Chapter I

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

From this reading _Illustrations by_ Ralph L. Boyer and A. Edwin Kromer Late one afternoon when the sunlight was slanting through the trees and wavering upon the adobe walls of the Pueblo of Los Angeles, when the only sounds were the whispering winds in the higher boughs, and the thrumming of a stringed instrument from the soldiers’ quarters, a tall Spanish mule came clattering into the village with two boys astride its back.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading A barefooted sentry, his piece over his shoulder, looked up at the sudden sound; and as the mule was abruptly checked beside him, and the two lads slipped from its back, he whipped his weapon about and with a brown thumb upon the trigger, cried:

quickly and without warning

From this reading A barefooted sentry, his piece over his shoulder, looked up at the sudden sound; and as the mule was abruptly checked beside him, and the two lads slipped from its back, he whipped his weapon about and with a brown thumb upon the trigger, cried:

the clay from which adobe bricks are made

From this reading _Illustrations by_ Ralph L. Boyer and A. Edwin Kromer Late one afternoon when the sunlight was slanting through the trees and wavering upon the adobe walls of the Pueblo of Los Angeles, when the only sounds were the whispering winds in the higher boughs, and the thrumming of a stringed instrument from the soldiers’ quarters, a tall Spanish mule came clattering into the village with two boys astride its back.

the part of the day between noon and evening

From this reading _Illustrations by_ Ralph L. Boyer and A. Edwin Kromer Late one afternoon when the sunlight was slanting through the trees and wavering upon the adobe walls of the Pueblo of Los Angeles, when the only sounds were the whispering winds in the higher boughs, and the thrumming of a stringed instrument from the soldiers’ quarters, a tall Spanish mule came clattering into the village with two boys astride its back.

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

From this reading _Illustrations by_ Ralph L. Boyer and A. Edwin Kromer Late one afternoon when the sunlight was slanting through the trees and wavering upon the adobe walls of the Pueblo of Los Angeles, when the only sounds were the whispering winds in the higher boughs, and the thrumming of a stringed instrument from the soldiers’ quarters, a tall Spanish mule came clattering into the village with two boys astride its back.

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

From this reading _Illustrations by_ Ralph L. Boyer and A. Edwin Kromer Late one afternoon when the sunlight was slanting through the trees and wavering upon the adobe walls of the Pueblo of Los Angeles, when the only sounds were the whispering winds in the higher boughs, and the thrumming of a stringed instrument from the soldiers’ quarters, a tall Spanish mule came clattering into the village with two boys astride its back.

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

From this reading A barefooted sentry, his piece over his shoulder, looked up at the sudden sound; and as the mule was abruptly checked beside him, and the two lads slipped from its back, he whipped his weapon about and with a brown thumb upon the trigger, cried:

with one leg on each side

From this reading _Illustrations by_ Ralph L. Boyer and A. Edwin Kromer Late one afternoon when the sunlight was slanting through the trees and wavering upon the adobe walls of the Pueblo of Los Angeles, when the only sounds were the whispering winds in the higher boughs, and the thrumming of a stringed instrument from the soldiers’ quarters, a tall Spanish mule came clattering into the village with two boys astride its back.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading A barefooted sentry, his piece over his shoulder, looked up at the sudden sound; and as the mule was abruptly checked beside him, and the two lads slipped from its back, he whipped his weapon about and with a brown thumb upon the trigger, cried:

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading _Illustrations by_ Ralph L. Boyer and A. Edwin Kromer Late one afternoon when the sunlight was slanting through the trees and wavering upon the adobe walls of the Pueblo of Los Angeles, when the only sounds were the whispering winds in the higher boughs, and the thrumming of a stringed instrument from the soldiers’ quarters, a tall Spanish mule came clattering into the village with two boys astride its back.

without shoes

From this reading A barefooted sentry, his piece over his shoulder, looked up at the sudden sound; and as the mule was abruptly checked beside him, and the two lads slipped from its back, he whipped his weapon about and with a brown thumb upon the trigger, cried:

put in or stored in a barrel

From this reading They were bronzed, sinewy looking youngsters; each held a long barreled rifle.

next to; at the side of

From this reading A barefooted sentry, his piece over his shoulder, looked up at the sudden sound; and as the mule was abruptly checked beside him, and the two lads slipped from its back, he whipped his weapon about and with a brown thumb upon the trigger, cried:

plural of “bough” — any of the larger branches of a tree

From this reading _Illustrations by_ Ralph L. Boyer and A. Edwin Kromer Late one afternoon when the sunlight was slanting through the trees and wavering upon the adobe walls of the Pueblo of Los Angeles, when the only sounds were the whispering winds in the higher boughs, and the thrumming of a stringed instrument from the soldiers’ quarters, a tall Spanish mule came clattering into the village with two boys astride its back.

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

From this reading _Illustrations by_ Ralph L. Boyer and A. Edwin Kromer Late one afternoon when the sunlight was slanting through the trees and wavering upon the adobe walls of the Pueblo of Los Angeles, when the only sounds were the whispering winds in the higher boughs, and the thrumming of a stringed instrument from the soldiers’ quarters, a tall Spanish mule came clattering into the village with two boys astride its back.

plural of “boy” — a youthful male person

From this reading _Illustrations by_ Ralph L. Boyer and A. Edwin Kromer Late one afternoon when the sunlight was slanting through the trees and wavering upon the adobe walls of the Pueblo of Los Angeles, when the only sounds were the whispering winds in the higher boughs, and the thrumming of a stringed instrument from the soldiers’ quarters, a tall Spanish mule came clattering into the village with two boys astride its back.

(of skin) having a tan color from exposure to the sun

From this reading They were bronzed, sinewy looking youngsters; each held a long barreled rifle.

an orange of low brightness and saturation

From this reading A barefooted sentry, his piece over his shoulder, looked up at the sudden sound; and as the mule was abruptly checked beside him, and the two lads slipped from its back, he whipped his weapon about and with a brown thumb upon the trigger, cried:

showing who or what does the action

From this reading _Illustrations by_ Ralph L. Boyer and A. Edwin Kromer Late one afternoon when the sunlight was slanting through the trees and wavering upon the adobe walls of the Pueblo of Los Angeles, when the only sounds were the whispering winds in the higher boughs, and the thrumming of a stringed instrument from the soldiers’ quarters, a tall Spanish mule came clattering into the village with two boys astride its back.

inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading _Illustrations by_ Ralph L. Boyer and A. Edwin Kromer Late one afternoon when the sunlight was slanting through the trees and wavering upon the adobe walls of the Pueblo of Los Angeles, when the only sounds were the whispering winds in the higher boughs, and the thrumming of a stringed instrument from the soldiers’ quarters, a tall Spanish mule came clattering into the village with two boys astride its back.

patterned with alternating squares of color

From this reading A barefooted sentry, his piece over his shoulder, looked up at the sudden sound; and as the mule was abruptly checked beside him, and the two lads slipped from its back, he whipped his weapon about and with a brown thumb upon the trigger, cried:

-ing form of “clatter” — make a rattling sound

From this reading _Illustrations by_ Ralph L. Boyer and A. Edwin Kromer Late one afternoon when the sunlight was slanting through the trees and wavering upon the adobe walls of the Pueblo of Los Angeles, when the only sounds were the whispering winds in the higher boughs, and the thrumming of a stringed instrument from the soldiers’ quarters, a tall Spanish mule came clattering into the village with two boys astride its back.

inflected form of “cry” — utter a sudden loud cry

From this reading A barefooted sentry, his piece over his shoulder, looked up at the sudden sound; and as the mule was abruptly checked beside him, and the two lads slipped from its back, he whipped his weapon about and with a brown thumb upon the trigger, cried:

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

From this reading They were bronzed, sinewy looking youngsters; each held a long barreled rifle.

king of Northumbria who was converted to Christianity (585-633)

From this reading _Illustrations by_ Ralph L. Boyer and A. Edwin Kromer Late one afternoon when the sunlight was slanting through the trees and wavering upon the adobe walls of the Pueblo of Los Angeles, when the only sounds were the whispering winds in the higher boughs, and the thrumming of a stringed instrument from the soldiers’ quarters, a tall Spanish mule came clattering into the village with two boys astride its back.

a person who is older than you are

From this reading The elder of the two lads wiped his forehead with his sleeve; then to the other he said:

the part of the face above the eyes

From this reading The elder of the two lads wiped his forehead with his sleeve; then to the other he said:

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading _Illustrations by_ Ralph L. Boyer and A. Edwin Kromer Late one afternoon when the sunlight was slanting through the trees and wavering upon the adobe walls of the Pueblo of Los Angeles, when the only sounds were the whispering winds in the higher boughs, and the thrumming of a stringed instrument from the soldiers’ quarters, a tall Spanish mule came clattering into the village with two boys astride its back.

cause to stop

From this reading “Halt!”

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

From this reading A barefooted sentry, his piece over his shoulder, looked up at the sudden sound; and as the mule was abruptly checked beside him, and the two lads slipped from its back, he whipped his weapon about and with a brown thumb upon the trigger, cried:

occupied or in the control of; often used in combination

From this reading They were bronzed, sinewy looking youngsters; each held a long barreled rifle.

advanced in complexity or elaboration

From this reading _Illustrations by_ Ralph L. Boyer and A. Edwin Kromer Late one afternoon when the sunlight was slanting through the trees and wavering upon the adobe walls of the Pueblo of Los Angeles, when the only sounds were the whispering winds in the higher boughs, and the thrumming of a stringed instrument from the soldiers’ quarters, a tall Spanish mule came clattering into the village with two boys astride its back.

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

From this reading A barefooted sentry, his piece over his shoulder, looked up at the sudden sound; and as the mule was abruptly checked beside him, and the two lads slipped from its back, he whipped his weapon about and with a brown thumb upon the trigger, cried:

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

From this reading A barefooted sentry, his piece over his shoulder, looked up at the sudden sound; and as the mule was abruptly checked beside him, and the two lads slipped from its back, he whipped his weapon about and with a brown thumb upon the trigger, cried:

plural of “illustration” — artwork that helps make something clear or attractive

From this reading _Illustrations by_ Ralph L. Boyer and A. Edwin Kromer Late one afternoon when the sunlight was slanting through the trees and wavering upon the adobe walls of the Pueblo of Los Angeles, when the only sounds were the whispering winds in the higher boughs, and the thrumming of a stringed instrument from the soldiers’ quarters, a tall Spanish mule came clattering into the village with two boys astride its back.

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

From this reading _Illustrations by_ Ralph L. Boyer and A. Edwin Kromer Late one afternoon when the sunlight was slanting through the trees and wavering upon the adobe walls of the Pueblo of Los Angeles, when the only sounds were the whispering winds in the higher boughs, and the thrumming of a stringed instrument from the soldiers’ quarters, a tall Spanish mule came clattering into the village with two boys astride its back.

a device that requires skill for proper use

From this reading _Illustrations by_ Ralph L. Boyer and A. Edwin Kromer Late one afternoon when the sunlight was slanting through the trees and wavering upon the adobe walls of the Pueblo of Los Angeles, when the only sounds were the whispering winds in the higher boughs, and the thrumming of a stringed instrument from the soldiers’ quarters, a tall Spanish mule came clattering into the village with two boys astride its back.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading _Illustrations by_ Ralph L. Boyer and A. Edwin Kromer Late one afternoon when the sunlight was slanting through the trees and wavering upon the adobe walls of the Pueblo of Los Angeles, when the only sounds were the whispering winds in the higher boughs, and the thrumming of a stringed instrument from the soldiers’ quarters, a tall Spanish mule came clattering into the village with two boys astride its back.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading _Illustrations by_ Ralph L. Boyer and A. Edwin Kromer Late one afternoon when the sunlight was slanting through the trees and wavering upon the adobe walls of the Pueblo of Los Angeles, when the only sounds were the whispering winds in the higher boughs, and the thrumming of a stringed instrument from the soldiers’ quarters, a tall Spanish mule came clattering into the village with two boys astride its back.

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

From this reading _Illustrations by_ Ralph L. Boyer and A. Edwin Kromer Late one afternoon when the sunlight was slanting through the trees and wavering upon the adobe walls of the Pueblo of Los Angeles, when the only sounds were the whispering winds in the higher boughs, and the thrumming of a stringed instrument from the soldiers’ quarters, a tall Spanish mule came clattering into the village with two boys astride its back.

a metric unit of capacity, formerly defined as the volume of one kilogram of pure water under standard conditions; now equal to 1,000 cubic centimeters (or approximately 1.75 pints)

From this reading _Illustrations by_ Ralph L. Boyer and A. Edwin Kromer Late one afternoon when the sunlight was slanting through the trees and wavering upon the adobe walls of the Pueblo of Los Angeles, when the only sounds were the whispering winds in the higher boughs, and the thrumming of a stringed instrument from the soldiers’ quarters, a tall Spanish mule came clattering into the village with two boys astride its back.

plural of “lad” — a boy or man

From this reading A barefooted sentry, his piece over his shoulder, looked up at the sudden sound; and as the mule was abruptly checked beside him, and the two lads slipped from its back, he whipped his weapon about and with a brown thumb upon the trigger, cried:

being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time

From this reading _Illustrations by_ Ralph L. Boyer and A. Edwin Kromer Late one afternoon when the sunlight was slanting through the trees and wavering upon the adobe walls of the Pueblo of Los Angeles, when the only sounds were the whispering winds in the higher boughs, and the thrumming of a stringed instrument from the soldiers’ quarters, a tall Spanish mule came clattering into the village with two boys astride its back.

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

From this reading They were bronzed, sinewy looking youngsters; each held a long barreled rifle.

past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards

From this reading A barefooted sentry, his piece over his shoulder, looked up at the sudden sound; and as the mule was abruptly checked beside him, and the two lads slipped from its back, he whipped his weapon about and with a brown thumb upon the trigger, cried:

the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually

From this reading They were bronzed, sinewy looking youngsters; each held a long barreled rifle.

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

From this reading _Illustrations by_ Ralph L. Boyer and A. Edwin Kromer Late one afternoon when the sunlight was slanting through the trees and wavering upon the adobe walls of the Pueblo of Los Angeles, when the only sounds were the whispering winds in the higher boughs, and the thrumming of a stringed instrument from the soldiers’ quarters, a tall Spanish mule came clattering into the village with two boys astride its back.

hybrid offspring of a male donkey and a female horse; usually sterile

From this reading _Illustrations by_ Ralph L. Boyer and A. Edwin Kromer Late one afternoon when the sunlight was slanting through the trees and wavering upon the adobe walls of the Pueblo of Los Angeles, when the only sounds were the whispering winds in the higher boughs, and the thrumming of a stringed instrument from the soldiers’ quarters, a tall Spanish mule came clattering into the village with two boys astride its back.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading _Illustrations by_ Ralph L. Boyer and A. Edwin Kromer Late one afternoon when the sunlight was slanting through the trees and wavering upon the adobe walls of the Pueblo of Los Angeles, when the only sounds were the whispering winds in the higher boughs, and the thrumming of a stringed instrument from the soldiers’ quarters, a tall Spanish mule came clattering into the village with two boys astride its back.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading _Illustrations by_ Ralph L. Boyer and A. Edwin Kromer Late one afternoon when the sunlight was slanting through the trees and wavering upon the adobe walls of the Pueblo of Los Angeles, when the only sounds were the whispering winds in the higher boughs, and the thrumming of a stringed instrument from the soldiers’ quarters, a tall Spanish mule came clattering into the village with two boys astride its back.

and nothing more

From this reading _Illustrations by_ Ralph L. Boyer and A. Edwin Kromer Late one afternoon when the sunlight was slanting through the trees and wavering upon the adobe walls of the Pueblo of Los Angeles, when the only sounds were the whispering winds in the higher boughs, and the thrumming of a stringed instrument from the soldiers’ quarters, a tall Spanish mule came clattering into the village with two boys astride its back.

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading The elder of the two lads wiped his forehead with his sleeve; then to the other he said:

above and across; more than

From this reading A barefooted sentry, his piece over his shoulder, looked up at the sudden sound; and as the mule was abruptly checked beside him, and the two lads slipped from its back, he whipped his weapon about and with a brown thumb upon the trigger, cried:

a separate part of a whole

From this reading A barefooted sentry, his piece over his shoulder, looked up at the sudden sound; and as the mule was abruptly checked beside him, and the two lads slipped from its back, he whipped his weapon about and with a brown thumb upon the trigger, cried:

a member of any of about two dozen Native American peoples called “Pueblos” by the Spanish because they live in pueblos (villages built of adobe and rock)

From this reading _Illustrations by_ Ralph L. Boyer and A. Edwin Kromer Late one afternoon when the sunlight was slanting through the trees and wavering upon the adobe walls of the Pueblo of Los Angeles, when the only sounds were the whispering winds in the higher boughs, and the thrumming of a stringed instrument from the soldiers’ quarters, a tall Spanish mule came clattering into the village with two boys astride its back.

housing available for people to live in

From this reading _Illustrations by_ Ralph L. Boyer and A. Edwin Kromer Late one afternoon when the sunlight was slanting through the trees and wavering upon the adobe walls of the Pueblo of Los Angeles, when the only sounds were the whispering winds in the higher boughs, and the thrumming of a stringed instrument from the soldiers’ quarters, a tall Spanish mule came clattering into the village with two boys astride its back.

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

From this reading _Illustrations by_ Ralph L. Boyer and A. Edwin Kromer Late one afternoon when the sunlight was slanting through the trees and wavering upon the adobe walls of the Pueblo of Los Angeles, when the only sounds were the whispering winds in the higher boughs, and the thrumming of a stringed instrument from the soldiers’ quarters, a tall Spanish mule came clattering into the village with two boys astride its back.

steal goods; take as spoils

From this reading They were bronzed, sinewy looking youngsters; each held a long barreled rifle.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading The elder of the two lads wiped his forehead with his sleeve; then to the other he said:

a person employed to keep watch for some anticipated event

From this reading A barefooted sentry, his piece over his shoulder, looked up at the sudden sound; and as the mule was abruptly checked beside him, and the two lads slipped from its back, he whipped his weapon about and with a brown thumb upon the trigger, cried:

lift onto one's shoulders

From this reading A barefooted sentry, his piece over his shoulder, looked up at the sudden sound; and as the mule was abruptly checked beside him, and the two lads slipped from its back, he whipped his weapon about and with a brown thumb upon the trigger, cried:

(of meat) full of sinews; especially impossible to chew

From this reading They were bronzed, sinewy looking youngsters; each held a long barreled rifle.

having an oblique or slanted direction

From this reading _Illustrations by_ Ralph L. Boyer and A. Edwin Kromer Late one afternoon when the sunlight was slanting through the trees and wavering upon the adobe walls of the Pueblo of Los Angeles, when the only sounds were the whispering winds in the higher boughs, and the thrumming of a stringed instrument from the soldiers’ quarters, a tall Spanish mule came clattering into the village with two boys astride its back.

the part of a garment that is attached at the armhole and that provides a cloth covering for the arm

From this reading The elder of the two lads wiped his forehead with his sleeve; then to the other he said:

inflected form of “slip” — move stealthily

From this reading A barefooted sentry, his piece over his shoulder, looked up at the sudden sound; and as the mule was abruptly checked beside him, and the two lads slipped from its back, he whipped his weapon about and with a brown thumb upon the trigger, cried:

plural of “soldier” — an enlisted man or woman who serves in an army

From this reading _Illustrations by_ Ralph L. Boyer and A. Edwin Kromer Late one afternoon when the sunlight was slanting through the trees and wavering upon the adobe walls of the Pueblo of Los Angeles, when the only sounds were the whispering winds in the higher boughs, and the thrumming of a stringed instrument from the soldiers’ quarters, a tall Spanish mule came clattering into the village with two boys astride its back.

the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause

From this reading A barefooted sentry, his piece over his shoulder, looked up at the sudden sound; and as the mule was abruptly checked beside him, and the two lads slipped from its back, he whipped his weapon about and with a brown thumb upon the trigger, cried:

plural of “sound” — the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause

From this reading _Illustrations by_ Ralph L. Boyer and A. Edwin Kromer Late one afternoon when the sunlight was slanting through the trees and wavering upon the adobe walls of the Pueblo of Los Angeles, when the only sounds were the whispering winds in the higher boughs, and the thrumming of a stringed instrument from the soldiers’ quarters, a tall Spanish mule came clattering into the village with two boys astride its back.

the Romance language spoken in most of Spain and the countries colonized by Spain

From this reading _Illustrations by_ Ralph L. Boyer and A. Edwin Kromer Late one afternoon when the sunlight was slanting through the trees and wavering upon the adobe walls of the Pueblo of Los Angeles, when the only sounds were the whispering winds in the higher boughs, and the thrumming of a stringed instrument from the soldiers’ quarters, a tall Spanish mule came clattering into the village with two boys astride its back.

past form of “string” — thread on or as if on a string

From this reading _Illustrations by_ Ralph L. Boyer and A. Edwin Kromer Late one afternoon when the sunlight was slanting through the trees and wavering upon the adobe walls of the Pueblo of Los Angeles, when the only sounds were the whispering winds in the higher boughs, and the thrumming of a stringed instrument from the soldiers’ quarters, a tall Spanish mule came clattering into the village with two boys astride its back.

happening without warning or in a short space of time

From this reading A barefooted sentry, his piece over his shoulder, looked up at the sudden sound; and as the mule was abruptly checked beside him, and the two lads slipped from its back, he whipped his weapon about and with a brown thumb upon the trigger, cried:

the rays of the sun

From this reading _Illustrations by_ Ralph L. Boyer and A. Edwin Kromer Late one afternoon when the sunlight was slanting through the trees and wavering upon the adobe walls of the Pueblo of Los Angeles, when the only sounds were the whispering winds in the higher boughs, and the thrumming of a stringed instrument from the soldiers’ quarters, a tall Spanish mule came clattering into the village with two boys astride its back.

great in vertical dimension; high in stature

From this reading _Illustrations by_ Ralph L. Boyer and A. Edwin Kromer Late one afternoon when the sunlight was slanting through the trees and wavering upon the adobe walls of the Pueblo of Los Angeles, when the only sounds were the whispering winds in the higher boughs, and the thrumming of a stringed instrument from the soldiers’ quarters, a tall Spanish mule came clattering into the village with two boys astride its back.

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

From this reading _Illustrations by_ Ralph L. Boyer and A. Edwin Kromer Late one afternoon when the sunlight was slanting through the trees and wavering upon the adobe walls of the Pueblo of Los Angeles, when the only sounds were the whispering winds in the higher boughs, and the thrumming of a stringed instrument from the soldiers’ quarters, a tall Spanish mule came clattering into the village with two boys astride its back.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading The elder of the two lads wiped his forehead with his sleeve; then to the other he said:

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

From this reading They were bronzed, sinewy looking youngsters; each held a long barreled rifle.

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading _Illustrations by_ Ralph L. Boyer and A. Edwin Kromer Late one afternoon when the sunlight was slanting through the trees and wavering upon the adobe walls of the Pueblo of Los Angeles, when the only sounds were the whispering winds in the higher boughs, and the thrumming of a stringed instrument from the soldiers’ quarters, a tall Spanish mule came clattering into the village with two boys astride its back.

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

From this reading _Illustrations by_ Ralph L. Boyer and A. Edwin Kromer Late one afternoon when the sunlight was slanting through the trees and wavering upon the adobe walls of the Pueblo of Los Angeles, when the only sounds were the whispering winds in the higher boughs, and the thrumming of a stringed instrument from the soldiers’ quarters, a tall Spanish mule came clattering into the village with two boys astride its back.

the thick short innermost digit of the forelimb

From this reading A barefooted sentry, his piece over his shoulder, looked up at the sudden sound; and as the mule was abruptly checked beside him, and the two lads slipped from its back, he whipped his weapon about and with a brown thumb upon the trigger, cried:

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

From this reading The elder of the two lads wiped his forehead with his sleeve; then to the other he said:

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 _Illustrations by_ Ralph L. Boyer and A. Edwin Kromer Late one afternoon when the sunlight was slanting through the trees and wavering upon the adobe walls of the Pueblo of Los Angeles, when the only sounds were the whispering winds in the higher boughs, and the thrumming of a stringed instrument from the soldiers’ quarters, a tall Spanish mule came clattering into the village with two boys astride its back.

put in motion or move to act

From this reading A barefooted sentry, his piece over his shoulder, looked up at the sudden sound; and as the mule was abruptly checked beside him, and the two lads slipped from its back, he whipped his weapon about and with a brown thumb upon the trigger, cried:

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading _Illustrations by_ Ralph L. Boyer and A. Edwin Kromer Late one afternoon when the sunlight was slanting through the trees and wavering upon the adobe walls of the Pueblo of Los Angeles, when the only sounds were the whispering winds in the higher boughs, and the thrumming of a stringed instrument from the soldiers’ quarters, a tall Spanish mule came clattering into the village with two boys astride its back.

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading A barefooted sentry, his piece over his shoulder, looked up at the sudden sound; and as the mule was abruptly checked beside him, and the two lads slipped from its back, he whipped his weapon about and with a brown thumb upon the trigger, cried:

a formal word for “on”

From this reading _Illustrations by_ Ralph L. Boyer and A. Edwin Kromer Late one afternoon when the sunlight was slanting through the trees and wavering upon the adobe walls of the Pueblo of Los Angeles, when the only sounds were the whispering winds in the higher boughs, and the thrumming of a stringed instrument from the soldiers’ quarters, a tall Spanish mule came clattering into the village with two boys astride its back.

a community of people smaller than a town

From this reading _Illustrations by_ Ralph L. Boyer and A. Edwin Kromer Late one afternoon when the sunlight was slanting through the trees and wavering upon the adobe walls of the Pueblo of Los Angeles, when the only sounds were the whispering winds in the higher boughs, and the thrumming of a stringed instrument from the soldiers’ quarters, a tall Spanish mule came clattering into the village with two boys astride its back.

plural of “wall” — an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure

From this reading _Illustrations by_ Ralph L. Boyer and A. Edwin Kromer Late one afternoon when the sunlight was slanting through the trees and wavering upon the adobe walls of the Pueblo of Los Angeles, when the only sounds were the whispering winds in the higher boughs, and the thrumming of a stringed instrument from the soldiers’ quarters, a tall Spanish mule came clattering into the village with two boys astride its back.

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

From this reading _Illustrations by_ Ralph L. Boyer and A. Edwin Kromer Late one afternoon when the sunlight was slanting through the trees and wavering upon the adobe walls of the Pueblo of Los Angeles, when the only sounds were the whispering winds in the higher boughs, and the thrumming of a stringed instrument from the soldiers’ quarters, a tall Spanish mule came clattering into the village with two boys astride its back.

indecision in speech or action

From this reading _Illustrations by_ Ralph L. Boyer and A. Edwin Kromer Late one afternoon when the sunlight was slanting through the trees and wavering upon the adobe walls of the Pueblo of Los Angeles, when the only sounds were the whispering winds in the higher boughs, and the thrumming of a stringed instrument from the soldiers’ quarters, a tall Spanish mule came clattering into the village with two boys astride its back.

any instrument or instrumentality used in fighting or hunting

From this reading A barefooted sentry, his piece over his shoulder, looked up at the sudden sound; and as the mule was abruptly checked beside him, and the two lads slipped from its back, he whipped his weapon about and with a brown thumb upon the trigger, cried:

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

From this reading _Illustrations by_ Ralph L. Boyer and A. Edwin Kromer Late one afternoon when the sunlight was slanting through the trees and wavering upon the adobe walls of the Pueblo of Los Angeles, when the only sounds were the whispering winds in the higher boughs, and the thrumming of a stringed instrument from the soldiers’ quarters, a tall Spanish mule came clattering into the village with two boys astride its back.

at the time that

From this reading _Illustrations by_ Ralph L. Boyer and A. Edwin Kromer Late one afternoon when the sunlight was slanting through the trees and wavering upon the adobe walls of the Pueblo of Los Angeles, when the only sounds were the whispering winds in the higher boughs, and the thrumming of a stringed instrument from the soldiers’ quarters, a tall Spanish mule came clattering into the village with two boys astride its back.

inflected form of “whip” — beat severely with a whip or rod

From this reading A barefooted sentry, his piece over his shoulder, looked up at the sudden sound; and as the mule was abruptly checked beside him, and the two lads slipped from its back, he whipped his weapon about and with a brown thumb upon the trigger, cried:

a light noise, like the noise of silk clothing or leaves blowing in the wind

From this reading _Illustrations by_ Ralph L. Boyer and A. Edwin Kromer Late one afternoon when the sunlight was slanting through the trees and wavering upon the adobe walls of the Pueblo of Los Angeles, when the only sounds were the whispering winds in the higher boughs, and the thrumming of a stringed instrument from the soldiers’ quarters, a tall Spanish mule came clattering into the village with two boys astride its back.

plural of “wind” — air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure

From this reading _Illustrations by_ Ralph L. Boyer and A. Edwin Kromer Late one afternoon when the sunlight was slanting through the trees and wavering upon the adobe walls of the Pueblo of Los Angeles, when the only sounds were the whispering winds in the higher boughs, and the thrumming of a stringed instrument from the soldiers’ quarters, a tall Spanish mule came clattering into the village with two boys astride its back.

past form of “wipe” — rub with a circular motion

From this reading The elder of the two lads wiped his forehead with his sleeve; then to the other he said:

in the company of; together with

From this reading _Illustrations by_ Ralph L. Boyer and A. Edwin Kromer Late one afternoon when the sunlight was slanting through the trees and wavering upon the adobe walls of the Pueblo of Los Angeles, when the only sounds were the whispering winds in the higher boughs, and the thrumming of a stringed instrument from the soldiers’ quarters, a tall Spanish mule came clattering into the village with two boys astride its back.

plural of “youngster” — a young person of either sex

From this reading They were bronzed, sinewy looking youngsters; each held a long barreled rifle.