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Masters of the Wheat-Lands
Masters of the Wheat-Lands

Chapter II · Chapter 2

Chapter 2 of Masters of the Wheat-Lands is here in full — 177 sentences across 36 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Masters of the Wheat-Lands
Context Illustration Reading 1/35 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
SALLY TAKES CHARGE The night was clear and bitterly cold when Hawtrey and Sally Creighton drove away from Stukely's barn.
Winter had lingered unusually long that year, and the prairie gleamed dimly white, with the sledge trail cutting athwart it, a smear of blue-gray in the foreground.
It was--for Lander's lay behind them with the snow among the stubble belts that engirdled it--an empty wilderness that the mettlesome team swung across, and during the first few minutes the cold struck through the horses with a sting like the thrust of steel.
A half moon, coppery red with frost, hung low above the snow-covered earth, and there was no sound but the crunch beneath the runners, and the beat of hoofs that rang dully through the silence like a roll of muffled drums.
Sleighs like the one that Hawtrey drove are not common on the prairie, where the farmer generally uses the humble bob-sled when the snow lies unusually long.
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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.

Masters of the Wheat-Lands

Chapter II · Chapter 2

Chapter 2 of Masters of the Wheat-Lands is here in full — 177 sentences across 36 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/35 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
SALLY TAKES CHARGE The night was clear and bitterly cold when Hawtrey and Sally Creighton drove away from Stukely's barn.
Line 2
Winter had lingered unusually long that year, and the prairie gleamed dimly white, with the sledge trail cutting athwart it, a smear of blue-gray in the foreground.
Line 3
It was--for Lander's lay behind them with the snow among the stubble belts that engirdled it--an empty wilderness that the mettlesome team swung across, and during the first few minutes the cold struck through the horses with a sting like the thrust of steel.
Line 4
A half moon, coppery red with frost, hung low above the snow-covered earth, and there was no sound but the crunch beneath the runners, and the beat of hoofs that rang dully through the silence like a roll of muffled drums.
Line 5
Sleighs like the one that Hawtrey drove are not common on the prairie, where the farmer generally uses the humble bob-sled when the snow lies unusually long.

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.

athwart adverb US /əˈθwɔːrt/

at right angles to the center line of a ship

From this reading “Winter had lingered unusually long that year, and the prairie gleamed dimly white, with the sledge trail cutting athwart it, a smear of blue-gray in the foreground.”

belts noun US /belts/

plural of “belt” — endless loop of flexible material between two rotating shafts or pulleys

From this reading “It was--for Lander's lay behind them with the snow among the stubble belts that engirdled it--an empty wilderness that the mettlesome team swung across, and during the first few minutes the cold struck through the horses with a sting like the thrust of steel.”

coppery adjective US /ˈkɑːpəri/

of something having the color of copper

From this reading “A half moon, coppery red with frost, hung low above the snow-covered earth, and there was no sound but the crunch beneath the runners, and the beat of hoofs that rang dully through the silence like a roll of muffled drums.”

crunch verb US /krʌntʃ/

make a crushing noise

From this reading “A half moon, coppery red with frost, hung low above the snow-covered earth, and there was no sound but the crunch beneath the runners, and the beat of hoofs that rang dully through the silence like a roll of muffled drums.”

foreground noun US /ˈfɔːrɡraʊnd/

the part of a scene that is near the viewer

From this reading “Winter had lingered unusually long that year, and the prairie gleamed dimly white, with the sledge trail cutting athwart it, a smear of blue-gray in the foreground.”

runners noun US /ˈrʌnərz/

plural of “runner” — someone who imports or exports without paying duties

From this reading “A half moon, coppery red with frost, hung low above the snow-covered earth, and there was no sound but the crunch beneath the runners, and the beat of hoofs that rang dully through the silence like a roll of muffled drums.”

smear noun US /smɪr/

slanderous defamation

From this reading “Winter had lingered unusually long that year, and the prairie gleamed dimly white, with the sledge trail cutting athwart it, a smear of blue-gray in the foreground.”

stubble noun US /ˈstʌbəl/

material consisting of seed coverings and small pieces of stem or leaves that have been separated from the seeds

From this reading “It was--for Lander's lay behind them with the snow among the stubble belts that engirdled it--an empty wilderness that the mettlesome team swung across, and during the first few minutes the cold struck through the horses with a sting like the thrust of steel.”

All words in this reading · 107

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 Winter had lingered unusually long that year, and the prairie gleamed dimly white, with the sledge trail cutting athwart it, a smear of blue-gray in the foreground.

aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/

higher than, or over, something

From this reading A half moon, coppery red with frost, hung low above the snow-covered earth, and there was no sound but the crunch beneath the runners, and the beat of hoofs that rang dully through the silence like a roll of muffled drums.

acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/

from one side of something to the other

From this reading It was--for Lander's lay behind them with the snow among the stubble belts that engirdled it--an empty wilderness that the mettlesome team swung across, and during the first few minutes the cold struck through the horses with a sting like the thrust of steel.

amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/

surrounded by; in the middle of a group

From this reading It was--for Lander's lay behind them with the snow among the stubble belts that engirdled it--an empty wilderness that the mettlesome team swung across, and during the first few minutes the cold struck through the horses with a sting like the thrust of steel.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading It was--for Lander's lay behind them with the snow among the stubble belts that engirdled it--an empty wilderness that the mettlesome team swung across, and during the first few minutes the cold struck through the horses with a sting like the thrust of steel.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading SALLY TAKES CHARGE The night was clear and bitterly cold when Hawtrey and Sally Creighton drove away from Stukely's barn.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading Sleighs like the one that Hawtrey drove are not common on the prairie, where the farmer generally uses the humble bob-sled when the snow lies unusually long.

athwartadverbUS /əˈθwɔːrt/

at right angles to the center line of a ship

From this reading Winter had lingered unusually long that year, and the prairie gleamed dimly white, with the sledge trail cutting athwart it, a smear of blue-gray in the foreground.

awayadverbUS /əˈweɪ/

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading SALLY TAKES CHARGE The night was clear and bitterly cold when Hawtrey and Sally Creighton drove away from Stukely's barn.

barnnounUS /bɑːrn/

an outlying farm building for storing grain or animal feed and housing farm animals

From this reading SALLY TAKES CHARGE The night was clear and bitterly cold when Hawtrey and Sally Creighton drove away from Stukely's barn.

beatverbUS /biːt/

come out better in a competition, race, or conflict

From this reading A half moon, coppery red with frost, hung low above the snow-covered earth, and there was no sound but the crunch beneath the runners, and the beat of hoofs that rang dully through the silence like a roll of muffled drums.

behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/

at or toward the back of something

From this reading It was--for Lander's lay behind them with the snow among the stubble belts that engirdled it--an empty wilderness that the mettlesome team swung across, and during the first few minutes the cold struck through the horses with a sting like the thrust of steel.

beltsnounUS /belts/

plural of “belt” — endless loop of flexible material between two rotating shafts or pulleys

From this reading It was--for Lander's lay behind them with the snow among the stubble belts that engirdled it--an empty wilderness that the mettlesome team swung across, and during the first few minutes the cold struck through the horses with a sting like the thrust of steel.

beneathprepositionUS /bɪˈniːθ/

Directly under; in or to a lower position than.

From this reading A half moon, coppery red with frost, hung low above the snow-covered earth, and there was no sound but the crunch beneath the runners, and the beat of hoofs that rang dully through the silence like a roll of muffled drums.

bitterlyadverbUS /ˈbɪtərli/

with bitterness; in a resentful manner

From this reading SALLY TAKES CHARGE The night was clear and bitterly cold when Hawtrey and Sally Creighton drove away from Stukely's barn.

blue-grayadjective

of grey tinged with blue

From this reading Winter had lingered unusually long that year, and the prairie gleamed dimly white, with the sledge trail cutting athwart it, a smear of blue-gray in the foreground.

bob-sled

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

From this reading Sleighs like the one that Hawtrey drove are not common on the prairie, where the farmer generally uses the humble bob-sled when the snow lies unusually long.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading A half moon, coppery red with frost, hung low above the snow-covered earth, and there was no sound but the crunch beneath the runners, and the beat of hoofs that rang dully through the silence like a roll of muffled drums.

CHARGEverbUS /tʃɑːrdʒ/

to make a rush at or sudden attack upon, as in battle

From this reading SALLY TAKES CHARGE The night was clear and bitterly cold when Hawtrey and Sally Creighton drove away from Stukely's barn.

clearverbUS /klɪr/

rid of obstructions

From this reading SALLY TAKES CHARGE The night was clear and bitterly cold when Hawtrey and Sally Creighton drove away from Stukely's barn.

coldadjectiveUS /koʊld/

having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration

From this reading SALLY TAKES CHARGE The night was clear and bitterly cold when Hawtrey and Sally Creighton drove away from Stukely's barn.

commonadjectiveUS /ˈkɑːmən/

belonging to or participated in by a community as a whole; public

From this reading Sleighs like the one that Hawtrey drove are not common on the prairie, where the farmer generally uses the humble bob-sled when the snow lies unusually long.

copperyadjectiveUS /ˈkɑːpəri/

of something having the color of copper

From this reading A half moon, coppery red with frost, hung low above the snow-covered earth, and there was no sound but the crunch beneath the runners, and the beat of hoofs that rang dully through the silence like a roll of muffled drums.

Creighton

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

From this reading SALLY TAKES CHARGE The night was clear and bitterly cold when Hawtrey and Sally Creighton drove away from Stukely's barn.

crunchverbUS /krʌntʃ/

make a crushing noise

From this reading A half moon, coppery red with frost, hung low above the snow-covered earth, and there was no sound but the crunch beneath the runners, and the beat of hoofs that rang dully through the silence like a roll of muffled drums.

cuttingnounUS /ˈkʌtɪŋ/

the activity of selecting the scenes to be shown and putting them together to create a film

From this reading Winter had lingered unusually long that year, and the prairie gleamed dimly white, with the sledge trail cutting athwart it, a smear of blue-gray in the foreground.

dimlyadverbUS /ˈdɪmli/

in a dim indistinct manner

From this reading Winter had lingered unusually long that year, and the prairie gleamed dimly white, with the sledge trail cutting athwart it, a smear of blue-gray in the foreground.

drovenounUS /droʊv/

a group of animals (a herd or flock) moving together

From this reading SALLY TAKES CHARGE The night was clear and bitterly cold when Hawtrey and Sally Creighton drove away from Stukely's barn.

drumsnounUS /drʌmz/

plural of “drum” — a musical percussion instrument; usually consists of a hollow cylinder with a membrane stretched across each end

From this reading A half moon, coppery red with frost, hung low above the snow-covered earth, and there was no sound but the crunch beneath the runners, and the beat of hoofs that rang dully through the silence like a roll of muffled drums.

dullyadverb

without liveliness

From this reading A half moon, coppery red with frost, hung low above the snow-covered earth, and there was no sound but the crunch beneath the runners, and the beat of hoofs that rang dully through the silence like a roll of muffled drums.

duringprepositionUS /ˈdʊrɪŋ/

all through a period, or at some point within it

From this reading It was--for Lander's lay behind them with the snow among the stubble belts that engirdled it--an empty wilderness that the mettlesome team swung across, and during the first few minutes the cold struck through the horses with a sting like the thrust of steel.

earthnounUS /ɜːrθ/

the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on

From this reading A half moon, coppery red with frost, hung low above the snow-covered earth, and there was no sound but the crunch beneath the runners, and the beat of hoofs that rang dully through the silence like a roll of muffled drums.

emptyverbUS /ˈempti/

make void or empty of contents

From this reading It was--for Lander's lay behind them with the snow among the stubble belts that engirdled it--an empty wilderness that the mettlesome team swung across, and during the first few minutes the cold struck through the horses with a sting like the thrust of steel.

engirdled

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

From this reading It was--for Lander's lay behind them with the snow among the stubble belts that engirdled it--an empty wilderness that the mettlesome team swung across, and during the first few minutes the cold struck through the horses with a sting like the thrust of steel.

farmernounUS /ˈfɑːrmər/

a person who operates a farm

From this reading Sleighs like the one that Hawtrey drove are not common on the prairie, where the farmer generally uses the humble bob-sled when the snow lies unusually long.

fewadjectiveUS /fjuː/

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number

From this reading It was--for Lander's lay behind them with the snow among the stubble belts that engirdled it--an empty wilderness that the mettlesome team swung across, and during the first few minutes the cold struck through the horses with a sting like the thrust of steel.

firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading It was--for Lander's lay behind them with the snow among the stubble belts that engirdled it--an empty wilderness that the mettlesome team swung across, and during the first few minutes the cold struck through the horses with a sting like the thrust of steel.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading It was--for Lander's lay behind them with the snow among the stubble belts that engirdled it--an empty wilderness that the mettlesome team swung across, and during the first few minutes the cold struck through the horses with a sting like the thrust of steel.

foregroundnounUS /ˈfɔːrɡraʊnd/

the part of a scene that is near the viewer

From this reading Winter had lingered unusually long that year, and the prairie gleamed dimly white, with the sledge trail cutting athwart it, a smear of blue-gray in the foreground.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading SALLY TAKES CHARGE The night was clear and bitterly cold when Hawtrey and Sally Creighton drove away from Stukely's barn.

frostnounUS /frɔːst/

ice crystals forming a white deposit (especially on objects outside)

From this reading A half moon, coppery red with frost, hung low above the snow-covered earth, and there was no sound but the crunch beneath the runners, and the beat of hoofs that rang dully through the silence like a roll of muffled drums.

generallyadverbUS /ˈdʒenərəli/

usually; as a rule

From this reading Sleighs like the one that Hawtrey drove are not common on the prairie, where the farmer generally uses the humble bob-sled when the snow lies unusually long.

gleamedverbUS /ɡliːmd/

past form of “gleam” — be shiny, as if wet

From this reading Winter had lingered unusually long that year, and the prairie gleamed dimly white, with the sledge trail cutting athwart it, a smear of blue-gray in the foreground.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Winter had lingered unusually long that year, and the prairie gleamed dimly white, with the sledge trail cutting athwart it, a smear of blue-gray in the foreground.

halfadjectiveUS /hæf/

consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity

From this reading A half moon, coppery red with frost, hung low above the snow-covered earth, and there was no sound but the crunch beneath the runners, and the beat of hoofs that rang dully through the silence like a roll of muffled drums.

Hawtrey

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

From this reading SALLY TAKES CHARGE The night was clear and bitterly cold when Hawtrey and Sally Creighton drove away from Stukely's barn.

hoofsnounUS /hʊfs/

plural of “hoof” — the foot of an ungulate mammal

From this reading A half moon, coppery red with frost, hung low above the snow-covered earth, and there was no sound but the crunch beneath the runners, and the beat of hoofs that rang dully through the silence like a roll of muffled drums.

horsesnounUS /ˈhɔːrsəz/

plural of “horse” — solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times

From this reading It was--for Lander's lay behind them with the snow among the stubble belts that engirdled it--an empty wilderness that the mettlesome team swung across, and during the first few minutes the cold struck through the horses with a sting like the thrust of steel.

humbleadjectiveUS /ˈhʌmbəl/

low or inferior in station or quality

From this reading Sleighs like the one that Hawtrey drove are not common on the prairie, where the farmer generally uses the humble bob-sled when the snow lies unusually long.

hungverbUS /hʌŋ/

inflected form of “hang” — be suspended or hanging

From this reading A half moon, coppery red with frost, hung low above the snow-covered earth, and there was no sound but the crunch beneath the runners, and the beat of hoofs that rang dully through the silence like a roll of muffled drums.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Winter had lingered unusually long that year, and the prairie gleamed dimly white, with the sledge trail cutting athwart it, a smear of blue-gray in the foreground.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Winter had lingered unusually long that year, and the prairie gleamed dimly white, with the sledge trail cutting athwart it, a smear of blue-gray in the foreground.

Lander's

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

From this reading It was--for Lander's lay behind them with the snow among the stubble belts that engirdled it--an empty wilderness that the mettlesome team swung across, and during the first few minutes the cold struck through the horses with a sting like the thrust of steel.

layverbUS /leɪ/

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading It was--for Lander's lay behind them with the snow among the stubble belts that engirdled it--an empty wilderness that the mettlesome team swung across, and during the first few minutes the cold struck through the horses with a sting like the thrust of steel.

liesnounUS /laɪz/

plural of “lie” — a statement that deviates from or perverts the truth

From this reading Sleighs like the one that Hawtrey drove are not common on the prairie, where the farmer generally uses the humble bob-sled when the snow lies unusually long.

likeverbUS /laɪk/

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading It was--for Lander's lay behind them with the snow among the stubble belts that engirdled it--an empty wilderness that the mettlesome team swung across, and during the first few minutes the cold struck through the horses with a sting like the thrust of steel.

lingeredverbUS /ˈlɪŋɡərd/

past form of “linger” — remain present although waning or gradually dying

From this reading Winter had lingered unusually long that year, and the prairie gleamed dimly white, with the sledge trail cutting athwart it, a smear of blue-gray in the foreground.

longadjectiveUS /lɔːŋ/

primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified

From this reading Winter had lingered unusually long that year, and the prairie gleamed dimly white, with the sledge trail cutting athwart it, a smear of blue-gray in the foreground.

lowadjectiveUS /loʊ/

less than normal in degree or intensity or amount

From this reading A half moon, coppery red with frost, hung low above the snow-covered earth, and there was no sound but the crunch beneath the runners, and the beat of hoofs that rang dully through the silence like a roll of muffled drums.

mettlesomeadjective

having a proud and unbroken spirit

From this reading It was--for Lander's lay behind them with the snow among the stubble belts that engirdled it--an empty wilderness that the mettlesome team swung across, and during the first few minutes the cold struck through the horses with a sting like the thrust of steel.

minutesnounUS /ˈmɪnəts/

a written account of what transpired at a meeting

From this reading It was--for Lander's lay behind them with the snow among the stubble belts that engirdled it--an empty wilderness that the mettlesome team swung across, and during the first few minutes the cold struck through the horses with a sting like the thrust of steel.

moonnounUS /muːn/

the natural satellite of the Earth

From this reading A half moon, coppery red with frost, hung low above the snow-covered earth, and there was no sound but the crunch beneath the runners, and the beat of hoofs that rang dully through the silence like a roll of muffled drums.

muffledadjectiveUS /ˈmʌfəld/

being or made softer or less loud or clear

From this reading A half moon, coppery red with frost, hung low above the snow-covered earth, and there was no sound but the crunch beneath the runners, and the beat of hoofs that rang dully through the silence like a roll of muffled drums.

nightnounUS /naɪt/

the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside

From this reading SALLY TAKES CHARGE The night was clear and bitterly cold when Hawtrey and Sally Creighton drove away from Stukely's barn.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading A half moon, coppery red with frost, hung low above the snow-covered earth, and there was no sound but the crunch beneath the runners, and the beat of hoofs that rang dully through the silence like a roll of muffled drums.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Sleighs like the one that Hawtrey drove are not common on the prairie, where the farmer generally uses the humble bob-sled when the snow lies unusually long.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Winter had lingered unusually long that year, and the prairie gleamed dimly white, with the sledge trail cutting athwart it, a smear of blue-gray in the foreground.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Sleighs like the one that Hawtrey drove are not common on the prairie, where the farmer generally uses the humble bob-sled when the snow lies unusually long.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Sleighs like the one that Hawtrey drove are not common on the prairie, where the farmer generally uses the humble bob-sled when the snow lies unusually long.

prairienounUS /ˈpreri/

a treeless grassy plain

From this reading Winter had lingered unusually long that year, and the prairie gleamed dimly white, with the sledge trail cutting athwart it, a smear of blue-gray in the foreground.

rangverbUS /ræŋ/

inflected form of “ring” — sound loudly and sonorously

From this reading A half moon, coppery red with frost, hung low above the snow-covered earth, and there was no sound but the crunch beneath the runners, and the beat of hoofs that rang dully through the silence like a roll of muffled drums.

rednounUS /red/

red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood

From this reading A half moon, coppery red with frost, hung low above the snow-covered earth, and there was no sound but the crunch beneath the runners, and the beat of hoofs that rang dully through the silence like a roll of muffled drums.

rollverbUS /roʊl/

move by turning over or rotating

From this reading A half moon, coppery red with frost, hung low above the snow-covered earth, and there was no sound but the crunch beneath the runners, and the beat of hoofs that rang dully through the silence like a roll of muffled drums.

runnersnounUS /ˈrʌnərz/

plural of “runner” — someone who imports or exports without paying duties

From this reading A half moon, coppery red with frost, hung low above the snow-covered earth, and there was no sound but the crunch beneath the runners, and the beat of hoofs that rang dully through the silence like a roll of muffled drums.

SALLYnounUS /ˈsæli/

witty remark

From this reading SALLY TAKES CHARGE The night was clear and bitterly cold when Hawtrey and Sally Creighton drove away from Stukely's barn.

silencenounUS /ˈsaɪ.ləns/

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

From this reading A half moon, coppery red with frost, hung low above the snow-covered earth, and there was no sound but the crunch beneath the runners, and the beat of hoofs that rang dully through the silence like a roll of muffled drums.

sledgeverbUS /sledʒ/

transport in a sleigh

From this reading Winter had lingered unusually long that year, and the prairie gleamed dimly white, with the sledge trail cutting athwart it, a smear of blue-gray in the foreground.

Sleighs

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

From this reading Sleighs like the one that Hawtrey drove are not common on the prairie, where the farmer generally uses the humble bob-sled when the snow lies unusually long.

smearnounUS /smɪr/

slanderous defamation

From this reading Winter had lingered unusually long that year, and the prairie gleamed dimly white, with the sledge trail cutting athwart it, a smear of blue-gray in the foreground.

snownounUS /snoʊ/

precipitation falling from clouds in the form of ice crystals

From this reading It was--for Lander's lay behind them with the snow among the stubble belts that engirdled it--an empty wilderness that the mettlesome team swung across, and during the first few minutes the cold struck through the horses with a sting like the thrust of steel.

snow-coveredadjective

covered with snow

From this reading A half moon, coppery red with frost, hung low above the snow-covered earth, and there was no sound but the crunch beneath the runners, and the beat of hoofs that rang dully through the silence like a roll of muffled drums.

soundnounUS /saʊnd/

the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause

From this reading A half moon, coppery red with frost, hung low above the snow-covered earth, and there was no sound but the crunch beneath the runners, and the beat of hoofs that rang dully through the silence like a roll of muffled drums.

steelnounUS /stiːl/

an alloy of iron with small amounts of carbon; widely used in construction; mechanical properties can be varied over a wide range

From this reading It was--for Lander's lay behind them with the snow among the stubble belts that engirdled it--an empty wilderness that the mettlesome team swung across, and during the first few minutes the cold struck through the horses with a sting like the thrust of steel.

stingverbUS /stɪŋ/

cause a sharp or stinging pain or discomfort

From this reading It was--for Lander's lay behind them with the snow among the stubble belts that engirdled it--an empty wilderness that the mettlesome team swung across, and during the first few minutes the cold struck through the horses with a sting like the thrust of steel.

struckadjectiveUS /strʌk/

(used in combination) affected by something overwhelming

From this reading It was--for Lander's lay behind them with the snow among the stubble belts that engirdled it--an empty wilderness that the mettlesome team swung across, and during the first few minutes the cold struck through the horses with a sting like the thrust of steel.

stubblenounUS /ˈstʌbəl/

material consisting of seed coverings and small pieces of stem or leaves that have been separated from the seeds

From this reading It was--for Lander's lay behind them with the snow among the stubble belts that engirdled it--an empty wilderness that the mettlesome team swung across, and during the first few minutes the cold struck through the horses with a sting like the thrust of steel.

Stukely's

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

From this reading SALLY TAKES CHARGE The night was clear and bitterly cold when Hawtrey and Sally Creighton drove away from Stukely's barn.

swungverbUS /swʌŋ/

inflected form of “swing” — move in a curve or arc, usually with the intent of hitting

From this reading It was--for Lander's lay behind them with the snow among the stubble belts that engirdled it--an empty wilderness that the mettlesome team swung across, and during the first few minutes the cold struck through the horses with a sting like the thrust of steel.

TAKESnounUS /teɪks/

plural of “take” — the income or profit arising from such transactions as the sale of land or other property

From this reading SALLY TAKES CHARGE The night was clear and bitterly cold when Hawtrey and Sally Creighton drove away from Stukely's barn.

teamnounUS /tiːm/

a cooperative unit (especially in sports)

From this reading It was--for Lander's lay behind them with the snow among the stubble belts that engirdled it--an empty wilderness that the mettlesome team swung across, and during the first few minutes the cold struck through the horses with a sting like the thrust of steel.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Winter had lingered unusually long that year, and the prairie gleamed dimly white, with the sledge trail cutting athwart it, a smear of blue-gray in the foreground.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading SALLY TAKES CHARGE The night was clear and bitterly cold when Hawtrey and Sally Creighton drove away from Stukely's barn.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading It was--for Lander's lay behind them with the snow among the stubble belts that engirdled it--an empty wilderness that the mettlesome team swung across, and during the first few minutes the cold struck through the horses with a sting like the thrust of steel.

thereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading A half moon, coppery red with frost, hung low above the snow-covered earth, and there was no sound but the crunch beneath the runners, and the beat of hoofs that rang dully through the silence like a roll of muffled drums.

throughprepositionUS /θruː/

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading It was--for Lander's lay behind them with the snow among the stubble belts that engirdled it--an empty wilderness that the mettlesome team swung across, and during the first few minutes the cold struck through the horses with a sting like the thrust of steel.

thrustverbUS /θrʌst/

push forcefully

From this reading It was--for Lander's lay behind them with the snow among the stubble belts that engirdled it--an empty wilderness that the mettlesome team swung across, and during the first few minutes the cold struck through the horses with a sting like the thrust of steel.

trailnounUS /treɪl/

a track or mark left by something that has passed

From this reading Winter had lingered unusually long that year, and the prairie gleamed dimly white, with the sledge trail cutting athwart it, a smear of blue-gray in the foreground.

unusuallyadverbUS /əˈnjuːʒuːəli/

to a remarkable degree or extent

From this reading Winter had lingered unusually long that year, and the prairie gleamed dimly white, with the sledge trail cutting athwart it, a smear of blue-gray in the foreground.

usesnounUS /ˈjuːsəz/

plural of “use” — the act of using

From this reading Sleighs like the one that Hawtrey drove are not common on the prairie, where the farmer generally uses the humble bob-sled when the snow lies unusually long.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading SALLY TAKES CHARGE The night was clear and bitterly cold when Hawtrey and Sally Creighton drove away from Stukely's barn.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading SALLY TAKES CHARGE The night was clear and bitterly cold when Hawtrey and Sally Creighton drove away from Stukely's barn.

whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading Sleighs like the one that Hawtrey drove are not common on the prairie, where the farmer generally uses the humble bob-sled when the snow lies unusually long.

whitenounUS /waɪt/

a Caucasian

From this reading Winter had lingered unusually long that year, and the prairie gleamed dimly white, with the sledge trail cutting athwart it, a smear of blue-gray in the foreground.

wildernessnounUS /ˈwɪldərnəs/

(politics) a state of disfavor

From this reading It was--for Lander's lay behind them with the snow among the stubble belts that engirdled it--an empty wilderness that the mettlesome team swung across, and during the first few minutes the cold struck through the horses with a sting like the thrust of steel.

WinternounUS /ˈwɪntər/

the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox

From this reading Winter had lingered unusually long that year, and the prairie gleamed dimly white, with the sledge trail cutting athwart it, a smear of blue-gray in the foreground.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Winter had lingered unusually long that year, and the prairie gleamed dimly white, with the sledge trail cutting athwart it, a smear of blue-gray in the foreground.

yearnounUS /jɪr/

a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days

From this reading Winter had lingered unusually long that year, and the prairie gleamed dimly white, with the sledge trail cutting athwart it, a smear of blue-gray in the foreground.

Chapter 2 of Masters of the Wheat-Lands by Harold Bindloss holds 177 sentences, grouped into 36 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 2 of Masters of the Wheat-Lands contain?

Chapter 2 holds 177 sentences of Masters of the Wheat-Lands, unabridged, divided into 36 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 2 of Masters of the Wheat-Lands by Harold Bindloss exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 177 sentences, grouped into 36 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 2 of Masters of the Wheat-Lands?

Work through the 36 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

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Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 2 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.

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Common questions about reading Masters of the Wheat-Lands by Harold Bindloss on this page, its source edition and its audio.

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Vocabulary met early in Masters of the Wheat-Lands

Words and structures a reader meets early in Masters of the Wheat-Lands, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Chapter 1
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Chapter 2
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Chapter 3
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