Learn English through classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
Kidnapped
Kidnapped

Chapter XXIX · Chapter 29

Chapter 29 of Kidnapped is here in full — 138 sentences across 28 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Robert Louis Stevenson • Curated US English Learning Edition

Chapter 29 of Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson holds 138 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 29 of Kidnapped contain?

Chapter 29 holds 138 sentences of Kidnapped, unabridged, divided into 28 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 29 of Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 138 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 29 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 29 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 29 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.
Cover illustration for Kidnapped
Context Illustration Reading 1/28 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
I COME INTO MY KINGDOM For some time Alan volleyed upon the door, and his knocking only roused the echoes of the house and neighbourhood.
At last, however, I could hear the noise of a window gently thrust up, and knew that my uncle had come to his observatory.
By what light there was, he would see Alan standing, like a dark shadow, on the steps; the three witnesses were hidden quite out of his view; so that there was nothing to alarm an honest man in his own house.
For all that, he studied his visitor awhile in silence, and when he spoke his voice had a quaver of misgiving.
“What’s this?” says he.
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 XXIX · Chapter 29

Chapter 29 of Kidnapped is here in full — 138 sentences across 28 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/28 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
I COME INTO MY KINGDOM For some time Alan volleyed upon the door, and his knocking only roused the echoes of the house and neighbourhood.
Line 2
At last, however, I could hear the noise of a window gently thrust up, and knew that my uncle had come to his observatory.
Line 3
By what light there was, he would see Alan standing, like a dark shadow, on the steps; the three witnesses were hidden quite out of his view; so that there was nothing to alarm an honest man in his own house.
Line 4
For all that, he studied his visitor awhile in silence, and when he spoke his voice had a quaver of misgiving.
Line 5
“What’s this?” says he.

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.

Shadow noun US /ˈʃæd.oʊ/

A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.

From this reading “By what light there was, he would see Alan standing, like a dark shadow, on the steps; the three witnesses were hidden quite out of his view; so that there was nothing to alarm an honest man in his own house.”

Velmora curated lexicon
Silence noun US /ˈsaɪ.ləns/

Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.

From this reading “For all that, he studied his visitor awhile in silence, and when he spoke his voice had a quaver of misgiving.”

Velmora curated lexicon
All words in this reading · 81

Every word is available to listen to. 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 At last, however, I could hear the noise of a window gently thrust up, and knew that my uncle had come to his observatory.

Pending verification
Alan

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

From this reading I COME INTO MY KINGDOM For some time Alan volleyed upon the door, and his knocking only roused the echoes of the house and neighbourhood.

Pending verification
alarm

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

From this reading By what light there was, he would see Alan standing, like a dark shadow, on the steps; the three witnesses were hidden quite out of his view; so that there was nothing to alarm an honest man in his own house.

Pending verification
all

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

From this reading For all that, he studied his visitor awhile in silence, and when he spoke his voice had a quaver of misgiving.

Pending verification
an

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

From this reading By what light there was, he would see Alan standing, like a dark shadow, on the steps; the three witnesses were hidden quite out of his view; so that there was nothing to alarm an honest man in his own house.

Pending verification
and

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

From this reading I COME INTO MY KINGDOM For some time Alan volleyed upon the door, and his knocking only roused the echoes of the house and neighbourhood.

Pending verification
At

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

From this reading At last, however, I could hear the noise of a window gently thrust up, and knew that my uncle had come to his observatory.

Pending verification
awhile

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

From this reading For all that, he studied his visitor awhile in silence, and when he spoke his voice had a quaver of misgiving.

Pending verification
By

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

From this reading By what light there was, he would see Alan standing, like a dark shadow, on the steps; the three witnesses were hidden quite out of his view; so that there was nothing to alarm an honest man in his own house.

Pending verification
COME

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

From this reading I COME INTO MY KINGDOM For some time Alan volleyed upon the door, and his knocking only roused the echoes of the house and neighbourhood.

Pending verification
could

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

From this reading At last, however, I could hear the noise of a window gently thrust up, and knew that my uncle had come to his observatory.

Pending verification
dark

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

From this reading By what light there was, he would see Alan standing, like a dark shadow, on the steps; the three witnesses were hidden quite out of his view; so that there was nothing to alarm an honest man in his own house.

Pending verification
door

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

From this reading I COME INTO MY KINGDOM For some time Alan volleyed upon the door, and his knocking only roused the echoes of the house and neighbourhood.

Pending verification
echoes

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

From this reading I COME INTO MY KINGDOM For some time Alan volleyed upon the door, and his knocking only roused the echoes of the house and neighbourhood.

Pending verification
For

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

From this reading I COME INTO MY KINGDOM For some time Alan volleyed upon the door, and his knocking only roused the echoes of the house and neighbourhood.

Pending verification
gently

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

From this reading At last, however, I could hear the noise of a window gently thrust up, and knew that my uncle had come to his observatory.

Pending verification
had

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

From this reading At last, however, I could hear the noise of a window gently thrust up, and knew that my uncle had come to his observatory.

Pending verification
he

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

From this reading By what light there was, he would see Alan standing, like a dark shadow, on the steps; the three witnesses were hidden quite out of his view; so that there was nothing to alarm an honest man in his own house.

Pending verification
hear

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

From this reading At last, however, I could hear the noise of a window gently thrust up, and knew that my uncle had come to his observatory.

Pending verification
hidden

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

From this reading By what light there was, he would see Alan standing, like a dark shadow, on the steps; the three witnesses were hidden quite out of his view; so that there was nothing to alarm an honest man in his own house.

Pending verification
his

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

From this reading I COME INTO MY KINGDOM For some time Alan volleyed upon the door, and his knocking only roused the echoes of the house and neighbourhood.

Pending verification
honest

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

From this reading By what light there was, he would see Alan standing, like a dark shadow, on the steps; the three witnesses were hidden quite out of his view; so that there was nothing to alarm an honest man in his own house.

Pending verification
house

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

From this reading I COME INTO MY KINGDOM For some time Alan volleyed upon the door, and his knocking only roused the echoes of the house and neighbourhood.

Pending verification
however

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

From this reading At last, however, I could hear the noise of a window gently thrust up, and knew that my uncle had come to his observatory.

Pending verification
I

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

From this reading I COME INTO MY KINGDOM For some time Alan volleyed upon the door, and his knocking only roused the echoes of the house and neighbourhood.

Pending verification
in

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

From this reading By what light there was, he would see Alan standing, like a dark shadow, on the steps; the three witnesses were hidden quite out of his view; so that there was nothing to alarm an honest man in his own house.

Pending verification
INTO

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

From this reading I COME INTO MY KINGDOM For some time Alan volleyed upon the door, and his knocking only roused the echoes of the house and neighbourhood.

Pending verification
KINGDOM

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

From this reading I COME INTO MY KINGDOM For some time Alan volleyed upon the door, and his knocking only roused the echoes of the house and neighbourhood.

Pending verification
knew

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

From this reading At last, however, I could hear the noise of a window gently thrust up, and knew that my uncle had come to his observatory.

Pending verification
knocking

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

From this reading I COME INTO MY KINGDOM For some time Alan volleyed upon the door, and his knocking only roused the echoes of the house and neighbourhood.

Pending verification
last

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

From this reading At last, however, I could hear the noise of a window gently thrust up, and knew that my uncle had come to his observatory.

Pending verification
light

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

From this reading By what light there was, he would see Alan standing, like a dark shadow, on the steps; the three witnesses were hidden quite out of his view; so that there was nothing to alarm an honest man in his own house.

Pending verification
like

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

From this reading By what light there was, he would see Alan standing, like a dark shadow, on the steps; the three witnesses were hidden quite out of his view; so that there was nothing to alarm an honest man in his own house.

Pending verification
man

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

From this reading By what light there was, he would see Alan standing, like a dark shadow, on the steps; the three witnesses were hidden quite out of his view; so that there was nothing to alarm an honest man in his own house.

Pending verification
misgiving

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

From this reading For all that, he studied his visitor awhile in silence, and when he spoke his voice had a quaver of misgiving.

Pending verification
MY

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

From this reading I COME INTO MY KINGDOM For some time Alan volleyed upon the door, and his knocking only roused the echoes of the house and neighbourhood.

Pending verification
neighbourhood

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

From this reading I COME INTO MY KINGDOM For some time Alan volleyed upon the door, and his knocking only roused the echoes of the house and neighbourhood.

Pending verification
noise

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

From this reading At last, however, I could hear the noise of a window gently thrust up, and knew that my uncle had come to his observatory.

Pending verification
nothing

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

From this reading By what light there was, he would see Alan standing, like a dark shadow, on the steps; the three witnesses were hidden quite out of his view; so that there was nothing to alarm an honest man in his own house.

Pending verification
observatory

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

From this reading At last, however, I could hear the noise of a window gently thrust up, and knew that my uncle had come to his observatory.

Pending verification
of

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

From this reading I COME INTO MY KINGDOM For some time Alan volleyed upon the door, and his knocking only roused the echoes of the house and neighbourhood.

Pending verification
on

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

From this reading By what light there was, he would see Alan standing, like a dark shadow, on the steps; the three witnesses were hidden quite out of his view; so that there was nothing to alarm an honest man in his own house.

Pending verification
only

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

From this reading I COME INTO MY KINGDOM For some time Alan volleyed upon the door, and his knocking only roused the echoes of the house and neighbourhood.

Pending verification
out

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

From this reading By what light there was, he would see Alan standing, like a dark shadow, on the steps; the three witnesses were hidden quite out of his view; so that there was nothing to alarm an honest man in his own house.

Pending verification
own

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

From this reading By what light there was, he would see Alan standing, like a dark shadow, on the steps; the three witnesses were hidden quite out of his view; so that there was nothing to alarm an honest man in his own house.

Pending verification
quaver

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

From this reading For all that, he studied his visitor awhile in silence, and when he spoke his voice had a quaver of misgiving.

Pending verification
quite

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

From this reading By what light there was, he would see Alan standing, like a dark shadow, on the steps; the three witnesses were hidden quite out of his view; so that there was nothing to alarm an honest man in his own house.

Pending verification
roused

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

From this reading I COME INTO MY KINGDOM For some time Alan volleyed upon the door, and his knocking only roused the echoes of the house and neighbourhood.

Pending verification
says

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

From this reading “What’s this?” says he.

Pending verification
see

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

From this reading By what light there was, he would see Alan standing, like a dark shadow, on the steps; the three witnesses were hidden quite out of his view; so that there was nothing to alarm an honest man in his own house.

Pending verification
shadownounUS /ˈʃæd.oʊ/

A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.

From this reading By what light there was, he would see Alan standing, like a dark shadow, on the steps; the three witnesses were hidden quite out of his view; so that there was nothing to alarm an honest man in his own house.

Velmora curated lexicon
silencenounUS /ˈsaɪ.ləns/

Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.

From this reading For all that, he studied his visitor awhile in silence, and when he spoke his voice had a quaver of misgiving.

Velmora curated lexicon
so

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

From this reading By what light there was, he would see Alan standing, like a dark shadow, on the steps; the three witnesses were hidden quite out of his view; so that there was nothing to alarm an honest man in his own house.

Pending verification
some

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

From this reading I COME INTO MY KINGDOM For some time Alan volleyed upon the door, and his knocking only roused the echoes of the house and neighbourhood.

Pending verification
spoke

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

From this reading For all that, he studied his visitor awhile in silence, and when he spoke his voice had a quaver of misgiving.

Pending verification
standing

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

From this reading By what light there was, he would see Alan standing, like a dark shadow, on the steps; the three witnesses were hidden quite out of his view; so that there was nothing to alarm an honest man in his own house.

Pending verification
steps

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

From this reading By what light there was, he would see Alan standing, like a dark shadow, on the steps; the three witnesses were hidden quite out of his view; so that there was nothing to alarm an honest man in his own house.

Pending verification
studied

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

From this reading For all that, he studied his visitor awhile in silence, and when he spoke his voice had a quaver of misgiving.

Pending verification
that

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

From this reading At last, however, I could hear the noise of a window gently thrust up, and knew that my uncle had come to his observatory.

Pending verification
the

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

From this reading I COME INTO MY KINGDOM For some time Alan volleyed upon the door, and his knocking only roused the echoes of the house and neighbourhood.

Pending verification
there

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

From this reading By what light there was, he would see Alan standing, like a dark shadow, on the steps; the three witnesses were hidden quite out of his view; so that there was nothing to alarm an honest man in his own house.

Pending verification
this

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

From this reading “What’s this?” says he.

Pending verification
three

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

From this reading By what light there was, he would see Alan standing, like a dark shadow, on the steps; the three witnesses were hidden quite out of his view; so that there was nothing to alarm an honest man in his own house.

Pending verification
thrust

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

From this reading At last, however, I could hear the noise of a window gently thrust up, and knew that my uncle had come to his observatory.

Pending verification
time

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

From this reading I COME INTO MY KINGDOM For some time Alan volleyed upon the door, and his knocking only roused the echoes of the house and neighbourhood.

Pending verification
to

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

From this reading At last, however, I could hear the noise of a window gently thrust up, and knew that my uncle had come to his observatory.

Pending verification
uncle

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

From this reading At last, however, I could hear the noise of a window gently thrust up, and knew that my uncle had come to his observatory.

Pending verification
up

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

From this reading At last, however, I could hear the noise of a window gently thrust up, and knew that my uncle had come to his observatory.

Pending verification
upon

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

From this reading I COME INTO MY KINGDOM For some time Alan volleyed upon the door, and his knocking only roused the echoes of the house and neighbourhood.

Pending verification
view

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

From this reading By what light there was, he would see Alan standing, like a dark shadow, on the steps; the three witnesses were hidden quite out of his view; so that there was nothing to alarm an honest man in his own house.

Pending verification
visitor

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

From this reading For all that, he studied his visitor awhile in silence, and when he spoke his voice had a quaver of misgiving.

Pending verification
voice

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

From this reading For all that, he studied his visitor awhile in silence, and when he spoke his voice had a quaver of misgiving.

Pending verification
volleyed

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

From this reading I COME INTO MY KINGDOM For some time Alan volleyed upon the door, and his knocking only roused the echoes of the house and neighbourhood.

Pending verification
was

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

From this reading By what light there was, he would see Alan standing, like a dark shadow, on the steps; the three witnesses were hidden quite out of his view; so that there was nothing to alarm an honest man in his own house.

Pending verification
were

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

From this reading By what light there was, he would see Alan standing, like a dark shadow, on the steps; the three witnesses were hidden quite out of his view; so that there was nothing to alarm an honest man in his own house.

Pending verification
what

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

From this reading By what light there was, he would see Alan standing, like a dark shadow, on the steps; the three witnesses were hidden quite out of his view; so that there was nothing to alarm an honest man in his own house.

Pending verification
What's

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

From this reading “What’s this?” says he.

Pending verification
when

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

From this reading For all that, he studied his visitor awhile in silence, and when he spoke his voice had a quaver of misgiving.

Pending verification
window

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

From this reading At last, however, I could hear the noise of a window gently thrust up, and knew that my uncle had come to his observatory.

Pending verification
witnesses

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

From this reading By what light there was, he would see Alan standing, like a dark shadow, on the steps; the three witnesses were hidden quite out of his view; so that there was nothing to alarm an honest man in his own house.

Pending verification
would

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

From this reading By what light there was, he would see Alan standing, like a dark shadow, on the steps; the three witnesses were hidden quite out of his view; so that there was nothing to alarm an honest man in his own house.

Pending verification