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Frontier Stories
Frontier Stories

Chapter XIII

Cover illustration for Frontier Stories
Context Illustration Reading 1/52 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
The brief hour of darkness that preceded the dawn was that night intensified by a dense smoke, which, after blotting out horizon and sky, dropped a thick veil on the highroad and the silent streets of Indian Spring.
As the buggy containing Sheriff Dunn and Brace dashed through the obscurity, Brace suddenly turned to his companion.
"Some one ahead!"
The two men bent forward over the dashboard.
Above the steady plunging of their own horse-hoofs they could hear the quicker irregular beat of other hoofs in the darkness before them.
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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.

Frontier Stories

Chapter XIII

Reading 1/52 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
The brief hour of darkness that preceded the dawn was that night intensified by a dense smoke, which, after blotting out horizon and sky, dropped a thick veil on the highroad and the silent streets of Indian Spring.
Line 2
As the buggy containing Sheriff Dunn and Brace dashed through the obscurity, Brace suddenly turned to his companion.
Line 3
"Some one ahead!"
Line 4
The two men bent forward over the dashboard.
Line 5
Above the steady plunging of their own horse-hoofs they could hear the quicker irregular beat of other hoofs in the darkness before them.

Learner Dictionary

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.

Above preposition US /əˈbʌv/

higher than, or over, something

From this reading “Above the steady plunging of their own horse-hoofs they could hear the quicker irregular beat of other hoofs in the darkness before them.”

After preposition US /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading “The brief hour of darkness that preceded the dawn was that night intensified by a dense smoke, which, after blotting out horizon and sky, dropped a thick veil on the highroad and the silent streets of Indian Spring.”

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “Above the steady plunging of their own horse-hoofs they could hear the quicker irregular beat of other hoofs in the darkness before them.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

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

From this reading “Above the steady plunging of their own horse-hoofs they could hear the quicker irregular beat of other hoofs in the darkness before them.”

Forward noun US /forward/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The two men bent forward over the dashboard.”

Hear noun US /hear/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Above the steady plunging of their own horse-hoofs they could hear the quicker irregular beat of other hoofs in the darkness before them.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “"Some one ahead!"”

Over preposition US /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading “The two men bent forward over the dashboard.”

Suddenly noun US /ˈsuddenly/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading “As the buggy containing Sheriff Dunn and Brace dashed through the obscurity, Brace suddenly turned to his companion.”

Through noun US /ˈthrough/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading “As the buggy containing Sheriff Dunn and Brace dashed through the obscurity, Brace suddenly turned to his companion.”

All words in this reading · 71

Every word is available to listen to. 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 The brief hour of darkness that preceded the dawn was that night intensified by a dense smoke, which, after blotting out horizon and sky, dropped a thick veil on the highroad and the silent streets of Indian Spring.

AboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/

higher than, or over, something

From this reading Above the steady plunging of their own horse-hoofs they could hear the quicker irregular beat of other hoofs in the darkness before them.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading The brief hour of darkness that preceded the dawn was that night intensified by a dense smoke, which, after blotting out horizon and sky, dropped a thick veil on the highroad and the silent streets of Indian Spring.

ahead

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

From this reading "Some one ahead!"

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading The brief hour of darkness that preceded the dawn was that night intensified by a dense smoke, which, after blotting out horizon and sky, dropped a thick veil on the highroad and the silent streets of Indian Spring.

AsconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading As the buggy containing Sheriff Dunn and Brace dashed through the obscurity, Brace suddenly turned to his companion.

beat

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

From this reading Above the steady plunging of their own horse-hoofs they could hear the quicker irregular beat of other hoofs in the darkness before them.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading Above the steady plunging of their own horse-hoofs they could hear the quicker irregular beat of other hoofs in the darkness before them.

bent

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

From this reading The two men bent forward over the dashboard.

blotting

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

From this reading The brief hour of darkness that preceded the dawn was that night intensified by a dense smoke, which, after blotting out horizon and sky, dropped a thick veil on the highroad and the silent streets of Indian Spring.

Brace

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

From this reading As the buggy containing Sheriff Dunn and Brace dashed through the obscurity, Brace suddenly turned to his companion.

brief

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

From this reading The brief hour of darkness that preceded the dawn was that night intensified by a dense smoke, which, after blotting out horizon and sky, dropped a thick veil on the highroad and the silent streets of Indian Spring.

buggy

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

From this reading As the buggy containing Sheriff Dunn and Brace dashed through the obscurity, Brace suddenly turned to his companion.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading The brief hour of darkness that preceded the dawn was that night intensified by a dense smoke, which, after blotting out horizon and sky, dropped a thick veil on the highroad and the silent streets of Indian Spring.

companion

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

From this reading As the buggy containing Sheriff Dunn and Brace dashed through the obscurity, Brace suddenly turned to his companion.

containing

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

From this reading As the buggy containing Sheriff Dunn and Brace dashed through the obscurity, Brace suddenly turned to his companion.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading Above the steady plunging of their own horse-hoofs they could hear the quicker irregular beat of other hoofs in the darkness before them.

darkness

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

From this reading The brief hour of darkness that preceded the dawn was that night intensified by a dense smoke, which, after blotting out horizon and sky, dropped a thick veil on the highroad and the silent streets of Indian Spring.

dashboard

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

From this reading The two men bent forward over the dashboard.

dashed

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

From this reading As the buggy containing Sheriff Dunn and Brace dashed through the obscurity, Brace suddenly turned to his companion.

dawn

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

From this reading The brief hour of darkness that preceded the dawn was that night intensified by a dense smoke, which, after blotting out horizon and sky, dropped a thick veil on the highroad and the silent streets of Indian Spring.

dense

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

From this reading The brief hour of darkness that preceded the dawn was that night intensified by a dense smoke, which, after blotting out horizon and sky, dropped a thick veil on the highroad and the silent streets of Indian Spring.

dropped

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

From this reading The brief hour of darkness that preceded the dawn was that night intensified by a dense smoke, which, after blotting out horizon and sky, dropped a thick veil on the highroad and the silent streets of Indian Spring.

Dunn

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

From this reading As the buggy containing Sheriff Dunn and Brace dashed through the obscurity, Brace suddenly turned to his companion.

forwardnounUS /forward/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The two men bent forward over the dashboard.

hearnounUS /hear/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Above the steady plunging of their own horse-hoofs they could hear the quicker irregular beat of other hoofs in the darkness before them.

highroad

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

From this reading The brief hour of darkness that preceded the dawn was that night intensified by a dense smoke, which, after blotting out horizon and sky, dropped a thick veil on the highroad and the silent streets of Indian Spring.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading As the buggy containing Sheriff Dunn and Brace dashed through the obscurity, Brace suddenly turned to his companion.

hoofs

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

From this reading Above the steady plunging of their own horse-hoofs they could hear the quicker irregular beat of other hoofs in the darkness before them.

horizon

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

From this reading The brief hour of darkness that preceded the dawn was that night intensified by a dense smoke, which, after blotting out horizon and sky, dropped a thick veil on the highroad and the silent streets of Indian Spring.

horse-hoofs

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

From this reading Above the steady plunging of their own horse-hoofs they could hear the quicker irregular beat of other hoofs in the darkness before them.

hour

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

From this reading The brief hour of darkness that preceded the dawn was that night intensified by a dense smoke, which, after blotting out horizon and sky, dropped a thick veil on the highroad and the silent streets of Indian Spring.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Above the steady plunging of their own horse-hoofs they could hear the quicker irregular beat of other hoofs in the darkness before them.

Indian

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

From this reading The brief hour of darkness that preceded the dawn was that night intensified by a dense smoke, which, after blotting out horizon and sky, dropped a thick veil on the highroad and the silent streets of Indian Spring.

intensified

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

From this reading The brief hour of darkness that preceded the dawn was that night intensified by a dense smoke, which, after blotting out horizon and sky, dropped a thick veil on the highroad and the silent streets of Indian Spring.

irregular

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

From this reading Above the steady plunging of their own horse-hoofs they could hear the quicker irregular beat of other hoofs in the darkness before them.

men

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

From this reading The two men bent forward over the dashboard.

night

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

From this reading The brief hour of darkness that preceded the dawn was that night intensified by a dense smoke, which, after blotting out horizon and sky, dropped a thick veil on the highroad and the silent streets of Indian Spring.

obscurity

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

From this reading As the buggy containing Sheriff Dunn and Brace dashed through the obscurity, Brace suddenly turned to his companion.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The brief hour of darkness that preceded the dawn was that night intensified by a dense smoke, which, after blotting out horizon and sky, dropped a thick veil on the highroad and the silent streets of Indian Spring.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading The brief hour of darkness that preceded the dawn was that night intensified by a dense smoke, which, after blotting out horizon and sky, dropped a thick veil on the highroad and the silent streets of Indian Spring.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading "Some one ahead!"

other

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

From this reading Above the steady plunging of their own horse-hoofs they could hear the quicker irregular beat of other hoofs in the darkness before them.

out

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

From this reading The brief hour of darkness that preceded the dawn was that night intensified by a dense smoke, which, after blotting out horizon and sky, dropped a thick veil on the highroad and the silent streets of Indian Spring.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading The two men bent forward over the dashboard.

own

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

From this reading Above the steady plunging of their own horse-hoofs they could hear the quicker irregular beat of other hoofs in the darkness before them.

plunging

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

From this reading Above the steady plunging of their own horse-hoofs they could hear the quicker irregular beat of other hoofs in the darkness before them.

preceded

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

From this reading The brief hour of darkness that preceded the dawn was that night intensified by a dense smoke, which, after blotting out horizon and sky, dropped a thick veil on the highroad and the silent streets of Indian Spring.

quicker

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

From this reading Above the steady plunging of their own horse-hoofs they could hear the quicker irregular beat of other hoofs in the darkness before them.

Sheriff

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

From this reading As the buggy containing Sheriff Dunn and Brace dashed through the obscurity, Brace suddenly turned to his companion.

silent

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

From this reading The brief hour of darkness that preceded the dawn was that night intensified by a dense smoke, which, after blotting out horizon and sky, dropped a thick veil on the highroad and the silent streets of Indian Spring.

sky

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

From this reading The brief hour of darkness that preceded the dawn was that night intensified by a dense smoke, which, after blotting out horizon and sky, dropped a thick veil on the highroad and the silent streets of Indian Spring.

smoke

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

From this reading The brief hour of darkness that preceded the dawn was that night intensified by a dense smoke, which, after blotting out horizon and sky, dropped a thick veil on the highroad and the silent streets of Indian Spring.

Some

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

From this reading "Some one ahead!"

Spring

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

From this reading The brief hour of darkness that preceded the dawn was that night intensified by a dense smoke, which, after blotting out horizon and sky, dropped a thick veil on the highroad and the silent streets of Indian Spring.

steady

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

From this reading Above the steady plunging of their own horse-hoofs they could hear the quicker irregular beat of other hoofs in the darkness before them.

streets

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

From this reading The brief hour of darkness that preceded the dawn was that night intensified by a dense smoke, which, after blotting out horizon and sky, dropped a thick veil on the highroad and the silent streets of Indian Spring.

suddenlynounUS /ˈsuddenly/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading As the buggy containing Sheriff Dunn and Brace dashed through the obscurity, Brace suddenly turned to his companion.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The brief hour of darkness that preceded the dawn was that night intensified by a dense smoke, which, after blotting out horizon and sky, dropped a thick veil on the highroad and the silent streets of Indian Spring.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The brief hour of darkness that preceded the dawn was that night intensified by a dense smoke, which, after blotting out horizon and sky, dropped a thick veil on the highroad and the silent streets of Indian Spring.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Above the steady plunging of their own horse-hoofs they could hear the quicker irregular beat of other hoofs in the darkness before them.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading Above the steady plunging of their own horse-hoofs they could hear the quicker irregular beat of other hoofs in the darkness before them.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading Above the steady plunging of their own horse-hoofs they could hear the quicker irregular beat of other hoofs in the darkness before them.

thick

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

From this reading The brief hour of darkness that preceded the dawn was that night intensified by a dense smoke, which, after blotting out horizon and sky, dropped a thick veil on the highroad and the silent streets of Indian Spring.

throughnounUS /ˈthrough/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading As the buggy containing Sheriff Dunn and Brace dashed through the obscurity, Brace suddenly turned to his companion.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading As the buggy containing Sheriff Dunn and Brace dashed through the obscurity, Brace suddenly turned to his companion.

turned

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

From this reading As the buggy containing Sheriff Dunn and Brace dashed through the obscurity, Brace suddenly turned to his companion.

two

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

From this reading The two men bent forward over the dashboard.

veil

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

From this reading The brief hour of darkness that preceded the dawn was that night intensified by a dense smoke, which, after blotting out horizon and sky, dropped a thick veil on the highroad and the silent streets of Indian Spring.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading The brief hour of darkness that preceded the dawn was that night intensified by a dense smoke, which, after blotting out horizon and sky, dropped a thick veil on the highroad and the silent streets of Indian Spring.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading The brief hour of darkness that preceded the dawn was that night intensified by a dense smoke, which, after blotting out horizon and sky, dropped a thick veil on the highroad and the silent streets of Indian Spring.