Chapter I

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading Author of “Dick Kent with the Mounted Police” “Dick Kent in the Far North” “Dick Kent with the Eskimos” “Dick Kent, Fur Trader” The Saalfield Publishing Company Akron, Ohio New York A discouraged, dishevelled human figure crossed a narrow woodland to the west of a chain of hills, thence made his way slowly down to a sun-baked valley or depression, many miles in extent.

a city in northeastern Ohio; the heart of the United States rubber industry

From this reading Author of “Dick Kent with the Mounted Police” “Dick Kent in the Far North” “Dick Kent with the Eskimos” “Dick Kent, Fur Trader” The Saalfield Publishing Company Akron, Ohio New York A discouraged, dishevelled human figure crossed a narrow woodland to the west of a chain of hills, thence made his way slowly down to a sun-baked valley or depression, many miles in extent.

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

From this reading For the most part unverdant, it ran in a northeasterly direction—bleak, uninviting, monotonous—here and there rutted with long gray drifts of silt and sand.

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading No trail of any sort traversed that sinister, malevolent wild.

writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)

From this reading Author of “Dick Kent with the Mounted Police” “Dick Kent in the Far North” “Dick Kent with the Eskimos” “Dick Kent, Fur Trader” The Saalfield Publishing Company Akron, Ohio New York A discouraged, dishevelled human figure crossed a narrow woodland to the west of a chain of hills, thence made his way slowly down to a sun-baked valley or depression, many miles in extent.

offering little or no hope

From this reading For the most part unverdant, it ran in a northeasterly direction—bleak, uninviting, monotonous—here and there rutted with long gray drifts of silt and sand.

physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split

From this reading The valley was rough, broken, repellent to the eye.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_).

a series of things depending on each other as if linked together

From this reading Author of “Dick Kent with the Mounted Police” “Dick Kent in the Far North” “Dick Kent with the Eskimos” “Dick Kent, Fur Trader” The Saalfield Publishing Company Akron, Ohio New York A discouraged, dishevelled human figure crossed a narrow woodland to the west of a chain of hills, thence made his way slowly down to a sun-baked valley or depression, many miles in extent.

an institution created to conduct business

From this reading Author of “Dick Kent with the Mounted Police” “Dick Kent in the Far North” “Dick Kent with the Eskimos” “Dick Kent, Fur Trader” The Saalfield Publishing Company Akron, Ohio New York A discouraged, dishevelled human figure crossed a narrow woodland to the west of a chain of hills, thence made his way slowly down to a sun-baked valley or depression, many miles in extent.

placed crosswise

From this reading Author of “Dick Kent with the Mounted Police” “Dick Kent in the Far North” “Dick Kent with the Eskimos” “Dick Kent, Fur Trader” The Saalfield Publishing Company Akron, Ohio New York A discouraged, dishevelled human figure crossed a narrow woodland to the west of a chain of hills, thence made his way slowly down to a sun-baked valley or depression, many miles in extent.

a mental state characterized by a pessimistic sense of inadequacy and a despondent lack of activity

From this reading Author of “Dick Kent with the Mounted Police” “Dick Kent in the Far North” “Dick Kent with the Eskimos” “Dick Kent, Fur Trader” The Saalfield Publishing Company Akron, Ohio New York A discouraged, dishevelled human figure crossed a narrow woodland to the west of a chain of hills, thence made his way slowly down to a sun-baked valley or depression, many miles in extent.

someone who is a detective

From this reading Author of “Dick Kent with the Mounted Police” “Dick Kent in the Far North” “Dick Kent with the Eskimos” “Dick Kent, Fur Trader” The Saalfield Publishing Company Akron, Ohio New York A discouraged, dishevelled human figure crossed a narrow woodland to the west of a chain of hills, thence made his way slowly down to a sun-baked valley or depression, many miles in extent.

a line leading to a place or point

From this reading For the most part unverdant, it ran in a northeasterly direction—bleak, uninviting, monotonous—here and there rutted with long gray drifts of silt and sand.

made less hopeful or enthusiastic

From this reading Author of “Dick Kent with the Mounted Police” “Dick Kent in the Far North” “Dick Kent with the Eskimos” “Dick Kent, Fur Trader” The Saalfield Publishing Company Akron, Ohio New York A discouraged, dishevelled human figure crossed a narrow woodland to the west of a chain of hills, thence made his way slowly down to a sun-baked valley or depression, many miles in extent.

in disarray; extremely disorderly

From this reading Author of “Dick Kent with the Mounted Police” “Dick Kent in the Far North” “Dick Kent with the Eskimos” “Dick Kent, Fur Trader” The Saalfield Publishing Company Akron, Ohio New York A discouraged, dishevelled human figure crossed a narrow woodland to the west of a chain of hills, thence made his way slowly down to a sun-baked valley or depression, many miles in extent.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading Author of “Dick Kent with the Mounted Police” “Dick Kent in the Far North” “Dick Kent with the Eskimos” “Dick Kent, Fur Trader” The Saalfield Publishing Company Akron, Ohio New York A discouraged, dishevelled human figure crossed a narrow woodland to the west of a chain of hills, thence made his way slowly down to a sun-baked valley or depression, many miles in extent.

plural of “drift” — a force that moves something along

From this reading For the most part unverdant, it ran in a northeasterly direction—bleak, uninviting, monotonous—here and there rutted with long gray drifts of silt and sand.

closed in or surrounded or included within

From this reading Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_).

plural of “eskimo” — a member of a people inhabiting the Arctic (northern Canada or Greenland or Alaska or eastern Siberia); the Algonquians called them Eskimo (“eaters of raw flesh”) but they call themselves the Inuit (“the people”)

From this reading Author of “Dick Kent with the Mounted Police” “Dick Kent in the Far North” “Dick Kent with the Eskimos” “Dick Kent, Fur Trader” The Saalfield Publishing Company Akron, Ohio New York A discouraged, dishevelled human figure crossed a narrow woodland to the west of a chain of hills, thence made his way slowly down to a sun-baked valley or depression, many miles in extent.

the point or degree to which something extends

From this reading Author of “Dick Kent with the Mounted Police” “Dick Kent in the Far North” “Dick Kent with the Eskimos” “Dick Kent, Fur Trader” The Saalfield Publishing Company Akron, Ohio New York A discouraged, dishevelled human figure crossed a narrow woodland to the west of a chain of hills, thence made his way slowly down to a sun-baked valley or depression, many miles in extent.

the organ of sight

From this reading The valley was rough, broken, repellent to the eye.

to a considerable degree; very much

From this reading Author of “Dick Kent with the Mounted Police” “Dick Kent in the Far North” “Dick Kent with the Eskimos” “Dick Kent, Fur Trader” The Saalfield Publishing Company Akron, Ohio New York A discouraged, dishevelled human figure crossed a narrow woodland to the west of a chain of hills, thence made his way slowly down to a sun-baked valley or depression, many miles in extent.

a diagram or picture illustrating textual material

From this reading Author of “Dick Kent with the Mounted Police” “Dick Kent in the Far North” “Dick Kent with the Eskimos” “Dick Kent, Fur Trader” The Saalfield Publishing Company Akron, Ohio New York A discouraged, dishevelled human figure crossed a narrow woodland to the west of a chain of hills, thence made his way slowly down to a sun-baked valley or depression, many miles in extent.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading For the most part unverdant, it ran in a northeasterly direction—bleak, uninviting, monotonous—here and there rutted with long gray drifts of silt and sand.

the dressed hairy coat of a mammal

From this reading Author of “Dick Kent with the Mounted Police” “Dick Kent in the Far North” “Dick Kent with the Eskimos” “Dick Kent, Fur Trader” The Saalfield Publishing Company Akron, Ohio New York A discouraged, dishevelled human figure crossed a narrow woodland to the west of a chain of hills, thence made his way slowly down to a sun-baked valley or depression, many miles in extent.

a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black

From this reading For the most part unverdant, it ran in a northeasterly direction—bleak, uninviting, monotonous—here and there rutted with long gray drifts of silt and sand.

in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is

From this reading For the most part unverdant, it ran in a northeasterly direction—bleak, uninviting, monotonous—here and there rutted with long gray drifts of silt and sand.

plural of “hill” — a local and well-defined elevation of the land

From this reading Author of “Dick Kent with the Mounted Police” “Dick Kent in the Far North” “Dick Kent with the Eskimos” “Dick Kent, Fur Trader” The Saalfield Publishing Company Akron, Ohio New York A discouraged, dishevelled human figure crossed a narrow woodland to the west of a chain of hills, thence made his way slowly down to a sun-baked valley or depression, many miles in extent.

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

From this reading Author of “Dick Kent with the Mounted Police” “Dick Kent in the Far North” “Dick Kent with the Eskimos” “Dick Kent, Fur Trader” The Saalfield Publishing Company Akron, Ohio New York A discouraged, dishevelled human figure crossed a narrow woodland to the west of a chain of hills, thence made his way slowly down to a sun-baked valley or depression, many miles in extent.

characteristic of humanity

From this reading Author of “Dick Kent with the Mounted Police” “Dick Kent in the Far North” “Dick Kent with the Eskimos” “Dick Kent, Fur Trader” The Saalfield Publishing Company Akron, Ohio New York A discouraged, dishevelled human figure crossed a narrow woodland to the west of a chain of hills, thence made his way slowly down to a sun-baked valley or depression, many miles in extent.

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

From this reading Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_).

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

From this reading Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_).

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading For the most part unverdant, it ran in a northeasterly direction—bleak, uninviting, monotonous—here and there rutted with long gray drifts of silt and sand.

plural of “italic” — a style of handwriting with the letters slanting to the right

From this reading Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_).

a county in southeastern England on the English Channel; formerly an Anglo-Saxon kingdom, it was the first to be colonized by the Romans

From this reading Author of “Dick Kent with the Mounted Police” “Dick Kent in the Far North” “Dick Kent with the Eskimos” “Dick Kent, Fur Trader” The Saalfield Publishing Company Akron, Ohio New York A discouraged, dishevelled human figure crossed a narrow woodland to the west of a chain of hills, thence made his way slowly down to a sun-baked valley or depression, many miles in extent.

primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified

From this reading For the most part unverdant, it ran in a northeasterly direction—bleak, uninviting, monotonous—here and there rutted with long gray drifts of silt and sand.

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading Author of “Dick Kent with the Mounted Police” “Dick Kent in the Far North” “Dick Kent with the Eskimos” “Dick Kent, Fur Trader” The Saalfield Publishing Company Akron, Ohio New York A discouraged, dishevelled human figure crossed a narrow woodland to the west of a chain of hills, thence made his way slowly down to a sun-baked valley or depression, many miles in extent.

wishing or appearing to wish evil to others; arising from intense ill will or hatred

From this reading No trail of any sort traversed that sinister, malevolent wild.

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number

From this reading Author of “Dick Kent with the Mounted Police” “Dick Kent in the Far North” “Dick Kent with the Eskimos” “Dick Kent, Fur Trader” The Saalfield Publishing Company Akron, Ohio New York A discouraged, dishevelled human figure crossed a narrow woodland to the west of a chain of hills, thence made his way slowly down to a sun-baked valley or depression, many miles in extent.

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

From this reading Author of “Dick Kent with the Mounted Police” “Dick Kent in the Far North” “Dick Kent with the Eskimos” “Dick Kent, Fur Trader” The Saalfield Publishing Company Akron, Ohio New York A discouraged, dishevelled human figure crossed a narrow woodland to the west of a chain of hills, thence made his way slowly down to a sun-baked valley or depression, many miles in extent.

tediously repetitious or lacking in variety

From this reading For the most part unverdant, it ran in a northeasterly direction—bleak, uninviting, monotonous—here and there rutted with long gray drifts of silt and sand.

used to form the superlative

From this reading For the most part unverdant, it ran in a northeasterly direction—bleak, uninviting, monotonous—here and there rutted with long gray drifts of silt and sand.

assembled for use; especially by being attached to a support

From this reading Author of “Dick Kent with the Mounted Police” “Dick Kent in the Far North” “Dick Kent with the Eskimos” “Dick Kent, Fur Trader” The Saalfield Publishing Company Akron, Ohio New York A discouraged, dishevelled human figure crossed a narrow woodland to the west of a chain of hills, thence made his way slowly down to a sun-baked valley or depression, many miles in extent.

make or become more narrow or restricted

From this reading Author of “Dick Kent with the Mounted Police” “Dick Kent in the Far North” “Dick Kent with the Eskimos” “Dick Kent, Fur Trader” The Saalfield Publishing Company Akron, Ohio New York A discouraged, dishevelled human figure crossed a narrow woodland to the west of a chain of hills, thence made his way slowly down to a sun-baked valley or depression, many miles in extent.

not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered

From this reading Author of “Dick Kent with the Mounted Police” “Dick Kent in the Far North” “Dick Kent with the Eskimos” “Dick Kent, Fur Trader” The Saalfield Publishing Company Akron, Ohio New York A discouraged, dishevelled human figure crossed a narrow woodland to the west of a chain of hills, thence made his way slowly down to a sun-baked valley or depression, many miles in extent.

not any; not one

From this reading No trail of any sort traversed that sinister, malevolent wild.

the region of the United States lying to the north of the Mason-Dixon line

From this reading Author of “Dick Kent with the Mounted Police” “Dick Kent in the Far North” “Dick Kent with the Eskimos” “Dick Kent, Fur Trader” The Saalfield Publishing Company Akron, Ohio New York A discouraged, dishevelled human figure crossed a narrow woodland to the west of a chain of hills, thence made his way slowly down to a sun-baked valley or depression, many miles in extent.

coming from the northeast

From this reading For the most part unverdant, it ran in a northeasterly direction—bleak, uninviting, monotonous—here and there rutted with long gray drifts of silt and sand.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Author of “Dick Kent with the Mounted Police” “Dick Kent in the Far North” “Dick Kent with the Eskimos” “Dick Kent, Fur Trader” The Saalfield Publishing Company Akron, Ohio New York A discouraged, dishevelled human figure crossed a narrow woodland to the west of a chain of hills, thence made his way slowly down to a sun-baked valley or depression, many miles in extent.

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

From this reading Author of “Dick Kent with the Mounted Police” “Dick Kent in the Far North” “Dick Kent with the Eskimos” “Dick Kent, Fur Trader” The Saalfield Publishing Company Akron, Ohio New York A discouraged, dishevelled human figure crossed a narrow woodland to the west of a chain of hills, thence made his way slowly down to a sun-baked valley or depression, many miles in extent.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Author of “Dick Kent with the Mounted Police” “Dick Kent in the Far North” “Dick Kent with the Eskimos” “Dick Kent, Fur Trader” The Saalfield Publishing Company Akron, Ohio New York A discouraged, dishevelled human figure crossed a narrow woodland to the west of a chain of hills, thence made his way slowly down to a sun-baked valley or depression, many miles in extent.

something determined in relation to something that includes it

From this reading For the most part unverdant, it ran in a northeasterly direction—bleak, uninviting, monotonous—here and there rutted with long gray drifts of silt and sand.

the force of policemen and officers

From this reading Author of “Dick Kent with the Mounted Police” “Dick Kent in the Far North” “Dick Kent with the Eskimos” “Dick Kent, Fur Trader” The Saalfield Publishing Company Akron, Ohio New York A discouraged, dishevelled human figure crossed a narrow woodland to the west of a chain of hills, thence made his way slowly down to a sun-baked valley or depression, many miles in extent.

the business of issuing printed matter for sale or distribution

From this reading Author of “Dick Kent with the Mounted Police” “Dick Kent in the Far North” “Dick Kent with the Eskimos” “Dick Kent, Fur Trader” The Saalfield Publishing Company Akron, Ohio New York A discouraged, dishevelled human figure crossed a narrow woodland to the west of a chain of hills, thence made his way slowly down to a sun-baked valley or depression, many miles in extent.

inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time

From this reading For the most part unverdant, it ran in a northeasterly direction—bleak, uninviting, monotonous—here and there rutted with long gray drifts of silt and sand.

a compound with which fabrics are treated to repel water

From this reading The valley was rough, broken, repellent to the eye.

having or caused by an irregular surface

From this reading The valley was rough, broken, repellent to the eye.

full of ruts

From this reading For the most part unverdant, it ran in a northeasterly direction—bleak, uninviting, monotonous—here and there rutted with long gray drifts of silt and sand.

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

From this reading Author of “Dick Kent with the Mounted Police” “Dick Kent in the Far North” “Dick Kent with the Eskimos” “Dick Kent, Fur Trader” The Saalfield Publishing Company Akron, Ohio New York A discouraged, dishevelled human figure crossed a narrow woodland to the west of a chain of hills, thence made his way slowly down to a sun-baked valley or depression, many miles in extent.

a loose material consisting of grains of rock or coral

From this reading For the most part unverdant, it ran in a northeasterly direction—bleak, uninviting, monotonous—here and there rutted with long gray drifts of silt and sand.

mud or clay or small rocks deposited by a river or lake

From this reading For the most part unverdant, it ran in a northeasterly direction—bleak, uninviting, monotonous—here and there rutted with long gray drifts of silt and sand.

threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments

From this reading No trail of any sort traversed that sinister, malevolent wild.

without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)

From this reading Author of “Dick Kent with the Mounted Police” “Dick Kent in the Far North” “Dick Kent with the Eskimos” “Dick Kent, Fur Trader” The Saalfield Publishing Company Akron, Ohio New York A discouraged, dishevelled human figure crossed a narrow woodland to the west of a chain of hills, thence made his way slowly down to a sun-baked valley or depression, many miles in extent.

a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality

From this reading No trail of any sort traversed that sinister, malevolent wild.

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

From this reading Author of “Dick Kent with the Mounted Police” “Dick Kent in the Far North” “Dick Kent with the Eskimos” “Dick Kent, Fur Trader” The Saalfield Publishing Company Akron, Ohio New York A discouraged, dishevelled human figure crossed a narrow woodland to the west of a chain of hills, thence made his way slowly down to a sun-baked valley or depression, many miles in extent.

the words of something written

From this reading Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_).

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading No trail of any sort traversed that sinister, malevolent wild.

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

From this reading Author of “Dick Kent with the Mounted Police” “Dick Kent in the Far North” “Dick Kent with the Eskimos” “Dick Kent, Fur Trader” The Saalfield Publishing Company Akron, Ohio New York A discouraged, dishevelled human figure crossed a narrow woodland to the west of a chain of hills, thence made his way slowly down to a sun-baked valley or depression, many miles in extent.

from that place or that time

From this reading Author of “Dick Kent with the Mounted Police” “Dick Kent in the Far North” “Dick Kent with the Eskimos” “Dick Kent, Fur Trader” The Saalfield Publishing Company Akron, Ohio New York A discouraged, dishevelled human figure crossed a narrow woodland to the west of a chain of hills, thence made his way slowly down to a sun-baked valley or depression, many miles in extent.

in or at that place or location

From this reading For the most part unverdant, it ran in a northeasterly direction—bleak, uninviting, monotonous—here and there rutted with long gray drifts of silt and sand.

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

From this reading Author of “Dick Kent with the Mounted Police” “Dick Kent in the Far North” “Dick Kent with the Eskimos” “Dick Kent, Fur Trader” The Saalfield Publishing Company Akron, Ohio New York A discouraged, dishevelled human figure crossed a narrow woodland to the west of a chain of hills, thence made his way slowly down to a sun-baked valley or depression, many miles in extent.

someone who purchases and maintains an inventory of goods to be sold

From this reading Author of “Dick Kent with the Mounted Police” “Dick Kent in the Far North” “Dick Kent with the Eskimos” “Dick Kent, Fur Trader” The Saalfield Publishing Company Akron, Ohio New York A discouraged, dishevelled human figure crossed a narrow woodland to the west of a chain of hills, thence made his way slowly down to a sun-baked valley or depression, many miles in extent.

a track or mark left by something that has passed

From this reading No trail of any sort traversed that sinister, malevolent wild.

past form of “traverse” — travel across or pass over

From this reading No trail of any sort traversed that sinister, malevolent wild.

plural of “underscore” — a line drawn underneath (especially under written matter)

From this reading Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_).

neither attractive nor tempting

From this reading For the most part unverdant, it ran in a northeasterly direction—bleak, uninviting, monotonous—here and there rutted with long gray drifts of silt and sand.

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

From this reading For the most part unverdant, it ran in a northeasterly direction—bleak, uninviting, monotonous—here and there rutted with long gray drifts of silt and sand.

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

From this reading Author of “Dick Kent with the Mounted Police” “Dick Kent in the Far North” “Dick Kent with the Eskimos” “Dick Kent, Fur Trader” The Saalfield Publishing Company Akron, Ohio New York A discouraged, dishevelled human figure crossed a narrow woodland to the west of a chain of hills, thence made his way slowly down to a sun-baked valley or depression, many miles in extent.

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

From this reading The valley was rough, broken, repellent to the eye.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading Author of “Dick Kent with the Mounted Police” “Dick Kent in the Far North” “Dick Kent with the Eskimos” “Dick Kent, Fur Trader” The Saalfield Publishing Company Akron, Ohio New York A discouraged, dishevelled human figure crossed a narrow woodland to the west of a chain of hills, thence made his way slowly down to a sun-baked valley or depression, many miles in extent.

the countries of (originally) Europe and (now including) North America and South America

From this reading Author of “Dick Kent with the Mounted Police” “Dick Kent in the Far North” “Dick Kent with the Eskimos” “Dick Kent, Fur Trader” The Saalfield Publishing Company Akron, Ohio New York A discouraged, dishevelled human figure crossed a narrow woodland to the west of a chain of hills, thence made his way slowly down to a sun-baked valley or depression, many miles in extent.

marked by extreme lack of restraint or control

From this reading No trail of any sort traversed that sinister, malevolent wild.

in the company of; together with

From this reading Author of “Dick Kent with the Mounted Police” “Dick Kent in the Far North” “Dick Kent with the Eskimos” “Dick Kent, Fur Trader” The Saalfield Publishing Company Akron, Ohio New York A discouraged, dishevelled human figure crossed a narrow woodland to the west of a chain of hills, thence made his way slowly down to a sun-baked valley or depression, many miles in extent.

land that is covered with trees and shrubs

From this reading Author of “Dick Kent with the Mounted Police” “Dick Kent in the Far North” “Dick Kent with the Eskimos” “Dick Kent, Fur Trader” The Saalfield Publishing Company Akron, Ohio New York A discouraged, dishevelled human figure crossed a narrow woodland to the west of a chain of hills, thence made his way slowly down to a sun-baked valley or depression, many miles in extent.

the English royal house (a branch of the Plantagenet line) that reigned from 1461 to 1485; its emblem was a white rose

From this reading Author of “Dick Kent with the Mounted Police” “Dick Kent in the Far North” “Dick Kent with the Eskimos” “Dick Kent, Fur Trader” The Saalfield Publishing Company Akron, Ohio New York A discouraged, dishevelled human figure crossed a narrow woodland to the west of a chain of hills, thence made his way slowly down to a sun-baked valley or depression, many miles in extent.