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King--of the Khyber Rifles
King--of the Khyber Rifles

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of King--of the Khyber Rifles is here in full — 263 sentences across 53 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for King--of the Khyber Rifles
Context Illustration Reading 1/52 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
The only things which can not be explained are facts.
So, use 'em.
A riddle is proof there is a key to it.
Nor is it a riddle when you've got the key.
Life is as simple as all that.--Cocker Delhi boasts a round half-dozen railway stations, all of them designed with regard to war, so that to King there was nothing unexpected in the fact that the train had brought him to an unexpected station.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
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A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

King--of the Khyber Rifles

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of King--of the Khyber Rifles is here in full — 263 sentences across 53 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/52 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
The only things which can not be explained are facts.
/ðə ˈoʊnli θɪŋz wɪtʃ kæn nɑːt biː ɪkˈspleɪnd ɑːr fækts/
Line 2
So, use 'em.
/soʊ juːs em/
Line 3
A riddle is proof there is a key to it.
/ə ˈrɪdəl ɪz pruːf ðer ɪz ə kiː tuː ɪt/
Line 4
Nor is it a riddle when you've got the key.
Line 5
Life is as simple as all that.--Cocker Delhi boasts a round half-dozen railway stations, all of them designed with regard to war, so that to King there was nothing unexpected in the fact that the train had brought him to an unexpected station.

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.

boasts noun US /boʊsts/

plural of “boast” — speaking of yourself in superlatives

From this reading “Life is as simple as all that.--Cocker Delhi boasts a round half-dozen railway stations, all of them designed with regard to war, so that to King there was nothing unexpected in the fact that the train had brought him to an unexpected station.”

Cocker noun US /ˈkɑːkər/

a small breed with wavy silky hair; originally developed in England

From this reading “Life is as simple as all that.--Cocker Delhi boasts a round half-dozen railway stations, all of them designed with regard to war, so that to King there was nothing unexpected in the fact that the train had brought him to an unexpected station.”

Delhi noun US /ˈdeli/

a city in north central India

From this reading “Life is as simple as all that.--Cocker Delhi boasts a round half-dozen railway stations, all of them designed with regard to war, so that to King there was nothing unexpected in the fact that the train had brought him to an unexpected station.”

designed adjective US /dɪˈzaɪnd/

done or made or performed with purpose and intent

From this reading “Life is as simple as all that.--Cocker Delhi boasts a round half-dozen railway stations, all of them designed with regard to war, so that to King there was nothing unexpected in the fact that the train had brought him to an unexpected station.”

half-dozen adjective US /ˈhæfdʌzən/

denoting a quantity consisting of six items or units

From this reading “Life is as simple as all that.--Cocker Delhi boasts a round half-dozen railway stations, all of them designed with regard to war, so that to King there was nothing unexpected in the fact that the train had brought him to an unexpected station.”

railway noun US /ˈreɪlweɪ/

line that is the commercial organization responsible for operating a system of transportation for trains that pull passengers or freight

From this reading “Life is as simple as all that.--Cocker Delhi boasts a round half-dozen railway stations, all of them designed with regard to war, so that to King there was nothing unexpected in the fact that the train had brought him to an unexpected station.”

riddle verb US /ˈrɪdəl/

pierce with many holes

From this reading “A riddle is proof there is a key to it.”

stations noun US /ˈsteɪʃənz/

(Roman Catholic Church) a devotion consisting of fourteen prayers said before a series of fourteen pictures or carvings representing successive incidents during Jesus' passage from Pilate's house to his crucifixion at Calvary

From this reading “Life is as simple as all that.--Cocker Delhi boasts a round half-dozen railway stations, all of them designed with regard to war, so that to King there was nothing unexpected in the fact that the train had brought him to an unexpected station.”

All words in this reading · 55

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 A riddle is proof there is a key to it.

alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading Life is as simple as all that.--Cocker Delhi boasts a round half-dozen railway stations, all of them designed with regard to war, so that to King there was nothing unexpected in the fact that the train had brought him to an unexpected station.

andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading Life is as simple as all that.--Cocker Delhi boasts a round half-dozen railway stations, all of them designed with regard to war, so that to King there was nothing unexpected in the fact that the train had brought him to an unexpected station.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading The only things which can not be explained are facts.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading Life is as simple as all that.--Cocker Delhi boasts a round half-dozen railway stations, all of them designed with regard to war, so that to King there was nothing unexpected in the fact that the train had brought him to an unexpected station.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading The only things which can not be explained are facts.

boastsnounUS /boʊsts/

plural of “boast” — speaking of yourself in superlatives

From this reading Life is as simple as all that.--Cocker Delhi boasts a round half-dozen railway stations, all of them designed with regard to war, so that to King there was nothing unexpected in the fact that the train had brought him to an unexpected station.

broughtverbUS /brɔːt/

inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere

From this reading Life is as simple as all that.--Cocker Delhi boasts a round half-dozen railway stations, all of them designed with regard to war, so that to King there was nothing unexpected in the fact that the train had brought him to an unexpected station.

canmodal verbUS /kæn/

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading The only things which can not be explained are facts.

CockernounUS /ˈkɑːkər/

a small breed with wavy silky hair; originally developed in England

From this reading Life is as simple as all that.--Cocker Delhi boasts a round half-dozen railway stations, all of them designed with regard to war, so that to King there was nothing unexpected in the fact that the train had brought him to an unexpected station.

DelhinounUS /ˈdeli/

a city in north central India

From this reading Life is as simple as all that.--Cocker Delhi boasts a round half-dozen railway stations, all of them designed with regard to war, so that to King there was nothing unexpected in the fact that the train had brought him to an unexpected station.

designedadjectiveUS /dɪˈzaɪnd/

done or made or performed with purpose and intent

From this reading Life is as simple as all that.--Cocker Delhi boasts a round half-dozen railway stations, all of them designed with regard to war, so that to King there was nothing unexpected in the fact that the train had brought him to an unexpected station.

emnounUS /em/

a quad with a square body

From this reading So, use 'em.

explainedverbUS /ɪkˈspleɪnd/

past form of “explain” — make plain and comprehensible

From this reading The only things which can not be explained are facts.

factnounUS /fækt/

a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred

From this reading Life is as simple as all that.--Cocker Delhi boasts a round half-dozen railway stations, all of them designed with regard to war, so that to King there was nothing unexpected in the fact that the train had brought him to an unexpected station.

factsnounUS /fækts/

plural of “fact” — a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred

From this reading The only things which can not be explained are facts.

gotverbUS /ɡɑːt/

inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading Nor is it a riddle when you've got the key.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Life is as simple as all that.--Cocker Delhi boasts a round half-dozen railway stations, all of them designed with regard to war, so that to King there was nothing unexpected in the fact that the train had brought him to an unexpected station.

half-dozenadjectiveUS /ˈhæfdʌzən/

denoting a quantity consisting of six items or units

From this reading Life is as simple as all that.--Cocker Delhi boasts a round half-dozen railway stations, all of them designed with regard to war, so that to King there was nothing unexpected in the fact that the train had brought him to an unexpected station.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading Life is as simple as all that.--Cocker Delhi boasts a round half-dozen railway stations, all of them designed with regard to war, so that to King there was nothing unexpected in the fact that the train had brought him to an unexpected station.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Life is as simple as all that.--Cocker Delhi boasts a round half-dozen railway stations, all of them designed with regard to war, so that to King there was nothing unexpected in the fact that the train had brought him to an unexpected station.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading A riddle is proof there is a key to it.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading A riddle is proof there is a key to it.

keynounUS /kiː/

metal device shaped in such a way that when it is inserted into the appropriate lock the lock's mechanism can be rotated

From this reading A riddle is proof there is a key to it.

KingnounUS /kɪŋ/

a male sovereign; ruler of a kingdom

From this reading Life is as simple as all that.--Cocker Delhi boasts a round half-dozen railway stations, all of them designed with regard to war, so that to King there was nothing unexpected in the fact that the train had brought him to an unexpected station.

LifenounUS /laɪf/

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading Life is as simple as all that.--Cocker Delhi boasts a round half-dozen railway stations, all of them designed with regard to war, so that to King there was nothing unexpected in the fact that the train had brought him to an unexpected station.

NorconjunctionUS /nɔːr/

and not; used after a negative to add a second negative

From this reading Nor is it a riddle when you've got the key.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading The only things which can not be explained are facts.

nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading Life is as simple as all that.--Cocker Delhi boasts a round half-dozen railway stations, all of them designed with regard to war, so that to King there was nothing unexpected in the fact that the train had brought him to an unexpected station.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Life is as simple as all that.--Cocker Delhi boasts a round half-dozen railway stations, all of them designed with regard to war, so that to King there was nothing unexpected in the fact that the train had brought him to an unexpected station.

onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/

and nothing more

From this reading The only things which can not be explained are facts.

proofnounUS /pruːf/

any factual evidence that helps to establish the truth of something

From this reading A riddle is proof there is a key to it.

railwaynounUS /ˈreɪlweɪ/

line that is the commercial organization responsible for operating a system of transportation for trains that pull passengers or freight

From this reading Life is as simple as all that.--Cocker Delhi boasts a round half-dozen railway stations, all of them designed with regard to war, so that to King there was nothing unexpected in the fact that the train had brought him to an unexpected station.

regardnounUS /rɪˈɡɑːrd/

(usually preceded by “in”) a detail or point

From this reading Life is as simple as all that.--Cocker Delhi boasts a round half-dozen railway stations, all of them designed with regard to war, so that to King there was nothing unexpected in the fact that the train had brought him to an unexpected station.

riddleverbUS /ˈrɪdəl/

pierce with many holes

From this reading A riddle is proof there is a key to it.

roundnounUS /raʊnd/

a charge of ammunition for a single shot

From this reading Life is as simple as all that.--Cocker Delhi boasts a round half-dozen railway stations, all of them designed with regard to war, so that to King there was nothing unexpected in the fact that the train had brought him to an unexpected station.

simpleadjectiveUS /ˈsɪmpəl/

having few parts; not complex or complicated or involved

From this reading Life is as simple as all that.--Cocker Delhi boasts a round half-dozen railway stations, all of them designed with regard to war, so that to King there was nothing unexpected in the fact that the train had brought him to an unexpected station.

SoconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading So, use 'em.

stationnounUS /ˈsteɪʃən/

a facility equipped with special equipment and personnel for a particular purpose

From this reading Life is as simple as all that.--Cocker Delhi boasts a round half-dozen railway stations, all of them designed with regard to war, so that to King there was nothing unexpected in the fact that the train had brought him to an unexpected station.

stationsnounUS /ˈsteɪʃənz/

(Roman Catholic Church) a devotion consisting of fourteen prayers said before a series of fourteen pictures or carvings representing successive incidents during Jesus' passage from Pilate's house to his crucifixion at Calvary

From this reading Life is as simple as all that.--Cocker Delhi boasts a round half-dozen railway stations, all of them designed with regard to war, so that to King there was nothing unexpected in the fact that the train had brought him to an unexpected station.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Life is as simple as all that.--Cocker Delhi boasts a round half-dozen railway stations, all of them designed with regard to war, so that to King there was nothing unexpected in the fact that the train had brought him to an unexpected station.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The only things which can not be explained are facts.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading Life is as simple as all that.--Cocker Delhi boasts a round half-dozen railway stations, all of them designed with regard to war, so that to King there was nothing unexpected in the fact that the train had brought him to an unexpected station.

thereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading A riddle is proof there is a key to it.

thingsnounUS /θɪŋz/

any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)

From this reading The only things which can not be explained are facts.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading A riddle is proof there is a key to it.

trainverbUS /treɪn/

create by training and teaching

From this reading Life is as simple as all that.--Cocker Delhi boasts a round half-dozen railway stations, all of them designed with regard to war, so that to King there was nothing unexpected in the fact that the train had brought him to an unexpected station.

unexpectedadjectiveUS /ˌʌnɪkˈspektɪd/

not expected or anticipated

From this reading Life is as simple as all that.--Cocker Delhi boasts a round half-dozen railway stations, all of them designed with regard to war, so that to King there was nothing unexpected in the fact that the train had brought him to an unexpected station.

usenounUS /juːs/

the act of using

From this reading So, use 'em.

warnounUS /wɔːr/

the waging of armed conflict against an enemy

From this reading Life is as simple as all that.--Cocker Delhi boasts a round half-dozen railway stations, all of them designed with regard to war, so that to King there was nothing unexpected in the fact that the train had brought him to an unexpected station.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Life is as simple as all that.--Cocker Delhi boasts a round half-dozen railway stations, all of them designed with regard to war, so that to King there was nothing unexpected in the fact that the train had brought him to an unexpected station.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading Nor is it a riddle when you've got the key.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading The only things which can not be explained are facts.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Life is as simple as all that.--Cocker Delhi boasts a round half-dozen railway stations, all of them designed with regard to war, so that to King there was nothing unexpected in the fact that the train had brought him to an unexpected station.

you've

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

From this reading Nor is it a riddle when you've got the key.

Chapter 1 of King--of the Khyber Rifles by Talbot Mundy holds 263 sentences, grouped into 53 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 1 of King--of the Khyber Rifles contain?

Chapter 1 holds 263 sentences of King--of the Khyber Rifles, unabridged, divided into 53 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of King--of the Khyber Rifles by Talbot Mundy exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 263 sentences, grouped into 53 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 1 of King--of the Khyber Rifles?

Work through the 53 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 53 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 1 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 1 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 King--of the Khyber Rifles

Common questions about reading King--of the Khyber Rifles by Talbot Mundy on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of King--of the Khyber Rifles?

Yes. All 6972 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #6066 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of King--of the Khyber Rifles is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #6066, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does King--of the Khyber Rifles take to read?

About 581 minutes of reading across 1395 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read King--of the Khyber Rifles section by section

How to work through King--of the Khyber Rifles section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 17 chapters of King--of the Khyber Rifles 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 King--of the Khyber Rifles

Words and structures a reader meets early in King--of the Khyber Rifles, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Things
A word that appears in the opening chapter of King--of the Khyber Rifles; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Explained
A word that appears in the opening chapter of King--of the Khyber Rifles; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Facts
A word that appears in the opening chapter of King--of the Khyber Rifles; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Riddle
A word that appears in the opening chapter of King--of the Khyber Rifles; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.