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Indian Tales
Indian Tales

Chapter XIV · Chapter 14

Chapter 14 of Indian Tales is here in full — 424 sentences across 85 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Indian Tales
Context Illustration Reading 1/84 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
At the risk of throwing the creature out of train I interrupted,--"How could you write a letter up yonder?"
"The letter?--Oh!--The letter!
Keep looking at me between the eyes, please.
It was a string-talk letter, that we'd learned the way of it from a blind beggar in the Punjab."
I remember that there had once come to the office a blind man with a knotted twig and a piece of string which he wound round the twig according to some cypher of his own.
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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.

Indian Tales

Chapter XIV · Chapter 14

Chapter 14 of Indian Tales is here in full — 424 sentences across 85 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/84 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
At the risk of throwing the creature out of train I interrupted,--"How could you write a letter up yonder?"
Line 2
"The letter?--Oh!--The letter!
Line 3
Keep looking at me between the eyes, please.
/kiːp ˈlʊkɪŋ æt miː bɪˈtwiːn ðə aɪz pliːz/
Line 4
It was a string-talk letter, that we'd learned the way of it from a blind beggar in the Punjab."
Line 5
I remember that there had once come to the office a blind man with a knotted twig and a piece of string which he wound round the twig according to some cypher of his own.
/aɪ rɪˈmɛm.bər ðæt ðer hæd wʌns kʌm tuː ðə ˈɔːfɪs ə blaɪnd mæn wɪð ə ˈnɑːtɪd twɪɡ ənd ə piːs ʌv strɪŋ wɪtʃ hiː waʊnd raʊnd ðə twɪɡ əˈkɔːrdɪŋ tuː sʌm ˈsaɪfər ʌv hɪz oʊn/

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.

beggar noun US /ˈbeɡər/

a pauper who lives by begging

From this reading “It was a string-talk letter, that we'd learned the way of it from a blind beggar in the Punjab."”

cypher noun US /ˈsaɪfər/

a mathematical element that when added to another number yields the same number

From this reading “I remember that there had once come to the office a blind man with a knotted twig and a piece of string which he wound round the twig according to some cypher of his own.”

knotted adjective US /ˈnɑːtɪd/

tied with a knot

From this reading “I remember that there had once come to the office a blind man with a knotted twig and a piece of string which he wound round the twig according to some cypher of his own.”

Punjab noun US /pənˈdʒɑːb/

a historical region on northwestern India and northern Pakistan

From this reading “It was a string-talk letter, that we'd learned the way of it from a blind beggar in the Punjab."”

string noun US /strɪŋ/

a lightweight cord

From this reading “It was a string-talk letter, that we'd learned the way of it from a blind beggar in the Punjab."”

throwing verb US /ˈθroʊɪŋ/

-ing form of “throw” — propel through the air

From this reading “At the risk of throwing the creature out of train I interrupted,--"How could you write a letter up yonder?"”

twig verb US /twɪɡ/

branch out in a twiglike manner

From this reading “I remember that there had once come to the office a blind man with a knotted twig and a piece of string which he wound round the twig according to some cypher of his own.”

yonder adjective US /ˈjɑːndər/

distant but within sight (“yon” is dialectal)

From this reading “At the risk of throwing the creature out of train I interrupted,--"How could you write a letter up yonder?"”

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 At the risk of throwing the creature out of train I interrupted,--"How could you write a letter up yonder?"

accordingadjectiveUS /əˈkɔːrdɪŋ/

(followed by “to”) in agreement with or accordant with

From this reading I remember that there had once come to the office a blind man with a knotted twig and a piece of string which he wound round the twig according to some cypher of his own.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading I remember that there had once come to the office a blind man with a knotted twig and a piece of string which he wound round the twig according to some cypher of his own.

AtprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading At the risk of throwing the creature out of train I interrupted,--"How could you write a letter up yonder?"

beggarnounUS /ˈbeɡər/

a pauper who lives by begging

From this reading It was a string-talk letter, that we'd learned the way of it from a blind beggar in the Punjab."

betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading Keep looking at me between the eyes, please.

blindnounUS /blaɪnd/

people who have severe visual impairments, considered as a group

From this reading It was a string-talk letter, that we'd learned the way of it from a blind beggar in the Punjab."

comeverbUS /kʌm/

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

From this reading I remember that there had once come to the office a blind man with a knotted twig and a piece of string which he wound round the twig according to some cypher of his own.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading At the risk of throwing the creature out of train I interrupted,--"How could you write a letter up yonder?"

creaturenounUS /ˈkriːtʃər/

a living organism characterized by voluntary movement

From this reading At the risk of throwing the creature out of train I interrupted,--"How could you write a letter up yonder?"

cyphernounUS /ˈsaɪfər/

a mathematical element that when added to another number yields the same number

From this reading I remember that there had once come to the office a blind man with a knotted twig and a piece of string which he wound round the twig according to some cypher of his own.

eyesnounUS /aɪz/

opinion or judgment

From this reading Keep looking at me between the eyes, please.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading It was a string-talk letter, that we'd learned the way of it from a blind beggar in the Punjab."

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading I remember that there had once come to the office a blind man with a knotted twig and a piece of string which he wound round the twig according to some cypher of his own.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading I remember that there had once come to the office a blind man with a knotted twig and a piece of string which he wound round the twig according to some cypher of his own.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading I remember that there had once come to the office a blind man with a knotted twig and a piece of string which he wound round the twig according to some cypher of his own.

How

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

From this reading At the risk of throwing the creature out of train I interrupted,--"How could you write a letter up yonder?"

IpronounUS /aɪ/

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading At the risk of throwing the creature out of train I interrupted,--"How could you write a letter up yonder?"

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading It was a string-talk letter, that we'd learned the way of it from a blind beggar in the Punjab."

interruptedadjectiveUS /ˌɪntərˈʌptɪd/

discontinued temporarily

From this reading At the risk of throwing the creature out of train I interrupted,--"How could you write a letter up yonder?"

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was a string-talk letter, that we'd learned the way of it from a blind beggar in the Punjab."

KeepverbUS /kiːp/

cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”

From this reading Keep looking at me between the eyes, please.

knottedadjectiveUS /ˈnɑːtɪd/

tied with a knot

From this reading I remember that there had once come to the office a blind man with a knotted twig and a piece of string which he wound round the twig according to some cypher of his own.

learnedadjectiveUS /lɜːrnd/

having or showing profound knowledge

From this reading It was a string-talk letter, that we'd learned the way of it from a blind beggar in the Punjab."

letternounUS /ˈletər/

a written message addressed to a person or organization

From this reading At the risk of throwing the creature out of train I interrupted,--"How could you write a letter up yonder?"

lookingnounUS /ˈlʊkɪŋ/

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

From this reading Keep looking at me between the eyes, please.

mannounUS /mæn/

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

From this reading I remember that there had once come to the office a blind man with a knotted twig and a piece of string which he wound round the twig according to some cypher of his own.

mepronounUS /miː/

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading Keep looking at me between the eyes, please.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading At the risk of throwing the creature out of train I interrupted,--"How could you write a letter up yonder?"

officenounUS /ˈɔːfɪs/

place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed

From this reading I remember that there had once come to the office a blind man with a knotted twig and a piece of string which he wound round the twig according to some cypher of his own.

OhnounUS /oʊ/

a midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region

From this reading "The letter?--Oh!--The letter!

onceadverbUS /wʌns/

on one occasion

From this reading I remember that there had once come to the office a blind man with a knotted twig and a piece of string which he wound round the twig according to some cypher of his own.

outadjectiveUS /aʊt/

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading At the risk of throwing the creature out of train I interrupted,--"How could you write a letter up yonder?"

ownverbUS /oʊn/

have ownership or possession of

From this reading I remember that there had once come to the office a blind man with a knotted twig and a piece of string which he wound round the twig according to some cypher of his own.

piecenounUS /piːs/

a separate part of a whole

From this reading I remember that there had once come to the office a blind man with a knotted twig and a piece of string which he wound round the twig according to some cypher of his own.

pleaseverbUS /pliːz/

give pleasure to or be pleasing to

From this reading Keep looking at me between the eyes, please.

PunjabnounUS /pənˈdʒɑːb/

a historical region on northwestern India and northern Pakistan

From this reading It was a string-talk letter, that we'd learned the way of it from a blind beggar in the Punjab."

rememberverbUS /rɪˈmɛm.bər/

To recall to mind.

From this reading I remember that there had once come to the office a blind man with a knotted twig and a piece of string which he wound round the twig according to some cypher of his own.

risknounUS /rɪsk/

a source of danger; a possibility of incurring loss or misfortune

From this reading At the risk of throwing the creature out of train I interrupted,--"How could you write a letter up yonder?"

roundnounUS /raʊnd/

a charge of ammunition for a single shot

From this reading I remember that there had once come to the office a blind man with a knotted twig and a piece of string which he wound round the twig according to some cypher of his own.

someadjectiveUS /sʌm/

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading I remember that there had once come to the office a blind man with a knotted twig and a piece of string which he wound round the twig according to some cypher of his own.

stringnounUS /strɪŋ/

a lightweight cord

From this reading I remember that there had once come to the office a blind man with a knotted twig and a piece of string which he wound round the twig according to some cypher of his own.

string-talk

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

From this reading It was a string-talk letter, that we'd learned the way of it from a blind beggar in the Punjab."

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading It was a string-talk letter, that we'd learned the way of it from a blind beggar in the Punjab."

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading At the risk of throwing the creature out of train I interrupted,--"How could you write a letter up yonder?"

thereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading I remember that there had once come to the office a blind man with a knotted twig and a piece of string which he wound round the twig according to some cypher of his own.

throwingverbUS /ˈθroʊɪŋ/

-ing form of “throw” — propel through the air

From this reading At the risk of throwing the creature out of train I interrupted,--"How could you write a letter up yonder?"

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading I remember that there had once come to the office a blind man with a knotted twig and a piece of string which he wound round the twig according to some cypher of his own.

trainverbUS /treɪn/

create by training and teaching

From this reading At the risk of throwing the creature out of train I interrupted,--"How could you write a letter up yonder?"

twigverbUS /twɪɡ/

branch out in a twiglike manner

From this reading I remember that there had once come to the office a blind man with a knotted twig and a piece of string which he wound round the twig according to some cypher of his own.

upadjectiveUS /ʌp/

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

From this reading At the risk of throwing the creature out of train I interrupted,--"How could you write a letter up yonder?"

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading It was a string-talk letter, that we'd learned the way of it from a blind beggar in the Punjab."

waynounUS /weɪ/

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading It was a string-talk letter, that we'd learned the way of it from a blind beggar in the Punjab."

we'd

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

From this reading It was a string-talk letter, that we'd learned the way of it from a blind beggar in the Punjab."

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading I remember that there had once come to the office a blind man with a knotted twig and a piece of string which he wound round the twig according to some cypher of his own.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading I remember that there had once come to the office a blind man with a knotted twig and a piece of string which he wound round the twig according to some cypher of his own.

woundnounUS /waʊnd/

an injury to living tissue (especially an injury involving a cut or break in the skin)

From this reading I remember that there had once come to the office a blind man with a knotted twig and a piece of string which he wound round the twig according to some cypher of his own.

writeverbUS /raɪt/

produce a literary work

From this reading At the risk of throwing the creature out of train I interrupted,--"How could you write a letter up yonder?"

yonderadjectiveUS /ˈjɑːndər/

distant but within sight (“yon” is dialectal)

From this reading At the risk of throwing the creature out of train I interrupted,--"How could you write a letter up yonder?"

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading At the risk of throwing the creature out of train I interrupted,--"How could you write a letter up yonder?"

Chapter 14 of Indian Tales by Rudyard Kipling holds 424 sentences, grouped into 85 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 14 of Indian Tales contain?

Chapter 14 holds 424 sentences of Indian Tales, unabridged, divided into 85 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 14 of Indian Tales by Rudyard Kipling exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 424 sentences, grouped into 85 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 14 of Indian Tales?

Work through the 85 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 85 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 14 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 14 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.