Down the River

Chapter XI · Chapter 11

Chapter 11 of Down the River is here in full — 127 sentences across 26 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Oliver Optic • Curated US English Learning Edition

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BUILDING THE RAFT.

I found Sim Gwynn at our landing-place on the verge of the swamp, which was a safe spot for him, as he could retreat, at the approach of a pursuer, where no one could follow him without a boat.

On the raft lay a sharp axe, which assured me he had not remained in the swamp all the time during my absence.

"Where did you get that axe, Sim?"

I asked, disturbed by an unpleasant fear that he had been disregarding the rights of property.

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Chapter XI Reading 1/25

Down the River

Chapter XI · Chapter 11

Chapter 11 of Down the River is here in full — 127 sentences across 26 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/25 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1

BUILDING THE RAFT.

/ˈbɪldɪŋ ðə ræft/

Line 2

I found Sim Gwynn at our landing-place on the verge of the swamp, which was a safe spot for him, as he could retreat, at the approach of a pursuer, where no one could follow him without a boat.

Line 3

On the raft lay a sharp axe, which assured me he had not remained in the swamp all the time during my absence.

/ɑːn ðə ræft leɪ ə ʃɑːrp æks wɪtʃ əˈʃʊrd miː hiː hæd nɑːt rɪˈmeɪnd ɪn ðə swɑːmp ɔːl ðə taɪm ˈdʊrɪŋ maɪ ˈæbsəns/

Line 4

"Where did you get that axe, Sim?"

Line 5

I asked, disturbed by an unpleasant fear that he had been disregarding the rights of property.

/aɪ æskt dɪˈstɜːrbd baɪ æn ənˈplezənt fɪr ðæt hiː hæd bɪn ˌdɪsrɪˈɡɑːrdɪŋ ðə raɪts ʌv ˈprɑːpərti/

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.

axe noun US /æks/

an edge tool with a heavy bladed head mounted across a handle

From this reading “On the raft lay a sharp axe, which assured me he had not remained in the swamp all the time during my absence.”

disregarding adverb US /ˌdɪsrɪˈɡɑːrdɪŋ/

in spite of everything; without regard to drawbacks

From this reading “I asked, disturbed by an unpleasant fear that he had been disregarding the rights of property.”

Gwynn noun US /ɡwɪn/

English comedienne and mistress of Charles II (1650-1687)

From this reading “I found Sim Gwynn at our landing-place on the verge of the swamp, which was a safe spot for him, as he could retreat, at the approach of a pursuer, where no one could follow him without a boat.”

pursuer noun US /pərˈsuːər/

a person who is pursuing and trying to overtake or capture

raft noun US /ræft/

a flat float (usually made of logs or planks) that can be used for transport or as a platform for swimmers

From this reading “BUILDING THE RAFT.”

swamp verb US /swɑːmp/

drench or submerge or be drenched or submerged

unpleasant adjective US /ənˈplezənt/

offensive or disagreeable; causing discomfort or unhappiness

From this reading “I asked, disturbed by an unpleasant fear that he had been disregarding the rights of property.”

verge noun US /vɜːrdʒ/

a region marking a boundary

All words in this reading · 61

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.

adeterminerUS /ə/

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

From this reading I found Sim Gwynn at our landing-place on the verge of the swamp, which was a safe spot for him, as he could retreat, at the approach of a pursuer, where no one could follow him without a boat.

absencenounUS /ˈæbsəns/

the state of being absent

From this reading On the raft lay a sharp axe, which assured me he had not remained in the swamp all the time during my absence.

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 On the raft lay a sharp axe, which assured me he had not remained in the swamp all the time during my absence.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading I asked, disturbed by an unpleasant fear that he had been disregarding the rights of property.

approachverbUS /əˈproʊtʃ/

move towards

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

askedverbUS /æskt/

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

From this reading I asked, disturbed by an unpleasant fear that he had been disregarding the rights of property.

assuredadjectiveUS /əˈʃʊrd/

marked by assurance; exhibiting confidence

From this reading On the raft lay a sharp axe, which assured me he had not remained in the swamp all the time during my absence.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

axenounUS /æks/

an edge tool with a heavy bladed head mounted across a handle

From this reading On the raft lay a sharp axe, which assured me he had not remained in the swamp all the time during my absence.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading I asked, disturbed by an unpleasant fear that he had been disregarding the rights of property.

boatnounUS /boʊt/

a small vessel for travel on water

BUILDINGnounUS /ˈbɪldɪŋ/

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

From this reading BUILDING THE RAFT.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading I asked, disturbed by an unpleasant fear that he had been disregarding the rights of property.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

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

From this reading "Where did you get that axe, Sim?"

disregardingadverbUS /ˌdɪsrɪˈɡɑːrdɪŋ/

in spite of everything; without regard to drawbacks

From this reading I asked, disturbed by an unpleasant fear that he had been disregarding the rights of property.

disturbedadjectiveUS /dɪˈstɜːrbd/

having the place or position changed

From this reading I asked, disturbed by an unpleasant fear that he had been disregarding the rights of property.

duringprepositionUS /ˈdʊrɪŋ/

all through a period, or at some point within it

From this reading On the raft lay a sharp axe, which assured me he had not remained in the swamp all the time during my absence.

fearverbUS /fɪr/

be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event

From this reading I asked, disturbed by an unpleasant fear that he had been disregarding the rights of property.

followverbUS /ˈfɑːloʊ/

to travel behind, go after, come after

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

foundverbUS /faʊnd/

set up or found

getverbUS /ɡet/

come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading "Where did you get that axe, Sim?"

GwynnnounUS /ɡwɪn/

English comedienne and mistress of Charles II (1650-1687)

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading On the raft lay a sharp axe, which assured me he had not remained in the swamp all the time during my absence.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

himpronounUS /hɪm/

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading On the raft lay a sharp axe, which assured me he had not remained in the swamp all the time during my absence.

landing-place

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

layverbUS /leɪ/

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading On the raft lay a sharp axe, which assured me he had not remained in the swamp all the time during my absence.

mepronounUS /miː/

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

From this reading On the raft lay a sharp axe, which assured me he had not remained in the swamp all the time during my absence.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading On the raft lay a sharp axe, which assured me he had not remained in the swamp all the time during my absence.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading On the raft lay a sharp axe, which assured me he had not remained in the swamp all the time during my absence.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/

belonging to the speaker and others

propertynounUS /ˈprɑːpərti/

something owned; any tangible or intangible possession that is owned by someone

From this reading I asked, disturbed by an unpleasant fear that he had been disregarding the rights of property.

pursuernounUS /pərˈsuːər/

a person who is pursuing and trying to overtake or capture

RAFTnounUS /ræft/

a flat float (usually made of logs or planks) that can be used for transport or as a platform for swimmers

From this reading BUILDING THE RAFT.

remainedverbUS /rɪˈmeɪnd/

past form of “remain” — stay the same; remain in a certain state

From this reading On the raft lay a sharp axe, which assured me he had not remained in the swamp all the time during my absence.

retreatnounUS /riˈtriːt/

(military) withdrawal of troops to a more favorable position to escape the enemy's superior forces or after a defeat

rightsnounUS /raɪts/

plural of “right” — an abstract idea of that which is due to a person or governmental body by law or tradition or nature

From this reading I asked, disturbed by an unpleasant fear that he had been disregarding the rights of property.

safeadjectiveUS /seɪf/

free from danger or the risk of harm

sharpadjectiveUS /ʃɑːrp/

(of something seen or heard) clearly defined

From this reading On the raft lay a sharp axe, which assured me he had not remained in the swamp all the time during my absence.

Sim

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

spotnounUS /spɑːt/

a point located with respect to surface features of some region

swampverbUS /swɑːmp/

drench or submerge or be drenched or submerged

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading "Where did you get that axe, Sim?"

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading BUILDING THE RAFT.

timenounUS /taɪm/

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading On the raft lay a sharp axe, which assured me he had not remained in the swamp all the time during my absence.

unpleasantadjectiveUS /ənˈplezənt/

offensive or disagreeable; causing discomfort or unhappiness

From this reading I asked, disturbed by an unpleasant fear that he had been disregarding the rights of property.

vergenounUS /vɜːrdʒ/

a region marking a boundary

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "Where did you get that axe, Sim?"

Chapter 11 of Down the River by Oliver Optic holds 127 sentences, grouped into 26 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 11 of Down the River contain?

Chapter 11 holds 127 sentences of Down the River, unabridged, divided into 26 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 11 of Down the River by Oliver Optic exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 127 sentences, grouped into 26 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 11 of Down the River?

Work through the 26 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 26 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.

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Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 11 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.

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Yes. All 3858 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #24283 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

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Project Gutenberg eBook #24283, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

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About 321 minutes of reading across 772 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

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Vocabulary met early in Down the River

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Bradford: A word that appears in the opening chapter of Down the River; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
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Chapter XI · Chapter 11

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