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Hardscrabble
Hardscrabble

Chapter IV · Chapter 4

Chapter 4 of Hardscrabble is here in full — 156 sentences across 32 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

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Context Illustration Reading 1/31 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Stealthily gliding through the fresh and thinly foliaged wood, that skirted the opposite shore, yet almost concealed from view, Corporal Nixon now beheld the crouching forms of several armed Indians, nearly naked, and evidently in war costume.
They were following the serpentine course necessitated by the interposing trees, and seeking cautiously to establish themselves behind cover on the very verge of the bank.
Back men for your lives, there's nothing friendly there,” exclaimed the Virginian the moment that his glance had taken in the scene, out with the arms, and divide the dry ammunition.
Collins, you are a smart fellow, do you and Green set to work and light a fire, but out of sight, and dry the muskets as fast as you can.
There are twelve pounds in each of the five remaining cartouch boxes, these will do for a spell.
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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.

Hardscrabble

Chapter IV · Chapter 4

Chapter 4 of Hardscrabble is here in full — 156 sentences across 32 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/31 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Stealthily gliding through the fresh and thinly foliaged wood, that skirted the opposite shore, yet almost concealed from view, Corporal Nixon now beheld the crouching forms of several armed Indians, nearly naked, and evidently in war costume.
Line 2
They were following the serpentine course necessitated by the interposing trees, and seeking cautiously to establish themselves behind cover on the very verge of the bank.
Line 3
Back men for your lives, there's nothing friendly there,” exclaimed the Virginian the moment that his glance had taken in the scene, “out with the arms, and divide the dry ammunition.
Line 4
Collins, you are a smart fellow, do you and Green set to work and light a fire, but out of sight, and dry the muskets as fast as you can.
Line 5
There are twelve pounds in each of the five remaining cartouch boxes, these will do for a spell.

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.

ammunition noun US /ˌæmjəˈnɪʃən/

projectiles to be fired from a gun

From this reading ““Back men for your lives, there's nothing friendly there,” exclaimed the Virginian the moment that his glance had taken in the scene, “out with the arms, and divide the dry ammunition.”

Collins noun US /ˈkɑːlɪnz/

English writer noted for early detective novels (1824-1889)

From this reading “Collins, you are a smart fellow, do you and Green set to work and light a fire, but out of sight, and dry the muskets as fast as you can.”

necessitated verb US /nəˈsesəteɪtəd/

past form of “necessitate” — require as useful, just, or proper

From this reading “They were following the serpentine course necessitated by the interposing trees, and seeking cautiously to establish themselves behind cover on the very verge of the bank.”

Nixon noun US /ˈnɪksən/

vice president under Eisenhower and 37th President of the United States; resigned after the Watergate scandal in 1974 (1913-1994)

From this reading “Stealthily gliding through the fresh and thinly foliaged wood, that skirted the opposite shore, yet almost concealed from view, Corporal Nixon now beheld the crouching forms of several armed Indians, nearly naked, and evidently in war costume.”

serpentine adjective US /ˈsɜːrpəntaɪn/

resembling a serpent in form

From this reading “They were following the serpentine course necessitated by the interposing trees, and seeking cautiously to establish themselves behind cover on the very verge of the bank.”

skirted verb US /ˈskɜːrtɪd/

past form of “skirt” — avoid or try to avoid fulfilling, answering, or performing (duties, questions, or issues)

From this reading “Stealthily gliding through the fresh and thinly foliaged wood, that skirted the opposite shore, yet almost concealed from view, Corporal Nixon now beheld the crouching forms of several armed Indians, nearly naked, and evidently in war costume.”

thinly adverb US /ˈθɪnli/

without force or sincere effort

From this reading “Stealthily gliding through the fresh and thinly foliaged wood, that skirted the opposite shore, yet almost concealed from view, Corporal Nixon now beheld the crouching forms of several armed Indians, nearly naked, and evidently in war costume.”

Virginian noun US /vərˈdʒɪnjən/

a native or resident of Virginia

From this reading ““Back men for your lives, there's nothing friendly there,” exclaimed the Virginian the moment that his glance had taken in the scene, “out with the arms, and divide the dry ammunition.”

All words in this reading · 105

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 Collins, you are a smart fellow, do you and Green set to work and light a fire, but out of sight, and dry the muskets as fast as you can.

almostadverbUS /ˈɔːlmoʊst/

(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but

From this reading Stealthily gliding through the fresh and thinly foliaged wood, that skirted the opposite shore, yet almost concealed from view, Corporal Nixon now beheld the crouching forms of several armed Indians, nearly naked, and evidently in war costume.

ammunitionnounUS /ˌæmjəˈnɪʃən/

projectiles to be fired from a gun

From this reading “Back men for your lives, there's nothing friendly there,” exclaimed the Virginian the moment that his glance had taken in the scene, “out with the arms, and divide the dry ammunition.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Stealthily gliding through the fresh and thinly foliaged wood, that skirted the opposite shore, yet almost concealed from view, Corporal Nixon now beheld the crouching forms of several armed Indians, nearly naked, and evidently in war costume.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading Collins, you are a smart fellow, do you and Green set to work and light a fire, but out of sight, and dry the muskets as fast as you can.

armedadjectiveUS /ɑːrmd/

(used of persons or the military) characterized by having or bearing arms

From this reading Stealthily gliding through the fresh and thinly foliaged wood, that skirted the opposite shore, yet almost concealed from view, Corporal Nixon now beheld the crouching forms of several armed Indians, nearly naked, and evidently in war costume.

armsnounUS /ɑːrmz/

weapons considered collectively

From this reading “Back men for your lives, there's nothing friendly there,” exclaimed the Virginian the moment that his glance had taken in the scene, “out with the arms, and divide the dry ammunition.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading Collins, you are a smart fellow, do you and Green set to work and light a fire, but out of sight, and dry the muskets as fast as you can.

BackadverbUS /bæk/

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading “Back men for your lives, there's nothing friendly there,” exclaimed the Virginian the moment that his glance had taken in the scene, “out with the arms, and divide the dry ammunition.

banknounUS /bæŋk/

sloping land (especially the slope beside a body of water)

From this reading They were following the serpentine course necessitated by the interposing trees, and seeking cautiously to establish themselves behind cover on the very verge of the bank.

beheldverbUS /biˈheld/

inflected form of “behold” — see with attention

From this reading Stealthily gliding through the fresh and thinly foliaged wood, that skirted the opposite shore, yet almost concealed from view, Corporal Nixon now beheld the crouching forms of several armed Indians, nearly naked, and evidently in war costume.

behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/

at or toward the back of something

From this reading They were following the serpentine course necessitated by the interposing trees, and seeking cautiously to establish themselves behind cover on the very verge of the bank.

boxesnounUS /ˈbɑːksəz/

plural of “box” — a (usually rectangular) container; may have a lid

From this reading There are twelve pounds in each of the five remaining cartouch boxes, these will do for a spell.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Collins, you are a smart fellow, do you and Green set to work and light a fire, but out of sight, and dry the muskets as fast as you can.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading They were following the serpentine course necessitated by the interposing trees, and seeking cautiously to establish themselves behind cover on the very verge of the bank.

canmodal verbUS /kæn/

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading Collins, you are a smart fellow, do you and Green set to work and light a fire, but out of sight, and dry the muskets as fast as you can.

cartouchnoun

a cartridge (usually with paper casing)

From this reading There are twelve pounds in each of the five remaining cartouch boxes, these will do for a spell.

cautiouslyadverbUS /ˈkɔːʃəsli/

as if with kid gloves; with caution or prudence or tact

From this reading They were following the serpentine course necessitated by the interposing trees, and seeking cautiously to establish themselves behind cover on the very verge of the bank.

CollinsnounUS /ˈkɑːlɪnz/

English writer noted for early detective novels (1824-1889)

From this reading Collins, you are a smart fellow, do you and Green set to work and light a fire, but out of sight, and dry the muskets as fast as you can.

concealedadjectiveUS /kənˈsiːld/

not accessible to view

From this reading Stealthily gliding through the fresh and thinly foliaged wood, that skirted the opposite shore, yet almost concealed from view, Corporal Nixon now beheld the crouching forms of several armed Indians, nearly naked, and evidently in war costume.

CorporalnounUS /ˈkɔːrpərəl/

a noncommissioned officer in the Army or Air Force or Marines

From this reading Stealthily gliding through the fresh and thinly foliaged wood, that skirted the opposite shore, yet almost concealed from view, Corporal Nixon now beheld the crouching forms of several armed Indians, nearly naked, and evidently in war costume.

costumenounUS /kɑːˈstuːm/

the attire worn in a play or at a fancy dress ball

From this reading Stealthily gliding through the fresh and thinly foliaged wood, that skirted the opposite shore, yet almost concealed from view, Corporal Nixon now beheld the crouching forms of several armed Indians, nearly naked, and evidently in war costume.

coursenounUS /kɔːrs/

education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings

From this reading They were following the serpentine course necessitated by the interposing trees, and seeking cautiously to establish themselves behind cover on the very verge of the bank.

coververbUS /ˈkʌvər/

provide with a covering or cause to be covered

From this reading They were following the serpentine course necessitated by the interposing trees, and seeking cautiously to establish themselves behind cover on the very verge of the bank.

crouchingverbUS /ˈkraʊtʃɪŋ/

-ing form of “crouch” — bend one's back forward from the waist on down

From this reading Stealthily gliding through the fresh and thinly foliaged wood, that skirted the opposite shore, yet almost concealed from view, Corporal Nixon now beheld the crouching forms of several armed Indians, nearly naked, and evidently in war costume.

divideverbUS /dɪˈvaɪd/

separate into parts or portions

From this reading “Back men for your lives, there's nothing friendly there,” exclaimed the Virginian the moment that his glance had taken in the scene, “out with the arms, and divide the dry ammunition.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading Collins, you are a smart fellow, do you and Green set to work and light a fire, but out of sight, and dry the muskets as fast as you can.

dryadjectiveUS /draɪ/

free from liquid or moisture; lacking natural or normal moisture or depleted of water; or no longer wet

From this reading “Back men for your lives, there's nothing friendly there,” exclaimed the Virginian the moment that his glance had taken in the scene, “out with the arms, and divide the dry ammunition.

eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/

every one of two or more people or things, taken separately

From this reading There are twelve pounds in each of the five remaining cartouch boxes, these will do for a spell.

establishverbUS /ɪˈstæblɪʃ/

set up or found

From this reading They were following the serpentine course necessitated by the interposing trees, and seeking cautiously to establish themselves behind cover on the very verge of the bank.

evidentlyadverbUS /ˈevədəntli/

unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)

From this reading Stealthily gliding through the fresh and thinly foliaged wood, that skirted the opposite shore, yet almost concealed from view, Corporal Nixon now beheld the crouching forms of several armed Indians, nearly naked, and evidently in war costume.

exclaimedverbUS /ɪkˈskleɪmd/

past form of “exclaim” — utter aloud; often with surprise, horror, or joy

From this reading “Back men for your lives, there's nothing friendly there,” exclaimed the Virginian the moment that his glance had taken in the scene, “out with the arms, and divide the dry ammunition.

fastadverbUS /fæst/

quickly or rapidly (often used as a combining form)

From this reading Collins, you are a smart fellow, do you and Green set to work and light a fire, but out of sight, and dry the muskets as fast as you can.

fellownounUS /ˈfeloʊ/

a boy or man

From this reading Collins, you are a smart fellow, do you and Green set to work and light a fire, but out of sight, and dry the muskets as fast as you can.

fireverbUS /ˈfaɪər/

start firing a weapon

From this reading Collins, you are a smart fellow, do you and Green set to work and light a fire, but out of sight, and dry the muskets as fast as you can.

fivenounUS /faɪv/

the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one

From this reading There are twelve pounds in each of the five remaining cartouch boxes, these will do for a spell.

foliagedadjective

bearing numerous leaves

From this reading Stealthily gliding through the fresh and thinly foliaged wood, that skirted the opposite shore, yet almost concealed from view, Corporal Nixon now beheld the crouching forms of several armed Indians, nearly naked, and evidently in war costume.

followingadjectiveUS /ˈfɑːloʊɪŋ/

about to be mentioned or specified

From this reading They were following the serpentine course necessitated by the interposing trees, and seeking cautiously to establish themselves behind cover on the very verge of the bank.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading “Back men for your lives, there's nothing friendly there,” exclaimed the Virginian the moment that his glance had taken in the scene, “out with the arms, and divide the dry ammunition.

formsnounUS /fɔːrmz/

plural of “form” — the phonological or orthographic sound or appearance of a word that can be used to describe or identify something

From this reading Stealthily gliding through the fresh and thinly foliaged wood, that skirted the opposite shore, yet almost concealed from view, Corporal Nixon now beheld the crouching forms of several armed Indians, nearly naked, and evidently in war costume.

freshadjectiveUS /freʃ/

recently made, produced, or harvested

From this reading Stealthily gliding through the fresh and thinly foliaged wood, that skirted the opposite shore, yet almost concealed from view, Corporal Nixon now beheld the crouching forms of several armed Indians, nearly naked, and evidently in war costume.

friendlyadjectiveUS /ˈfrendli/

characteristic of or befitting a friend

From this reading “Back men for your lives, there's nothing friendly there,” exclaimed the Virginian the moment that his glance had taken in the scene, “out with the arms, and divide the dry ammunition.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Stealthily gliding through the fresh and thinly foliaged wood, that skirted the opposite shore, yet almost concealed from view, Corporal Nixon now beheld the crouching forms of several armed Indians, nearly naked, and evidently in war costume.

glanceverbUS /ɡlæns/

throw a glance at; take a brief look at

From this reading “Back men for your lives, there's nothing friendly there,” exclaimed the Virginian the moment that his glance had taken in the scene, “out with the arms, and divide the dry ammunition.

glidingnounUS /ˈɡlaɪdɪŋ/

the activity of flying a glider

From this reading Stealthily gliding through the fresh and thinly foliaged wood, that skirted the opposite shore, yet almost concealed from view, Corporal Nixon now beheld the crouching forms of several armed Indians, nearly naked, and evidently in war costume.

GreennounUS /ɡriːn/

green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass

From this reading Collins, you are a smart fellow, do you and Green set to work and light a fire, but out of sight, and dry the muskets as fast as you can.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading “Back men for your lives, there's nothing friendly there,” exclaimed the Virginian the moment that his glance had taken in the scene, “out with the arms, and divide the dry ammunition.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading “Back men for your lives, there's nothing friendly there,” exclaimed the Virginian the moment that his glance had taken in the scene, “out with the arms, and divide the dry ammunition.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Stealthily gliding through the fresh and thinly foliaged wood, that skirted the opposite shore, yet almost concealed from view, Corporal Nixon now beheld the crouching forms of several armed Indians, nearly naked, and evidently in war costume.

IndiansnounUS /ˈɪndiənz/

plural of “indian” — a native or inhabitant of India

From this reading Stealthily gliding through the fresh and thinly foliaged wood, that skirted the opposite shore, yet almost concealed from view, Corporal Nixon now beheld the crouching forms of several armed Indians, nearly naked, and evidently in war costume.

interposing

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

From this reading They were following the serpentine course necessitated by the interposing trees, and seeking cautiously to establish themselves behind cover on the very verge of the bank.

lightadjectiveUS /laɪt/

of comparatively little physical weight or density

From this reading Collins, you are a smart fellow, do you and Green set to work and light a fire, but out of sight, and dry the muskets as fast as you can.

livesnounUS /lɪvz/

plural of “life” — a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading “Back men for your lives, there's nothing friendly there,” exclaimed the Virginian the moment that his glance had taken in the scene, “out with the arms, and divide the dry ammunition.

mennounUS /men/

the force of workers available

From this reading “Back men for your lives, there's nothing friendly there,” exclaimed the Virginian the moment that his glance had taken in the scene, “out with the arms, and divide the dry ammunition.

momentnounUS /ˈmoʊmənt/

a particular point in time

From this reading “Back men for your lives, there's nothing friendly there,” exclaimed the Virginian the moment that his glance had taken in the scene, “out with the arms, and divide the dry ammunition.

muskets

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

From this reading Collins, you are a smart fellow, do you and Green set to work and light a fire, but out of sight, and dry the muskets as fast as you can.

nakedadjectiveUS /ˈneɪkəd/

completely unclothed

From this reading Stealthily gliding through the fresh and thinly foliaged wood, that skirted the opposite shore, yet almost concealed from view, Corporal Nixon now beheld the crouching forms of several armed Indians, nearly naked, and evidently in war costume.

nearlyadverbUS /ˈnɪrli/

(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but

From this reading Stealthily gliding through the fresh and thinly foliaged wood, that skirted the opposite shore, yet almost concealed from view, Corporal Nixon now beheld the crouching forms of several armed Indians, nearly naked, and evidently in war costume.

necessitatedverbUS /nəˈsesəteɪtəd/

past form of “necessitate” — require as useful, just, or proper

From this reading They were following the serpentine course necessitated by the interposing trees, and seeking cautiously to establish themselves behind cover on the very verge of the bank.

NixonnounUS /ˈnɪksən/

vice president under Eisenhower and 37th President of the United States; resigned after the Watergate scandal in 1974 (1913-1994)

From this reading Stealthily gliding through the fresh and thinly foliaged wood, that skirted the opposite shore, yet almost concealed from view, Corporal Nixon now beheld the crouching forms of several armed Indians, nearly naked, and evidently in war costume.

nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading “Back men for your lives, there's nothing friendly there,” exclaimed the Virginian the moment that his glance had taken in the scene, “out with the arms, and divide the dry ammunition.

nowadverbUS /naʊ/

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading Stealthily gliding through the fresh and thinly foliaged wood, that skirted the opposite shore, yet almost concealed from view, Corporal Nixon now beheld the crouching forms of several armed Indians, nearly naked, and evidently in war costume.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Stealthily gliding through the fresh and thinly foliaged wood, that skirted the opposite shore, yet almost concealed from view, Corporal Nixon now beheld the crouching forms of several armed Indians, nearly naked, and evidently in war costume.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading They were following the serpentine course necessitated by the interposing trees, and seeking cautiously to establish themselves behind cover on the very verge of the bank.

oppositeadjectiveUS /ˈɑːpəzət/

being directly across from each other; facing

From this reading Stealthily gliding through the fresh and thinly foliaged wood, that skirted the opposite shore, yet almost concealed from view, Corporal Nixon now beheld the crouching forms of several armed Indians, nearly naked, and evidently in war costume.

outadjectiveUS /aʊt/

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading “Back men for your lives, there's nothing friendly there,” exclaimed the Virginian the moment that his glance had taken in the scene, “out with the arms, and divide the dry ammunition.

poundsnounUS /paʊndz/

plural of “pound” — 16 ounces avoirdupois

From this reading There are twelve pounds in each of the five remaining cartouch boxes, these will do for a spell.

remainingadjectiveUS /rɪˈmeɪnɪŋ/

not used up

From this reading There are twelve pounds in each of the five remaining cartouch boxes, these will do for a spell.

scenenounUS /siːn/

the place where some action occurs

From this reading “Back men for your lives, there's nothing friendly there,” exclaimed the Virginian the moment that his glance had taken in the scene, “out with the arms, and divide the dry ammunition.

seekingnounUS /ˈsiːkɪŋ/

the act of searching for something

From this reading They were following the serpentine course necessitated by the interposing trees, and seeking cautiously to establish themselves behind cover on the very verge of the bank.

serpentineadjectiveUS /ˈsɜːrpəntaɪn/

resembling a serpent in form

From this reading They were following the serpentine course necessitated by the interposing trees, and seeking cautiously to establish themselves behind cover on the very verge of the bank.

setverbUS /set/

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading Collins, you are a smart fellow, do you and Green set to work and light a fire, but out of sight, and dry the muskets as fast as you can.

severaladjectiveUS /ˈsevrəl/

(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many

From this reading Stealthily gliding through the fresh and thinly foliaged wood, that skirted the opposite shore, yet almost concealed from view, Corporal Nixon now beheld the crouching forms of several armed Indians, nearly naked, and evidently in war costume.

shorenounUS /ʃɔːr/

the land along the edge of a body of water

From this reading Stealthily gliding through the fresh and thinly foliaged wood, that skirted the opposite shore, yet almost concealed from view, Corporal Nixon now beheld the crouching forms of several armed Indians, nearly naked, and evidently in war costume.

sightnounUS /saɪt/

an instance of visual perception

From this reading Collins, you are a smart fellow, do you and Green set to work and light a fire, but out of sight, and dry the muskets as fast as you can.

skirtedverbUS /ˈskɜːrtɪd/

past form of “skirt” — avoid or try to avoid fulfilling, answering, or performing (duties, questions, or issues)

From this reading Stealthily gliding through the fresh and thinly foliaged wood, that skirted the opposite shore, yet almost concealed from view, Corporal Nixon now beheld the crouching forms of several armed Indians, nearly naked, and evidently in war costume.

smartadjectiveUS /smɑːrt/

showing mental alertness and calculation and resourcefulness

From this reading Collins, you are a smart fellow, do you and Green set to work and light a fire, but out of sight, and dry the muskets as fast as you can.

spellverbUS /spel/

orally recite the letters of or give the spelling of

From this reading There are twelve pounds in each of the five remaining cartouch boxes, these will do for a spell.

Stealthilyadverb

in a stealthy manner

From this reading Stealthily gliding through the fresh and thinly foliaged wood, that skirted the opposite shore, yet almost concealed from view, Corporal Nixon now beheld the crouching forms of several armed Indians, nearly naked, and evidently in war costume.

takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/

understood in a certain way; made sense of

From this reading “Back men for your lives, there's nothing friendly there,” exclaimed the Virginian the moment that his glance had taken in the scene, “out with the arms, and divide the dry ammunition.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Stealthily gliding through the fresh and thinly foliaged wood, that skirted the opposite shore, yet almost concealed from view, Corporal Nixon now beheld the crouching forms of several armed Indians, nearly naked, and evidently in war costume.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Stealthily gliding through the fresh and thinly foliaged wood, that skirted the opposite shore, yet almost concealed from view, Corporal Nixon now beheld the crouching forms of several armed Indians, nearly naked, and evidently in war costume.

themselvespronounUS /ðemˈselvz/

used when the people doing the action are also its object

From this reading They were following the serpentine course necessitated by the interposing trees, and seeking cautiously to establish themselves behind cover on the very verge of the bank.

thereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading “Back men for your lives, there's nothing friendly there,” exclaimed the Virginian the moment that his glance had taken in the scene, “out with the arms, and divide the dry ammunition.

there's

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

From this reading “Back men for your lives, there's nothing friendly there,” exclaimed the Virginian the moment that his glance had taken in the scene, “out with the arms, and divide the dry ammunition.

thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/

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

From this reading There are twelve pounds in each of the five remaining cartouch boxes, these will do for a spell.

TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading They were following the serpentine course necessitated by the interposing trees, and seeking cautiously to establish themselves behind cover on the very verge of the bank.

thinlyadverbUS /ˈθɪnli/

without force or sincere effort

From this reading Stealthily gliding through the fresh and thinly foliaged wood, that skirted the opposite shore, yet almost concealed from view, Corporal Nixon now beheld the crouching forms of several armed Indians, nearly naked, and evidently in war costume.

throughprepositionUS /θruː/

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading Stealthily gliding through the fresh and thinly foliaged wood, that skirted the opposite shore, yet almost concealed from view, Corporal Nixon now beheld the crouching forms of several armed Indians, nearly naked, and evidently in war costume.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading They were following the serpentine course necessitated by the interposing trees, and seeking cautiously to establish themselves behind cover on the very verge of the bank.

treesnounUS /triːz/

plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms

From this reading They were following the serpentine course necessitated by the interposing trees, and seeking cautiously to establish themselves behind cover on the very verge of the bank.

twelvenounUS /twelv/

the cardinal number that is the sum of eleven and one

From this reading There are twelve pounds in each of the five remaining cartouch boxes, these will do for a spell.

vergenounUS /vɜːrdʒ/

a region marking a boundary

From this reading They were following the serpentine course necessitated by the interposing trees, and seeking cautiously to establish themselves behind cover on the very verge of the bank.

veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/

precisely as stated

From this reading They were following the serpentine course necessitated by the interposing trees, and seeking cautiously to establish themselves behind cover on the very verge of the bank.

viewnounUS /vjuː/

a way of regarding situations or topics etc.

From this reading Stealthily gliding through the fresh and thinly foliaged wood, that skirted the opposite shore, yet almost concealed from view, Corporal Nixon now beheld the crouching forms of several armed Indians, nearly naked, and evidently in war costume.

VirginiannounUS /vərˈdʒɪnjən/

a native or resident of Virginia

From this reading “Back men for your lives, there's nothing friendly there,” exclaimed the Virginian the moment that his glance had taken in the scene, “out with the arms, and divide the dry ammunition.

warnounUS /wɔːr/

the waging of armed conflict against an enemy

From this reading Stealthily gliding through the fresh and thinly foliaged wood, that skirted the opposite shore, yet almost concealed from view, Corporal Nixon now beheld the crouching forms of several armed Indians, nearly naked, and evidently in war costume.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading They were following the serpentine course necessitated by the interposing trees, and seeking cautiously to establish themselves behind cover on the very verge of the bank.

willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading There are twelve pounds in each of the five remaining cartouch boxes, these will do for a spell.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading “Back men for your lives, there's nothing friendly there,” exclaimed the Virginian the moment that his glance had taken in the scene, “out with the arms, and divide the dry ammunition.

woodnounUS /wʊd/

the hard fibrous lignified substance under the bark of trees

From this reading Stealthily gliding through the fresh and thinly foliaged wood, that skirted the opposite shore, yet almost concealed from view, Corporal Nixon now beheld the crouching forms of several armed Indians, nearly naked, and evidently in war costume.

workverbUS /wɜːrk/

exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity

From this reading Collins, you are a smart fellow, do you and Green set to work and light a fire, but out of sight, and dry the muskets as fast as you can.

yetconjunctionUS /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading Stealthily gliding through the fresh and thinly foliaged wood, that skirted the opposite shore, yet almost concealed from view, Corporal Nixon now beheld the crouching forms of several armed Indians, nearly naked, and evidently in war costume.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading Collins, you are a smart fellow, do you and Green set to work and light a fire, but out of sight, and dry the muskets as fast as you can.

yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading “Back men for your lives, there's nothing friendly there,” exclaimed the Virginian the moment that his glance had taken in the scene, “out with the arms, and divide the dry ammunition.

Chapter 4 of Hardscrabble by Major (John) Richardson holds 156 sentences, grouped into 32 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 4 of Hardscrabble contain?

Chapter 4 holds 156 sentences of Hardscrabble, unabridged, divided into 32 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 4 of Hardscrabble by Major (John) Richardson exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 156 sentences, grouped into 32 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 4 of Hardscrabble?

Work through the 32 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 32 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 4 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 4 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 Hardscrabble

Common questions about reading Hardscrabble by Major (John) Richardson on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Hardscrabble?

Yes. All 2000 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #5169 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Hardscrabble is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #5169, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Hardscrabble take to read?

About 166 minutes of reading across 400 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Hardscrabble section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 13 chapters of Hardscrabble 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 Hardscrabble

Words and structures a reader meets early in Hardscrabble, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Beautiful
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Hardscrabble; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Early
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Hardscrabble; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Month
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Hardscrabble; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
April
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Hardscrabble; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.