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Kidnapped
Kidnapped

Chapter XIV · Chapter 14

Chapter 14 of Kidnapped is here in full — 137 sentences across 28 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Kidnapped
Context Illustration Reading 1/27 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE ISLET With my stepping ashore I began the most unhappy part of my adventures.
It was half-past twelve in the morning, and though the wind was broken by the land, it was a cold night.
I dared not sit down (for I thought I should have frozen), but took off my shoes and walked to and fro upon the sand, bare-foot, and beating my breast with infinite weariness.
There was no sound of man or cattle; not a cock crew, though it was about the hour of their first waking; only the surf broke outside in the distance, which put me in mind of my perils and those of my friend.
To walk by the sea at that hour of the morning, and in a place so desert-like and lonesome, struck me with a kind of fear.
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.

Kidnapped

Chapter XIV · Chapter 14

Chapter 14 of Kidnapped is here in full — 137 sentences across 28 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/27 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE ISLET With my stepping ashore I began the most unhappy part of my adventures.
Line 2
It was half-past twelve in the morning, and though the wind was broken by the land, it was a cold night.
Line 3
I dared not sit down (for I thought I should have frozen), but took off my shoes and walked to and fro upon the sand, bare-foot, and beating my breast with infinite weariness.
Line 4
There was no sound of man or cattle; not a cock crew, though it was about the hour of their first waking; only the surf broke outside in the distance, which put me in mind of my perils and those of my friend.
Line 5
To walk by the sea at that hour of the morning, and in a place so desert-like and lonesome, struck me with a kind of fear.

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.

Mind noun US /maɪnd/

The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.

From this reading “There was no sound of man or cattle; not a cock crew, though it was about the hour of their first waking; only the surf broke outside in the distance, which put me in mind of my perils and those of my friend.”

Waking adjective US /ˈweɪ.kɪŋ/

Risen from sleep; conscious.

From this reading “There was no sound of man or cattle; not a cock crew, though it was about the hour of their first waking; only the surf broke outside in the distance, which put me in mind of my perils and those of my friend.”

All words in this reading · 87

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.

a

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

From this reading It was half-past twelve in the morning, and though the wind was broken by the land, it was a cold night.

about

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

From this reading There was no sound of man or cattle; not a cock crew, though it was about the hour of their first waking; only the surf broke outside in the distance, which put me in mind of my perils and those of my friend.

adventures

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

From this reading THE ISLET With my stepping ashore I began the most unhappy part of my adventures.

and

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

From this reading It was half-past twelve in the morning, and though the wind was broken by the land, it was a cold night.

ashore

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

From this reading THE ISLET With my stepping ashore I began the most unhappy part of my adventures.

at

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

From this reading To walk by the sea at that hour of the morning, and in a place so desert-like and lonesome, struck me with a kind of fear.

bare-foot

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

From this reading I dared not sit down (for I thought I should have frozen), but took off my shoes and walked to and fro upon the sand, bare-foot, and beating my breast with infinite weariness.

beating

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

From this reading I dared not sit down (for I thought I should have frozen), but took off my shoes and walked to and fro upon the sand, bare-foot, and beating my breast with infinite weariness.

began

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

From this reading THE ISLET With my stepping ashore I began the most unhappy part of my adventures.

breast

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

From this reading I dared not sit down (for I thought I should have frozen), but took off my shoes and walked to and fro upon the sand, bare-foot, and beating my breast with infinite weariness.

broke

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

From this reading There was no sound of man or cattle; not a cock crew, though it was about the hour of their first waking; only the surf broke outside in the distance, which put me in mind of my perils and those of my friend.

broken

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

From this reading It was half-past twelve in the morning, and though the wind was broken by the land, it was a cold night.

but

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

From this reading I dared not sit down (for I thought I should have frozen), but took off my shoes and walked to and fro upon the sand, bare-foot, and beating my breast with infinite weariness.

by

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

From this reading It was half-past twelve in the morning, and though the wind was broken by the land, it was a cold night.

cattle

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

From this reading There was no sound of man or cattle; not a cock crew, though it was about the hour of their first waking; only the surf broke outside in the distance, which put me in mind of my perils and those of my friend.

cock

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

From this reading There was no sound of man or cattle; not a cock crew, though it was about the hour of their first waking; only the surf broke outside in the distance, which put me in mind of my perils and those of my friend.

cold

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

From this reading It was half-past twelve in the morning, and though the wind was broken by the land, it was a cold night.

crew

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

From this reading There was no sound of man or cattle; not a cock crew, though it was about the hour of their first waking; only the surf broke outside in the distance, which put me in mind of my perils and those of my friend.

dared

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

From this reading I dared not sit down (for I thought I should have frozen), but took off my shoes and walked to and fro upon the sand, bare-foot, and beating my breast with infinite weariness.

desert-like

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

From this reading To walk by the sea at that hour of the morning, and in a place so desert-like and lonesome, struck me with a kind of fear.

distance

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

From this reading There was no sound of man or cattle; not a cock crew, though it was about the hour of their first waking; only the surf broke outside in the distance, which put me in mind of my perils and those of my friend.

down

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

From this reading I dared not sit down (for I thought I should have frozen), but took off my shoes and walked to and fro upon the sand, bare-foot, and beating my breast with infinite weariness.

fear

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

From this reading To walk by the sea at that hour of the morning, and in a place so desert-like and lonesome, struck me with a kind of fear.

first

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

From this reading There was no sound of man or cattle; not a cock crew, though it was about the hour of their first waking; only the surf broke outside in the distance, which put me in mind of my perils and those of my friend.

for

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

From this reading I dared not sit down (for I thought I should have frozen), but took off my shoes and walked to and fro upon the sand, bare-foot, and beating my breast with infinite weariness.

friend

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

From this reading There was no sound of man or cattle; not a cock crew, though it was about the hour of their first waking; only the surf broke outside in the distance, which put me in mind of my perils and those of my friend.

fro

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

From this reading I dared not sit down (for I thought I should have frozen), but took off my shoes and walked to and fro upon the sand, bare-foot, and beating my breast with infinite weariness.

frozen

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

From this reading I dared not sit down (for I thought I should have frozen), but took off my shoes and walked to and fro upon the sand, bare-foot, and beating my breast with infinite weariness.

half-past

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

From this reading It was half-past twelve in the morning, and though the wind was broken by the land, it was a cold night.

have

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

From this reading I dared not sit down (for I thought I should have frozen), but took off my shoes and walked to and fro upon the sand, bare-foot, and beating my breast with infinite weariness.

hour

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

From this reading There was no sound of man or cattle; not a cock crew, though it was about the hour of their first waking; only the surf broke outside in the distance, which put me in mind of my perils and those of my friend.

I

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

From this reading THE ISLET With my stepping ashore I began the most unhappy part of my adventures.

in

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

From this reading It was half-past twelve in the morning, and though the wind was broken by the land, it was a cold night.

infinite

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

From this reading I dared not sit down (for I thought I should have frozen), but took off my shoes and walked to and fro upon the sand, bare-foot, and beating my breast with infinite weariness.

ISLET

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

From this reading THE ISLET With my stepping ashore I began the most unhappy part of my adventures.

It

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

From this reading It was half-past twelve in the morning, and though the wind was broken by the land, it was a cold night.

kind

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

From this reading To walk by the sea at that hour of the morning, and in a place so desert-like and lonesome, struck me with a kind of fear.

land

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

From this reading It was half-past twelve in the morning, and though the wind was broken by the land, it was a cold night.

lonesome

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

From this reading To walk by the sea at that hour of the morning, and in a place so desert-like and lonesome, struck me with a kind of fear.

man

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

From this reading There was no sound of man or cattle; not a cock crew, though it was about the hour of their first waking; only the surf broke outside in the distance, which put me in mind of my perils and those of my friend.

me

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

From this reading There was no sound of man or cattle; not a cock crew, though it was about the hour of their first waking; only the surf broke outside in the distance, which put me in mind of my perils and those of my friend.

mindnounUS /maɪnd/

The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.

From this reading There was no sound of man or cattle; not a cock crew, though it was about the hour of their first waking; only the surf broke outside in the distance, which put me in mind of my perils and those of my friend.

morning

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

From this reading It was half-past twelve in the morning, and though the wind was broken by the land, it was a cold night.

most

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

From this reading THE ISLET With my stepping ashore I began the most unhappy part of my adventures.

my

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

From this reading THE ISLET With my stepping ashore I began the most unhappy part of my adventures.

night

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

From this reading It was half-past twelve in the morning, and though the wind was broken by the land, it was a cold night.

no

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

From this reading There was no sound of man or cattle; not a cock crew, though it was about the hour of their first waking; only the surf broke outside in the distance, which put me in mind of my perils and those of my friend.

not

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

From this reading I dared not sit down (for I thought I should have frozen), but took off my shoes and walked to and fro upon the sand, bare-foot, and beating my breast with infinite weariness.

of

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

From this reading THE ISLET With my stepping ashore I began the most unhappy part of my adventures.

off

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

From this reading I dared not sit down (for I thought I should have frozen), but took off my shoes and walked to and fro upon the sand, bare-foot, and beating my breast with infinite weariness.

only

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

From this reading There was no sound of man or cattle; not a cock crew, though it was about the hour of their first waking; only the surf broke outside in the distance, which put me in mind of my perils and those of my friend.

or

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

From this reading There was no sound of man or cattle; not a cock crew, though it was about the hour of their first waking; only the surf broke outside in the distance, which put me in mind of my perils and those of my friend.

outside

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

From this reading There was no sound of man or cattle; not a cock crew, though it was about the hour of their first waking; only the surf broke outside in the distance, which put me in mind of my perils and those of my friend.

part

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

From this reading THE ISLET With my stepping ashore I began the most unhappy part of my adventures.

perils

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

From this reading There was no sound of man or cattle; not a cock crew, though it was about the hour of their first waking; only the surf broke outside in the distance, which put me in mind of my perils and those of my friend.

place

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

From this reading To walk by the sea at that hour of the morning, and in a place so desert-like and lonesome, struck me with a kind of fear.

put

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

From this reading There was no sound of man or cattle; not a cock crew, though it was about the hour of their first waking; only the surf broke outside in the distance, which put me in mind of my perils and those of my friend.

sand

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

From this reading I dared not sit down (for I thought I should have frozen), but took off my shoes and walked to and fro upon the sand, bare-foot, and beating my breast with infinite weariness.

sea

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

From this reading To walk by the sea at that hour of the morning, and in a place so desert-like and lonesome, struck me with a kind of fear.

shoes

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

From this reading I dared not sit down (for I thought I should have frozen), but took off my shoes and walked to and fro upon the sand, bare-foot, and beating my breast with infinite weariness.

should

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

From this reading I dared not sit down (for I thought I should have frozen), but took off my shoes and walked to and fro upon the sand, bare-foot, and beating my breast with infinite weariness.

sit

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

From this reading I dared not sit down (for I thought I should have frozen), but took off my shoes and walked to and fro upon the sand, bare-foot, and beating my breast with infinite weariness.

so

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

From this reading To walk by the sea at that hour of the morning, and in a place so desert-like and lonesome, struck me with a kind of fear.

sound

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

From this reading There was no sound of man or cattle; not a cock crew, though it was about the hour of their first waking; only the surf broke outside in the distance, which put me in mind of my perils and those of my friend.

stepping

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

From this reading THE ISLET With my stepping ashore I began the most unhappy part of my adventures.

struck

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

From this reading To walk by the sea at that hour of the morning, and in a place so desert-like and lonesome, struck me with a kind of fear.

surf

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

From this reading There was no sound of man or cattle; not a cock crew, though it was about the hour of their first waking; only the surf broke outside in the distance, which put me in mind of my perils and those of my friend.

that

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

From this reading To walk by the sea at that hour of the morning, and in a place so desert-like and lonesome, struck me with a kind of fear.

THE

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

From this reading THE ISLET With my stepping ashore I began the most unhappy part of my adventures.

their

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

From this reading There was no sound of man or cattle; not a cock crew, though it was about the hour of their first waking; only the surf broke outside in the distance, which put me in mind of my perils and those of my friend.

There

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

From this reading There was no sound of man or cattle; not a cock crew, though it was about the hour of their first waking; only the surf broke outside in the distance, which put me in mind of my perils and those of my friend.

those

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

From this reading There was no sound of man or cattle; not a cock crew, though it was about the hour of their first waking; only the surf broke outside in the distance, which put me in mind of my perils and those of my friend.

though

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

From this reading It was half-past twelve in the morning, and though the wind was broken by the land, it was a cold night.

thought

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

From this reading I dared not sit down (for I thought I should have frozen), but took off my shoes and walked to and fro upon the sand, bare-foot, and beating my breast with infinite weariness.

to

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

From this reading I dared not sit down (for I thought I should have frozen), but took off my shoes and walked to and fro upon the sand, bare-foot, and beating my breast with infinite weariness.

took

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

From this reading I dared not sit down (for I thought I should have frozen), but took off my shoes and walked to and fro upon the sand, bare-foot, and beating my breast with infinite weariness.

twelve

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

From this reading It was half-past twelve in the morning, and though the wind was broken by the land, it was a cold night.

unhappy

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

From this reading THE ISLET With my stepping ashore I began the most unhappy part of my adventures.

upon

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

From this reading I dared not sit down (for I thought I should have frozen), but took off my shoes and walked to and fro upon the sand, bare-foot, and beating my breast with infinite weariness.

wakingadjectiveUS /ˈweɪ.kɪŋ/

Risen from sleep; conscious.

From this reading There was no sound of man or cattle; not a cock crew, though it was about the hour of their first waking; only the surf broke outside in the distance, which put me in mind of my perils and those of my friend.

walk

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

From this reading To walk by the sea at that hour of the morning, and in a place so desert-like and lonesome, struck me with a kind of fear.

walked

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

From this reading I dared not sit down (for I thought I should have frozen), but took off my shoes and walked to and fro upon the sand, bare-foot, and beating my breast with infinite weariness.

was

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

From this reading It was half-past twelve in the morning, and though the wind was broken by the land, it was a cold night.

weariness

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

From this reading I dared not sit down (for I thought I should have frozen), but took off my shoes and walked to and fro upon the sand, bare-foot, and beating my breast with infinite weariness.

which

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

From this reading There was no sound of man or cattle; not a cock crew, though it was about the hour of their first waking; only the surf broke outside in the distance, which put me in mind of my perils and those of my friend.

wind

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

From this reading It was half-past twelve in the morning, and though the wind was broken by the land, it was a cold night.

With

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

From this reading THE ISLET With my stepping ashore I began the most unhappy part of my adventures.

Chapter 14 of Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson holds 137 sentences, grouped into 28 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the public-domain source, 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 Kidnapped contain?

Chapter 14 holds 137 sentences of Kidnapped, unabridged, divided into 28 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 14 of Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 137 sentences, grouped into 28 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 Kidnapped?

Work through the 28 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 28 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 Kidnapped

Common questions about reading Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Kidnapped?

Yes. All 3533 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #421 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Kidnapped is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #421, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Kidnapped take to read?

About 294 minutes of reading across 707 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Kidnapped section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 30 chapters of Kidnapped 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 Kidnapped

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

Begin
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Kidnapped; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Story
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Kidnapped; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Adventures
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Kidnapped; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Certain
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Kidnapped; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.