Complete classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
Indian Tales
Indian Tales

Chapter V · Chapter 5

Chapter 5 of Indian Tales is here in full — 407 sentences across 82 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Indian Tales
Context Illustration Reading 1/81 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
They heard his hands disturbing the small coal on the floor of the gallery and then a dull sound.
"This is one unbaked brick, and this is another and another.
Kundoo is a young man--let him come forward.
Put a knee upon this brick and strike here.
When Tibu's gang were at dinner on the last day before the good coal ended, they heard the men of Five on the other side, and Five worked _their_ gallery two Sundays later--or it may have been one.
0:00 / 0:00
Speed 0.75x
AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Indian Tales

Chapter V · Chapter 5

Chapter 5 of Indian Tales is here in full — 407 sentences across 82 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/81 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
They heard his hands disturbing the small coal on the floor of the gallery and then a dull sound.
/ðeɪ hɜːrd hɪz hændz dɪˈstɜːrbɪŋ ðə smɔːl koʊl ɑːn ðə flɔːr ʌv ðə ˈɡæləri ənd ðen ə dʌl saʊnd/
Line 2
"This is one unbaked brick, and this is another and another.
Line 3
Kundoo is a young man--let him come forward.
Line 4
Put a knee upon this brick and strike here.
/pʊt ə niː əˈpɑːn ðɪs brɪk ənd straɪk hiːr/
Line 5
When Tibu's gang were at dinner on the last day before the good coal ended, they heard the men of Five on the other side, and Five worked _their_ gallery two Sundays later--or it may have been one.

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.

brick noun US /brɪk/

rectangular block of clay baked by the sun or in a kiln; used as a building or paving material

From this reading “"This is one unbaked brick, and this is another and another.”

coal noun US /koʊl/

fossil fuel consisting of carbonized vegetable matter deposited in the Carboniferous period

From this reading “They heard his hands disturbing the small coal on the floor of the gallery and then a dull sound.”

disturbing adjective US /dɪˈstɜːrbɪŋ/

causing distress or worry or anxiety

From this reading “They heard his hands disturbing the small coal on the floor of the gallery and then a dull sound.”

gallery noun US /ˈɡæləri/

spectators at a golf or tennis match

From this reading “They heard his hands disturbing the small coal on the floor of the gallery and then a dull sound.”

gang noun US /ɡæŋ/

an association of criminals

From this reading “When Tibu's gang were at dinner on the last day before the good coal ended, they heard the men of Five on the other side, and Five worked _their_ gallery two Sundays later--or it may have been one.”

knee noun US /niː/

hinge joint in the human leg connecting the tibia and fibula with the femur and protected in front by the patella

From this reading “Put a knee upon this brick and strike here.”

strike verb US /straɪk/

deliver a sharp blow, as with the hand, fist, or weapon

From this reading “Put a knee upon this brick and strike here.”

Sundays noun US /ˈsʌndeɪz/

plural of “sunday” — first day of the week; observed as a day of rest and worship by most Christians

From this reading “When Tibu's gang were at dinner on the last day before the good coal ended, they heard the men of Five on the other side, and Five worked _their_ gallery two Sundays later--or it may have been one.”

All words in this reading · 60

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 They heard his hands disturbing the small coal on the floor of the gallery and then a dull sound.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading They heard his hands disturbing the small coal on the floor of the gallery and then a dull sound.

anotherdeterminerUS /əˈnʌðər/

one more of the same kind, or a different one

From this reading "This is one unbaked brick, and this is another and another.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading When Tibu's gang were at dinner on the last day before the good coal ended, they heard the men of Five on the other side, and Five worked _their_ gallery two Sundays later--or it may have been one.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading When Tibu's gang were at dinner on the last day before the good coal ended, they heard the men of Five on the other side, and Five worked _their_ gallery two Sundays later--or it may have been one.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading When Tibu's gang were at dinner on the last day before the good coal ended, they heard the men of Five on the other side, and Five worked _their_ gallery two Sundays later--or it may have been one.

bricknounUS /brɪk/

rectangular block of clay baked by the sun or in a kiln; used as a building or paving material

From this reading "This is one unbaked brick, and this is another and another.

coalnounUS /koʊl/

fossil fuel consisting of carbonized vegetable matter deposited in the Carboniferous period

From this reading They heard his hands disturbing the small coal on the floor of the gallery and then a dull sound.

comeverbUS /kʌm/

move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading Kundoo is a young man--let him come forward.

daynounUS /deɪ/

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading When Tibu's gang were at dinner on the last day before the good coal ended, they heard the men of Five on the other side, and Five worked _their_ gallery two Sundays later--or it may have been one.

dinnernounUS /ˈdɪnər/

the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday

From this reading When Tibu's gang were at dinner on the last day before the good coal ended, they heard the men of Five on the other side, and Five worked _their_ gallery two Sundays later--or it may have been one.

disturbingadjectiveUS /dɪˈstɜːrbɪŋ/

causing distress or worry or anxiety

From this reading They heard his hands disturbing the small coal on the floor of the gallery and then a dull sound.

dulladjectiveUS /dʌl/

lacking in liveliness or animation

From this reading They heard his hands disturbing the small coal on the floor of the gallery and then a dull sound.

endedadjectiveUS /ˈendəd/

having come or been brought to a conclusion

From this reading When Tibu's gang were at dinner on the last day before the good coal ended, they heard the men of Five on the other side, and Five worked _their_ gallery two Sundays later--or it may have been one.

FivenounUS /faɪv/

the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one

From this reading When Tibu's gang were at dinner on the last day before the good coal ended, they heard the men of Five on the other side, and Five worked _their_ gallery two Sundays later--or it may have been one.

floornounUS /flɔːr/

the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)

From this reading They heard his hands disturbing the small coal on the floor of the gallery and then a dull sound.

forwardadverbUS /ˈfɔːrwərd/

at or to or toward the front

From this reading Kundoo is a young man--let him come forward.

gallerynounUS /ˈɡæləri/

spectators at a golf or tennis match

From this reading They heard his hands disturbing the small coal on the floor of the gallery and then a dull sound.

gangnounUS /ɡæŋ/

an association of criminals

From this reading When Tibu's gang were at dinner on the last day before the good coal ended, they heard the men of Five on the other side, and Five worked _their_ gallery two Sundays later--or it may have been one.

goodadjectiveUS /ɡʊd/

having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified

From this reading When Tibu's gang were at dinner on the last day before the good coal ended, they heard the men of Five on the other side, and Five worked _their_ gallery two Sundays later--or it may have been one.

handsnounUS /hændz/

(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child

From this reading They heard his hands disturbing the small coal on the floor of the gallery and then a dull sound.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading When Tibu's gang were at dinner on the last day before the good coal ended, they heard the men of Five on the other side, and Five worked _their_ gallery two Sundays later--or it may have been one.

heardadjectiveUS /hɜːrd/

detected or perceived by the sense of hearing

From this reading They heard his hands disturbing the small coal on the floor of the gallery and then a dull sound.

hereadverbUS /hiːr/

in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is

From this reading Put a knee upon this brick and strike here.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading Kundoo is a young man--let him come forward.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading They heard his hands disturbing the small coal on the floor of the gallery and then a dull sound.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading "This is one unbaked brick, and this is another and another.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading When Tibu's gang were at dinner on the last day before the good coal ended, they heard the men of Five on the other side, and Five worked _their_ gallery two Sundays later--or it may have been one.

kneenounUS /niː/

hinge joint in the human leg connecting the tibia and fibula with the femur and protected in front by the patella

From this reading Put a knee upon this brick and strike here.

Kundoo

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

From this reading Kundoo is a young man--let him come forward.

lastadjectiveUS /læst/

immediately past

From this reading When Tibu's gang were at dinner on the last day before the good coal ended, they heard the men of Five on the other side, and Five worked _their_ gallery two Sundays later--or it may have been one.

lateradverbUS /ˈleɪtər/

happening at a time subsequent to a reference time

From this reading When Tibu's gang were at dinner on the last day before the good coal ended, they heard the men of Five on the other side, and Five worked _their_ gallery two Sundays later--or it may have been one.

letauxiliary verbUS /let/

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading Kundoo is a young man--let him come forward.

mannounUS /mæn/

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading Kundoo is a young man--let him come forward.

maymodal verbUS /meɪ/

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading When Tibu's gang were at dinner on the last day before the good coal ended, they heard the men of Five on the other side, and Five worked _their_ gallery two Sundays later--or it may have been one.

mennounUS /men/

the force of workers available

From this reading When Tibu's gang were at dinner on the last day before the good coal ended, they heard the men of Five on the other side, and Five worked _their_ gallery two Sundays later--or it may have been one.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading They heard his hands disturbing the small coal on the floor of the gallery and then a dull sound.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading They heard his hands disturbing the small coal on the floor of the gallery and then a dull sound.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading "This is one unbaked brick, and this is another and another.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading When Tibu's gang were at dinner on the last day before the good coal ended, they heard the men of Five on the other side, and Five worked _their_ gallery two Sundays later--or it may have been one.

otheradjectiveUS /ˈʌðər/

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading When Tibu's gang were at dinner on the last day before the good coal ended, they heard the men of Five on the other side, and Five worked _their_ gallery two Sundays later--or it may have been one.

PutverbUS /pʊt/

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading Put a knee upon this brick and strike here.

sidenounUS /saɪd/

a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location

From this reading When Tibu's gang were at dinner on the last day before the good coal ended, they heard the men of Five on the other side, and Five worked _their_ gallery two Sundays later--or it may have been one.

smalladjectiveUS /smɔːl/

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading They heard his hands disturbing the small coal on the floor of the gallery and then a dull sound.

soundnounUS /saʊnd/

the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause

From this reading They heard his hands disturbing the small coal on the floor of the gallery and then a dull sound.

strikeverbUS /straɪk/

deliver a sharp blow, as with the hand, fist, or weapon

From this reading Put a knee upon this brick and strike here.

SundaysnounUS /ˈsʌndeɪz/

plural of “sunday” — first day of the week; observed as a day of rest and worship by most Christians

From this reading When Tibu's gang were at dinner on the last day before the good coal ended, they heard the men of Five on the other side, and Five worked _their_ gallery two Sundays later--or it may have been one.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading They heard his hands disturbing the small coal on the floor of the gallery and then a dull sound.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading When Tibu's gang were at dinner on the last day before the good coal ended, they heard the men of Five on the other side, and Five worked _their_ gallery two Sundays later--or it may have been one.

thenadverbUS /ðen/

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading They heard his hands disturbing the small coal on the floor of the gallery and then a dull sound.

TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading They heard his hands disturbing the small coal on the floor of the gallery and then a dull sound.

ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading "This is one unbaked brick, and this is another and another.

Tibu's

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

From this reading When Tibu's gang were at dinner on the last day before the good coal ended, they heard the men of Five on the other side, and Five worked _their_ gallery two Sundays later--or it may have been one.

twonounUS /tuː/

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

From this reading When Tibu's gang were at dinner on the last day before the good coal ended, they heard the men of Five on the other side, and Five worked _their_ gallery two Sundays later--or it may have been one.

unbaked

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

From this reading "This is one unbaked brick, and this is another and another.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading Put a knee upon this brick and strike here.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading When Tibu's gang were at dinner on the last day before the good coal ended, they heard the men of Five on the other side, and Five worked _their_ gallery two Sundays later--or it may have been one.

WhenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading When Tibu's gang were at dinner on the last day before the good coal ended, they heard the men of Five on the other side, and Five worked _their_ gallery two Sundays later--or it may have been one.

workedverbUS /wɜːrkt/

past form of “work” — exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity

From this reading When Tibu's gang were at dinner on the last day before the good coal ended, they heard the men of Five on the other side, and Five worked _their_ gallery two Sundays later--or it may have been one.

youngadjectiveUS /jʌŋ/

(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth

From this reading Kundoo is a young man--let him come forward.

Chapter 5 of Indian Tales by Rudyard Kipling holds 407 sentences, grouped into 82 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 5 of Indian Tales contain?

Chapter 5 holds 407 sentences of Indian Tales, unabridged, divided into 82 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 5 of Indian Tales by Rudyard Kipling exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 407 sentences, grouped into 82 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 5 of Indian Tales?

Work through the 82 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 82 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 5 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 5 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 Indian Tales

Common questions about reading Indian Tales by Rudyard Kipling on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Indian Tales?

Yes. All 9523 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #8649 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Indian Tales is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #8649, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Indian Tales take to read?

About 600 minutes of reading across 1905 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Indian Tales section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 23 chapters of Indian Tales 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 Indian Tales

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

Strength
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Indian Tales; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Likeness
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Indian Tales; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Madness
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Indian Tales; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Private
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Indian Tales; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.