Chapter 5 of One of Clive's Heroes is here in full — 406 sentences across 82 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter V
Chapter 5 of One of Clive's Heroes is here in full — 406 sentences across 82 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
"By thunder! ’twas a narrow shave," said Bulger. "See that, matey?" Looking in the direction Bulger pointed, he saw that the foretopsail sheet block had fallen on deck, within an inch of where he would have been but for the intervention of Bulger’s hook. Glancing aloft, he saw Parmiter grinning down at him.
Chapter 5 of One of Clive's Heroes is here in full — 406 sentences across 82 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/81 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5
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.
at or on or to the masthead or upper rigging of a ship
From this reading “Glancing aloft, he saw Parmiter grinning down at him.”
a solid piece of something (usually having flat rectangular sides)
From this reading “Looking in the direction Bulger pointed, he saw that the foretopsail sheet block had fallen on deck, within an inch of where he would have been but for the intervention of Bulger’s hook.”
-ing form of “glance” — throw a glance at; take a brief look at
From this reading “Glancing aloft, he saw Parmiter grinning down at him.”
a facial expression characterized by turning up the corners of the mouth; usually shows pleasure or amusement
From this reading “Glancing aloft, he saw Parmiter grinning down at him.”
fasten with a hook
From this reading “Looking in the direction Bulger pointed, he saw that the foretopsail sheet block had fallen on deck, within an inch of where he would have been but for the intervention of Bulger’s hook.”
the act of intervening (as to mediate a dispute, etc.)
From this reading “Looking in the direction Bulger pointed, he saw that the foretopsail sheet block had fallen on deck, within an inch of where he would have been but for the intervention of Bulger’s hook.”
(used colloquially) having the relationship of friends or pals
From this reading “"See that, matey?"”
remove body hair with a razor
From this reading “’twas a narrow shave," said Bulger.”
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.
In this reading “Looking in the direction Bulger pointed, he saw that the foretopsail sheet block had fallen on deck, within an inch of where he would have been but for the intervention of Bulger’s hook.”
In this reading “Looking in the direction Bulger pointed, he saw that the foretopsail sheet block had fallen on deck, within an inch of where he would have been but for the intervention of Bulger’s hook.”
In this reading “Looking in the direction Bulger pointed, he saw that the foretopsail sheet block had fallen on deck, within an inch of where he would have been but for the intervention of Bulger’s hook.”
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.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading ’twas a narrow shave," said Bulger.
at or on or to the masthead or upper rigging of a ship
From this reading Glancing aloft, he saw Parmiter grinning down at him.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Looking in the direction Bulger pointed, he saw that the foretopsail sheet block had fallen on deck, within an inch of where he would have been but for the intervention of Bulger’s hook.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Glancing aloft, he saw Parmiter grinning down at him.
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Looking in the direction Bulger pointed, he saw that the foretopsail sheet block had fallen on deck, within an inch of where he would have been but for the intervention of Bulger’s hook.
a solid piece of something (usually having flat rectangular sides)
From this reading Looking in the direction Bulger pointed, he saw that the foretopsail sheet block had fallen on deck, within an inch of where he would have been but for the intervention of Bulger’s hook.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ’twas a narrow shave," said Bulger.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Looking in the direction Bulger pointed, he saw that the foretopsail sheet block had fallen on deck, within an inch of where he would have been but for the intervention of Bulger’s hook.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Looking in the direction Bulger pointed, he saw that the foretopsail sheet block had fallen on deck, within an inch of where he would have been but for the intervention of Bulger’s hook.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading "By thunder!
any of various platforms built into a vessel
From this reading Looking in the direction Bulger pointed, he saw that the foretopsail sheet block had fallen on deck, within an inch of where he would have been but for the intervention of Bulger’s hook.
a line leading to a place or point
From this reading Looking in the direction Bulger pointed, he saw that the foretopsail sheet block had fallen on deck, within an inch of where he would have been but for the intervention of Bulger’s hook.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Glancing aloft, he saw Parmiter grinning down at him.
having dropped by the force of gravity
From this reading Looking in the direction Bulger pointed, he saw that the foretopsail sheet block had fallen on deck, within an inch of where he would have been but for the intervention of Bulger’s hook.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Looking in the direction Bulger pointed, he saw that the foretopsail sheet block had fallen on deck, within an inch of where he would have been but for the intervention of Bulger’s hook.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Looking in the direction Bulger pointed, he saw that the foretopsail sheet block had fallen on deck, within an inch of where he would have been but for the intervention of Bulger’s hook.
-ing form of “glance” — throw a glance at; take a brief look at
From this reading Glancing aloft, he saw Parmiter grinning down at him.
a facial expression characterized by turning up the corners of the mouth; usually shows pleasure or amusement
From this reading Glancing aloft, he saw Parmiter grinning down at him.
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Looking in the direction Bulger pointed, he saw that the foretopsail sheet block had fallen on deck, within an inch of where he would have been but for the intervention of Bulger’s hook.
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Looking in the direction Bulger pointed, he saw that the foretopsail sheet block had fallen on deck, within an inch of where he would have been but for the intervention of Bulger’s hook.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Looking in the direction Bulger pointed, he saw that the foretopsail sheet block had fallen on deck, within an inch of where he would have been but for the intervention of Bulger’s hook.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Glancing aloft, he saw Parmiter grinning down at him.
fasten with a hook
From this reading Looking in the direction Bulger pointed, he saw that the foretopsail sheet block had fallen on deck, within an inch of where he would have been but for the intervention of Bulger’s hook.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Looking in the direction Bulger pointed, he saw that the foretopsail sheet block had fallen on deck, within an inch of where he would have been but for the intervention of Bulger’s hook.
a unit of length equal to one twelfth of a foot
From this reading Looking in the direction Bulger pointed, he saw that the foretopsail sheet block had fallen on deck, within an inch of where he would have been but for the intervention of Bulger’s hook.
the act of intervening (as to mediate a dispute, etc.)
From this reading Looking in the direction Bulger pointed, he saw that the foretopsail sheet block had fallen on deck, within an inch of where he would have been but for the intervention of Bulger’s hook.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading Looking in the direction Bulger pointed, he saw that the foretopsail sheet block had fallen on deck, within an inch of where he would have been but for the intervention of Bulger’s hook.
(used colloquially) having the relationship of friends or pals
From this reading "See that, matey?"
make or become more narrow or restricted
From this reading ’twas a narrow shave," said Bulger.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Looking in the direction Bulger pointed, he saw that the foretopsail sheet block had fallen on deck, within an inch of where he would have been but for the intervention of Bulger’s hook.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Looking in the direction Bulger pointed, he saw that the foretopsail sheet block had fallen on deck, within an inch of where he would have been but for the intervention of Bulger’s hook.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Glancing aloft, he saw Parmiter grinning down at him.
having a point
From this reading Looking in the direction Bulger pointed, he saw that the foretopsail sheet block had fallen on deck, within an inch of where he would have been but for the intervention of Bulger’s hook.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading ’twas a narrow shave," said Bulger.
cut with a saw
From this reading Looking in the direction Bulger pointed, he saw that the foretopsail sheet block had fallen on deck, within an inch of where he would have been but for the intervention of Bulger’s hook.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading "See that, matey?"
remove body hair with a razor
From this reading ’twas a narrow shave," said Bulger.
any broad thin expanse or surface
From this reading Looking in the direction Bulger pointed, he saw that the foretopsail sheet block had fallen on deck, within an inch of where he would have been but for the intervention of Bulger’s hook.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "See that, matey?"
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Looking in the direction Bulger pointed, he saw that the foretopsail sheet block had fallen on deck, within an inch of where he would have been but for the intervention of Bulger’s hook.
move fast, noisily, and heavily
From this reading "By thunder!
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ’twas a narrow shave," said Bulger.
in or at the place that
From this reading Looking in the direction Bulger pointed, he saw that the foretopsail sheet block had fallen on deck, within an inch of where he would have been but for the intervention of Bulger’s hook.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading Looking in the direction Bulger pointed, he saw that the foretopsail sheet block had fallen on deck, within an inch of where he would have been but for the intervention of Bulger’s hook.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Looking in the direction Bulger pointed, he saw that the foretopsail sheet block had fallen on deck, within an inch of where he would have been but for the intervention of Bulger’s hook.
Chapter 5 of One of Clive's Heroes by Herbert Strang holds 406 sentences, grouped into 82 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.
Chapter 5 holds 406 sentences of One of Clive's Heroes, unabridged, divided into 82 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 5 of One of Clive's Heroes by Herbert Strang exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 406 sentences, grouped into 82 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.
Work through the 82 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 82 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.
Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 5 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.
Common questions about reading One of Clive's Heroes by Herbert Strang on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 8022 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #41489 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #41489, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 600 minutes of reading across 1605 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through One of Clive's Heroes section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 20 chapters of One of Clive's Heroes to begin.
Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.
Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.
Words and structures a reader meets early in One of Clive's Heroes, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
