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Essays of Travel

Chapter VIII · Chapter 8

Chapter 8 of Essays of Travel is here in full — 133 sentences across 27 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Robert Louis Stevenson • Curated US English Learning Edition

Cover illustration for Essays of Travel

English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5

I heard nothing on board of the tapper; but I was astonished at the stories told by my companions.

Skulking, shirking, malingering, were all established tactics, it appeared.

They could see no dishonesty where a man who is paid for an hour's work gives half an hour’s consistent idling in its place.

Thus the tapper would refuse to watch for the police during a burglary, and call himself a honest man.

It is not sufficiently recognised that our race detests to work.

Narrator

Speed 0.75x

AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English

LEARNER DICTIONARY

Archivist

/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/

Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Chapter VIII Reading 1/26

Essays of Travel

Chapter VIII · Chapter 8

Chapter 8 of Essays of Travel is here in full — 133 sentences across 27 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/26 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1

I heard nothing on board of the tapper; but I was astonished at the stories told by my companions.

Line 2

Skulking, shirking, malingering, were all established tactics, it appeared.

Line 3

They could see no dishonesty where a man who is paid for an hour's work gives half an hour’s consistent idling in its place.

Line 4

Thus the tapper would refuse to watch for the police during a burglary, and call himself a honest man.

Line 5

It is not sufficiently recognised that our race detests to work.

All words in this reading · 67

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.

a

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

From this reading They could see no dishonesty where a man who is paid for an hour's work gives half an hour’s consistent idling in its place.

all

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

From this reading Skulking, shirking, malingering, were all established tactics, it appeared.

an

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

From this reading They could see no dishonesty where a man who is paid for an hour's work gives half an hour’s consistent idling in its place.

and

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

From this reading Thus the tapper would refuse to watch for the police during a burglary, and call himself a honest man.

appeared

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

From this reading Skulking, shirking, malingering, were all established tactics, it appeared.

astonished

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

From this reading I heard nothing on board of the tapper; but I was astonished at the stories told by my companions.

at

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

From this reading I heard nothing on board of the tapper; but I was astonished at the stories told by my companions.

board

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

From this reading I heard nothing on board of the tapper; but I was astonished at the stories told by my companions.

burglary

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

From this reading Thus the tapper would refuse to watch for the police during a burglary, and call himself a honest man.

but

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

From this reading I heard nothing on board of the tapper; but I was astonished at the stories told by my companions.

by

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

From this reading I heard nothing on board of the tapper; but I was astonished at the stories told by my companions.

call

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

From this reading Thus the tapper would refuse to watch for the police during a burglary, and call himself a honest man.

companions

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

From this reading I heard nothing on board of the tapper; but I was astonished at the stories told by my companions.

consistent

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

From this reading They could see no dishonesty where a man who is paid for an hour's work gives half an hour’s consistent idling in its place.

could

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

From this reading They could see no dishonesty where a man who is paid for an hour's work gives half an hour’s consistent idling in its place.

detests

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

From this reading It is not sufficiently recognised that our race detests to work.

dishonesty

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

From this reading They could see no dishonesty where a man who is paid for an hour's work gives half an hour’s consistent idling in its place.

during

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

From this reading Thus the tapper would refuse to watch for the police during a burglary, and call himself a honest man.

established

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

From this reading Skulking, shirking, malingering, were all established tactics, it appeared.

for

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

From this reading They could see no dishonesty where a man who is paid for an hour's work gives half an hour’s consistent idling in its place.

gives

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

From this reading They could see no dishonesty where a man who is paid for an hour's work gives half an hour’s consistent idling in its place.

half

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

From this reading They could see no dishonesty where a man who is paid for an hour's work gives half an hour’s consistent idling in its place.

heard

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

From this reading I heard nothing on board of the tapper; but I was astonished at the stories told by my companions.

himself

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

From this reading Thus the tapper would refuse to watch for the police during a burglary, and call himself a honest man.

honest

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

From this reading Thus the tapper would refuse to watch for the police during a burglary, and call himself a honest man.

hour's

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

From this reading They could see no dishonesty where a man who is paid for an hour's work gives half an hour’s consistent idling in its place.

I

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

From this reading I heard nothing on board of the tapper; but I was astonished at the stories told by my companions.

idling

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

From this reading They could see no dishonesty where a man who is paid for an hour's work gives half an hour’s consistent idling in its place.

in

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

From this reading They could see no dishonesty where a man who is paid for an hour's work gives half an hour’s consistent idling in its place.

is

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

From this reading They could see no dishonesty where a man who is paid for an hour's work gives half an hour’s consistent idling in its place.

it

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

From this reading Skulking, shirking, malingering, were all established tactics, it appeared.

its

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

From this reading They could see no dishonesty where a man who is paid for an hour's work gives half an hour’s consistent idling in its place.

malingering

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

From this reading Skulking, shirking, malingering, were all established tactics, it appeared.

man

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

From this reading They could see no dishonesty where a man who is paid for an hour's work gives half an hour’s consistent idling in its place.

my

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

From this reading I heard nothing on board of the tapper; but I was astonished at the stories told by my companions.

no

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

From this reading They could see no dishonesty where a man who is paid for an hour's work gives half an hour’s consistent idling in its place.

not

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

From this reading It is not sufficiently recognised that our race detests to work.

nothing

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

From this reading I heard nothing on board of the tapper; but I was astonished at the stories told by my companions.

of

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

From this reading I heard nothing on board of the tapper; but I was astonished at the stories told by my companions.

on

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

From this reading I heard nothing on board of the tapper; but I was astonished at the stories told by my companions.

our

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

From this reading It is not sufficiently recognised that our race detests to work.

paid

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

From this reading They could see no dishonesty where a man who is paid for an hour's work gives half an hour’s consistent idling in its place.

place

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

From this reading They could see no dishonesty where a man who is paid for an hour's work gives half an hour’s consistent idling in its place.

police

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

From this reading Thus the tapper would refuse to watch for the police during a burglary, and call himself a honest man.

race

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

From this reading It is not sufficiently recognised that our race detests to work.

recognised

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

From this reading It is not sufficiently recognised that our race detests to work.

refuse

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

From this reading Thus the tapper would refuse to watch for the police during a burglary, and call himself a honest man.

see

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

From this reading They could see no dishonesty where a man who is paid for an hour's work gives half an hour’s consistent idling in its place.

shirking

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

From this reading Skulking, shirking, malingering, were all established tactics, it appeared.

Skulking

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

From this reading Skulking, shirking, malingering, were all established tactics, it appeared.

stories

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

From this reading I heard nothing on board of the tapper; but I was astonished at the stories told by my companions.

sufficiently

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

From this reading It is not sufficiently recognised that our race detests to work.

tactics

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

From this reading Skulking, shirking, malingering, were all established tactics, it appeared.

tapper

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

From this reading I heard nothing on board of the tapper; but I was astonished at the stories told by my companions.

that

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

From this reading It is not sufficiently recognised that our race detests to work.

the

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

From this reading I heard nothing on board of the tapper; but I was astonished at the stories told by my companions.

They

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

From this reading They could see no dishonesty where a man who is paid for an hour's work gives half an hour’s consistent idling in its place.

Thus

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

From this reading Thus the tapper would refuse to watch for the police during a burglary, and call himself a honest man.

to

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

From this reading Thus the tapper would refuse to watch for the police during a burglary, and call himself a honest man.

told

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

From this reading I heard nothing on board of the tapper; but I was astonished at the stories told by my companions.

was

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

From this reading I heard nothing on board of the tapper; but I was astonished at the stories told by my companions.

watch

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

From this reading Thus the tapper would refuse to watch for the police during a burglary, and call himself a honest man.

were

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

From this reading Skulking, shirking, malingering, were all established tactics, it appeared.

where

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

From this reading They could see no dishonesty where a man who is paid for an hour's work gives half an hour’s consistent idling in its place.

who

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

From this reading They could see no dishonesty where a man who is paid for an hour's work gives half an hour’s consistent idling in its place.

work

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

From this reading They could see no dishonesty where a man who is paid for an hour's work gives half an hour’s consistent idling in its place.

would

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

From this reading Thus the tapper would refuse to watch for the police during a burglary, and call himself a honest man.

Chapter 8 of Essays of Travel by Robert Louis Stevenson holds 133 sentences, grouped into 27 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the public-domain source, 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 8 of Essays of Travel contain?

Chapter 8 holds 133 sentences of Essays of Travel, unabridged, divided into 27 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 8 of Essays of Travel by Robert Louis Stevenson exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 133 sentences, grouped into 27 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 8 of Essays of Travel?

Work through the 27 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 27 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 8 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 8 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 Essays of Travel

Common questions about reading Essays of Travel by Robert Louis Stevenson on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Essays of Travel?

Yes. All 2493 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #627 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Essays of Travel is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #627, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Essays of Travel take to read?

About 207 minutes of reading across 499 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Essays of Travel section by section

How to work through Essays of Travel section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

Open a chapter

Choose one of the 19 chapters of Essays of Travel to begin.
Read one section

Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.
Listen and tap

Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.

Vocabulary met early in Essays of Travel

Words and structures a reader meets early in Essays of Travel, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Amateur: A word that appears in the opening chapter of Essays of Travel; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Emigrant: A word that appears in the opening chapter of Essays of Travel; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Clyde: A word that appears in the opening chapter of Essays of Travel; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Sandy: A word that appears in the opening chapter of Essays of Travel; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.