈʃæd.oʊ/

A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.

From this reading Down through the misty defiles and dark gates of the Valley of the Shadow of Death came these words faintly as though spoken far away.

SoconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading So distant did they seem that my eyes opened with vague expectation of another world; opened and then wearily closed again.

SpeakverbUS /spiːk/

express in speech

From this reading "Speak--speak to me!

spokenadjectiveUS /ˈspoʊkən/

uttered through the medium of speech or characterized by speech; sometimes used in combination

From this reading Down through the misty defiles and dark gates of the Valley of the Shadow of Death came these words faintly as though spoken far away.

tellverbUS /tel/

express in words

From this reading Oh, look up and tell me you are not dead!"

TELLSnounUS /telz/

plural of “tell” — a Swiss patriot who lived in the early 14th century and who was renowned for his skill as an archer

From this reading TELLS HOW AT LAST I FOUND MY REVENGE AND THE GREAT RUBY.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading So distant did they seem that my eyes opened with vague expectation of another world; opened and then wearily closed again.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading TELLS HOW AT LAST I FOUND MY REVENGE AND THE GREAT RUBY.

thenadverbUS /ðen/

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading So distant did they seem that my eyes opened with vague expectation of another world; opened and then wearily closed again.

thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading Down through the misty defiles and dark gates of the Valley of the Shadow of Death came these words faintly as though spoken far away.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading So distant did they seem that my eyes opened with vague expectation of another world; opened and then wearily closed again.

thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading Down through the misty defiles and dark gates of the Valley of the Shadow of Death came these words faintly as though spoken far away.

throughprepositionUS /θruː/

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading Down through the misty defiles and dark gates of the Valley of the Shadow of Death came these words faintly as though spoken far away.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading "Speak--speak to me!

upadjectiveUS /ʌp/

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

From this reading Oh, look up and tell me you are not dead!"

vagueadjectiveUS /veɪɡ/

not clearly expressed or understood

From this reading So distant did they seem that my eyes opened with vague expectation of another world; opened and then wearily closed again.

ValleynounUS /ˈvæli/

a long depression in the surface of the land that usually contains a river

From this reading Down through the misty defiles and dark gates of the Valley of the Shadow of Death came these words faintly as though spoken far away.

wearilyadverbUS /ˈwerəli/

in a weary manner

From this reading So distant did they seem that my eyes opened with vague expectation of another world; opened and then wearily closed again.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading So distant did they seem that my eyes opened with vague expectation of another world; opened and then wearily closed again.

wordsnounUS /wɜːrdz/

the words that are spoken

From this reading Down through the misty defiles and dark gates of the Valley of the Shadow of Death came these words faintly as though spoken far away.

worldnounUS /wɜːrld/

everything that exists anywhere

From this reading So distant did they seem that my eyes opened with vague expectation of another world; opened and then wearily closed again.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading Oh, look up and tell me you are not dead!"

Chapter 21 of Dead Man's Rock by Arthur Quiller-Couch holds 513 sentences, grouped into 103 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 21 of Dead Man's Rock contain?

Chapter 21 holds 513 sentences of Dead Man's Rock, unabridged, divided into 103 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 21 of Dead Man's Rock by Arthur Quiller-Couch exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 513 sentences, grouped into 103 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 21 of Dead Man's Rock?

Work through the 103 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 103 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 21 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 21 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 Dead Man's Rock

Common questions about reading Dead Man's Rock by Arthur Quiller-Couch on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Dead Man's Rock?

Yes. All 5268 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #17842 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Dead Man's Rock is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #17842, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Dead Man's Rock take to read?

About 439 minutes of reading across 1054 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Dead Man's Rock section by section

How to work through Dead Man's Rock section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 21 chapters of Dead Man's Rock 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 Dead Man's Rock

Words and structures a reader meets early in Dead Man's Rock, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Tells
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Dead Man's Rock; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Father
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Dead Man's Rock; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Treasure
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Dead Man's Rock; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Mother
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Dead Man's Rock; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.