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Never Fire First
Never Fire First

Chapter XXVI

Chapter 26 of Never Fire First is here in full — 123 sentences across 25 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Never Fire First
Context Illustration Reading 1/24 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
BOOT AND BOOTY "You'd best behave, Karmack."
Seymour accented the name of surprise that the girl might become convinced that their hunt was really done.
"Your dyed pate don't fool me and I'm no longer bound by our slogan of 'never fire first.'
You took a couple of first shots up in the Arctic, remember, and have just tried another here.
One false move and you get yours."
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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.

Never Fire First

Chapter XXVI

Chapter 26 of Never Fire First is here in full — 123 sentences across 25 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/24 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
BOOT AND BOOTY "You'd best behave, Karmack."
Line 2
Seymour accented the name of surprise that the girl might become convinced that their hunt was really done.
/ˈsiːmɔːr ˈæksentɪd ðə neɪm ʌv sərˈpraɪz ðæt ðə ɡɜːrl maɪt bɪˈkʌm kənˈvɪnst ðæt ðer hʌnt wɑːz ˈrɪli dʌn/
Line 3
"Your dyed pate don't fool me and I'm no longer bound by our slogan of 'never fire first.'
Line 4
You took a couple of first shots up in the Arctic, remember, and have just tried another here.
/juː tʊk ə ˈkʌpəl ʌv fɜːrst ʃɑːts ʌp ɪn ðə ˈɑːrktɪk rɪˈmɛm.bər ənd hæv dʒʌst traɪd əˈnʌðər hiːr/
Line 5
One false move and you get yours."
/wʌn fɔːls muːv ənd juː ɡet jʊrz/

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.

accented adjective US /ˈæksentɪd/

(used of syllables) bearing the principle stress, usually accompanied by a change in pitch

From this reading “Seymour accented the name of surprise that the girl might become convinced that their hunt was really done.”

Arctic noun US /ˈɑːrktɪk/

the regions to the north of the Arctic Circle centered on the North Pole

From this reading “You took a couple of first shots up in the Arctic, remember, and have just tried another here.”

boot noun US /buːt/

footwear that covers the whole foot and lower leg

From this reading “BOOT AND BOOTY "You'd best behave, Karmack."”

booty noun US /ˈbuːti/

goods or money obtained illegally

From this reading “BOOT AND BOOTY "You'd best behave, Karmack."”

dyed adjective US /daɪd/

(used of color) artificially produced; not natural

From this reading “"Your dyed pate don't fool me and I'm no longer bound by our slogan of 'never fire first.'”

pate noun US /peɪt/

liver or meat or fowl finely minced or ground and variously seasoned

From this reading “"Your dyed pate don't fool me and I'm no longer bound by our slogan of 'never fire first.'”

Seymour noun US /ˈsiːmɔːr/

Queen of England as the third wife of Henry VIII and mother of Edward VI (1509-1537)

From this reading “Seymour accented the name of surprise that the girl might become convinced that their hunt was really done.”

slogan noun US /ˈsloʊɡən/

a favorite saying of a sect or political group

From this reading “"Your dyed pate don't fool me and I'm no longer bound by our slogan of 'never fire first.'”

Word partnerships in these lines

English keeps certain words together, and knowing the pair is worth more than knowing each word alone. Every partnership below was counted across our whole published library, and earns its place by appearing far more often than two unrelated words of the same frequency would.

Shown as this reading writes them, with the form the library counts, what kind of pairing it is, and how often it occurs.

become convinced verb + adjective

In this reading “Seymour accented the name of surprise that the girl might become convinced that their hunt was really done.”

first shots adjective + noun counted as “first shot”

In this reading “You took a couple of first shots up in the Arctic, remember, and have just tried another here.”

name of verb + particle

In this reading “Seymour accented the name of surprise that the girl might become convinced that their hunt was really done.”

All words in this reading · 58

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 You took a couple of first shots up in the Arctic, remember, and have just tried another here.

accentedadjectiveUS /ˈæksentɪd/

(used of syllables) bearing the principle stress, usually accompanied by a change in pitch

From this reading Seymour accented the name of surprise that the girl might become convinced that their hunt was really done.

ANDconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading BOOT AND BOOTY "You'd best behave, Karmack."

anotherdeterminerUS /əˈnʌðər/

one more of the same kind, or a different one

From this reading You took a couple of first shots up in the Arctic, remember, and have just tried another here.

ArcticnounUS /ˈɑːrktɪk/

the regions to the north of the Arctic Circle centered on the North Pole

From this reading You took a couple of first shots up in the Arctic, remember, and have just tried another here.

becomeverbUS /bɪˈkʌm/

enter or assume a certain state or condition

From this reading Seymour accented the name of surprise that the girl might become convinced that their hunt was really done.

behaveverbUS /bɪˈheɪv/

behave in a certain manner; show a certain behavior; conduct or comport oneself

From this reading BOOT AND BOOTY "You'd best behave, Karmack."

bestnounUS /best/

the supreme effort one can make

From this reading BOOT AND BOOTY "You'd best behave, Karmack."

BOOTnounUS /buːt/

footwear that covers the whole foot and lower leg

From this reading BOOT AND BOOTY "You'd best behave, Karmack."

BOOTYnounUS /ˈbuːti/

goods or money obtained illegally

From this reading BOOT AND BOOTY "You'd best behave, Karmack."

boundadjectiveUS /baʊnd/

confined by bonds

From this reading "Your dyed pate don't fool me and I'm no longer bound by our slogan of 'never fire first.'

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading "Your dyed pate don't fool me and I'm no longer bound by our slogan of 'never fire first.'

convincedadjectiveUS /kənˈvɪnst/

persuaded of; very sure

From this reading Seymour accented the name of surprise that the girl might become convinced that their hunt was really done.

couplenounUS /ˈkʌpəl/

a pair who associate with one another

From this reading You took a couple of first shots up in the Arctic, remember, and have just tried another here.

don't

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

From this reading "Your dyed pate don't fool me and I'm no longer bound by our slogan of 'never fire first.'

doneadjectiveUS /dʌn/

having finished or arrived at completion

From this reading Seymour accented the name of surprise that the girl might become convinced that their hunt was really done.

dyedadjectiveUS /daɪd/

(used of color) artificially produced; not natural

From this reading "Your dyed pate don't fool me and I'm no longer bound by our slogan of 'never fire first.'

falseadjectiveUS /fɔːls/

not in accordance with the fact or reality or actuality

From this reading One false move and you get yours."

fireverbUS /ˈfaɪər/

start firing a weapon

From this reading "Your dyed pate don't fool me and I'm no longer bound by our slogan of 'never fire first.'

firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading "Your dyed pate don't fool me and I'm no longer bound by our slogan of 'never fire first.'

foolnounUS /fuːl/

a person who lacks good judgment

From this reading "Your dyed pate don't fool me and I'm no longer bound by our slogan of 'never fire first.'

getverbUS /ɡet/

come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading One false move and you get yours."

girlnounUS /ɡɜːrl/

a young female

From this reading Seymour accented the name of surprise that the girl might become convinced that their hunt was really done.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading You took a couple of first shots up in the Arctic, remember, and have just tried another here.

hereadverbUS /hiːr/

in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is

From this reading You took a couple of first shots up in the Arctic, remember, and have just tried another here.

huntverbUS /hʌnt/

pursue for food or sport (as of wild animals)

From this reading Seymour accented the name of surprise that the girl might become convinced that their hunt was really done.

I'm

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

From this reading "Your dyed pate don't fool me and I'm no longer bound by our slogan of 'never fire first.'

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading You took a couple of first shots up in the Arctic, remember, and have just tried another here.

justadverbUS /dʒʌst/

and nothing more

From this reading You took a couple of first shots up in the Arctic, remember, and have just tried another here.

Karmack

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

From this reading BOOT AND BOOTY "You'd best behave, Karmack."

longeradverbUS /ˈlɔːŋɡər/

for more time

From this reading "Your dyed pate don't fool me and I'm no longer bound by our slogan of 'never fire first.'

mepronounUS /miː/

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

From this reading "Your dyed pate don't fool me and I'm no longer bound by our slogan of 'never fire first.'

mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading Seymour accented the name of surprise that the girl might become convinced that their hunt was really done.

moveverbUS /muːv/

change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading One false move and you get yours."

nameverbUS /neɪm/

assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading Seymour accented the name of surprise that the girl might become convinced that their hunt was really done.

neveradverbUS /ˈnevər/

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading "Your dyed pate don't fool me and I'm no longer bound by our slogan of 'never fire first.'

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading "Your dyed pate don't fool me and I'm no longer bound by our slogan of 'never fire first.'

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Seymour accented the name of surprise that the girl might become convinced that their hunt was really done.

OnepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading One false move and you get yours."

ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading "Your dyed pate don't fool me and I'm no longer bound by our slogan of 'never fire first.'

patenounUS /peɪt/

liver or meat or fowl finely minced or ground and variously seasoned

From this reading "Your dyed pate don't fool me and I'm no longer bound by our slogan of 'never fire first.'

reallyadverbUS /ˈrɪli/

in accordance with truth or fact or reality

From this reading Seymour accented the name of surprise that the girl might become convinced that their hunt was really done.

rememberverbUS /rɪˈmɛm.bər/

To recall to mind.

From this reading You took a couple of first shots up in the Arctic, remember, and have just tried another here.

SeymournounUS /ˈsiːmɔːr/

Queen of England as the third wife of Henry VIII and mother of Edward VI (1509-1537)

From this reading Seymour accented the name of surprise that the girl might become convinced that their hunt was really done.

shotsnounUS /ʃɑːts/

plural of “shot” — the act of firing a projectile

From this reading You took a couple of first shots up in the Arctic, remember, and have just tried another here.

slogannounUS /ˈsloʊɡən/

a favorite saying of a sect or political group

From this reading "Your dyed pate don't fool me and I'm no longer bound by our slogan of 'never fire first.'

surprisenounUS /sərˈpraɪz/

the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you

From this reading Seymour accented the name of surprise that the girl might become convinced that their hunt was really done.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Seymour accented the name of surprise that the girl might become convinced that their hunt was really done.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Seymour accented the name of surprise that the girl might become convinced that their hunt was really done.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Seymour accented the name of surprise that the girl might become convinced that their hunt was really done.

tookverbUS /tʊk/

inflected form of “take” — carry out

From this reading You took a couple of first shots up in the Arctic, remember, and have just tried another here.

triedadjectiveUS /traɪd/

tested and proved useful or correct

From this reading You took a couple of first shots up in the Arctic, remember, and have just tried another here.

upadjectiveUS /ʌp/

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

From this reading You took a couple of first shots up in the Arctic, remember, and have just tried another here.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Seymour accented the name of surprise that the girl might become convinced that their hunt was really done.

YoupronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading You took a couple of first shots up in the Arctic, remember, and have just tried another here.

You'd

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

From this reading BOOT AND BOOTY "You'd best behave, Karmack."

YourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "Your dyed pate don't fool me and I'm no longer bound by our slogan of 'never fire first.'

yourspronounUS /jʊrz/

the one or ones belonging to the person spoken to

From this reading One false move and you get yours."

Chapter 26 of Never Fire First by James French Dorrance holds 123 sentences, grouped into 25 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 26 of Never Fire First contain?

Chapter 26 holds 123 sentences of Never Fire First, unabridged, divided into 25 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 26 of Never Fire First by James French Dorrance exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 123 sentences, grouped into 25 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 26 of Never Fire First?

Work through the 25 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 25 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 26 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 26 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 Never Fire First

Common questions about reading Never Fire First by James French Dorrance on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Never Fire First?

Yes. All 3241 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #63877 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Never Fire First is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #63877, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Never Fire First take to read?

About 270 minutes of reading across 649 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Never Fire First section by section

How to work through Never Fire First section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 27 chapters of Never Fire First 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 Never Fire First

Words and structures a reader meets early in Never Fire First, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Dig-in
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Never Fire First; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Snow-bank
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Never Fire First; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Where
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Never Fire First; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Spent
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Never Fire First; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.