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Prince Dusty: A Story of the Oil Regions
Prince Dusty: A Story of the Oil Regions

Chapter XVIII · The Ark Is Stolen

Chapter XVIII of Prince Dusty: A Story of the Oil Regions, “The Ark Is Stolen,” is here in full — 70 sentences across 14 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Prince Dusty: A Story of the Oil Regions
Context Illustration Reading 1/14 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
The next morning, after eating the very last of their provisions, which they shared impartially with Rusty, they cast the Ark loose from its moorings, and allowed it to drift a mile or two down past the city water front.
At length they reached a place of comparative quiet, amid the bewildering number of steamboats, tugs, and barges, by which they were now surrounded.
It was just below a great bridge that spanned the river at this point, and here, after half an hour of anxiety and hard work, they finally succeeded in making their boat fast to the levee.
Then, not knowing what else to do, they waited patiently for some hours, in the hope that a customer would appear, and make them an offer for the Ark.
But of all the hurrying throngs who passed the place, no one paid the slightest attention to them.
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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.

Prince Dusty: A Story of the Oil Regions

Chapter XVIII · The Ark Is Stolen

Chapter XVIII of Prince Dusty: A Story of the Oil Regions, “The Ark Is Stolen,” is here in full — 70 sentences across 14 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/14 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
The next morning, after eating the very last of their provisions, which they shared impartially with Rusty, they cast the Ark loose from its moorings, and allowed it to drift a mile or two down past the city water front.
/ðə nekst ˈmɔːrnɪŋ ˈæftər ˈiːtɪŋ ðə ˈveri læst ʌv ðer prəˈvɪʒənz wɪtʃ ðeɪ ʃerd ˌɪmˈpɑːrʃəli wɪð ˈrʌsti ðeɪ kæst ðə ɑːrk luːs frʌm ɪts ˈmuːrɪŋz ənd əˈlaʊd ɪt tuː drɪft ə maɪl ɔːr tuː daʊn pæst ðə ˈsɪti ˈwɔːtər frʌnt/
Line 2
At length they reached a place of comparative quiet, amid the bewildering number of steamboats, tugs, and barges, by which they were now surrounded.
/æt leŋkθ ðeɪ riːtʃt ə pleɪs ʌv kəmˈperətɪv ˈkwaɪət əˈmɪd ðə bɪˈwɪldərɪŋ ˈnʌmbər ʌv ˈstiːmboʊts tʌɡz ənd ˈbɑːrdʒəz baɪ wɪtʃ ðeɪ wɜːr naʊ sərˈaʊndɪd/
Line 3
It was just below a great bridge that spanned the river at this point, and here, after half an hour of anxiety and hard work, they finally succeeded in making their boat fast to the levee.
/ɪt wɑːz dʒʌst bɪˈloʊ ə ɡreɪt brɪdʒ ðæt spænd ðə ˈrɪvər æt ðɪs pɔɪnt ənd hiːr ˈæftər hæf æn ˈaʊər ʌv æŋˈzaɪəti ənd hɑːrd wɜːrk ðeɪ ˈfaɪnəli səkˈsiːdɪd ɪn ˈmeɪkɪŋ ðer boʊt fæst tuː ðə ˈlevi/
Line 4
Then, not knowing what else to do, they waited patiently for some hours, in the hope that a customer would appear, and make them an offer for the Ark.
Line 5
But of all the hurrying throngs who passed the place, no one paid the slightest attention to them.
/bʌt ʌv ɔːl ðə ˈhɜːriɪŋ θrɔːŋz huː pæst ðə pleɪs noʊ wʌn peɪd ðə ˈslaɪtəst əˈtenʃən tuː ðem/

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.

barges noun US /ˈbɑːrdʒəz/

plural of “barge” — a flatbottom boat for carrying heavy loads (especially on canals)

From this reading “At length they reached a place of comparative quiet, amid the bewildering number of steamboats, tugs, and barges, by which they were now surrounded.”

impartially adverb US /ˌɪmˈpɑːrʃəli/

in an impartial manner

From this reading “The next morning, after eating the very last of their provisions, which they shared impartially with Rusty, they cast the Ark loose from its moorings, and allowed it to drift a mile or two down past the city water front.”

levee noun US /ˈlevi/

a formal reception of visitors or guests (as at a royal court)

From this reading “It was just below a great bridge that spanned the river at this point, and here, after half an hour of anxiety and hard work, they finally succeeded in making their boat fast to the levee.”

moorings noun US /ˈmuːrɪŋz/

plural of “mooring” — a place where a craft can be made fast

From this reading “The next morning, after eating the very last of their provisions, which they shared impartially with Rusty, they cast the Ark loose from its moorings, and allowed it to drift a mile or two down past the city water front.”

spanned verb US /spænd/

inflected form of “span” — to cover or extend over an area or time period

From this reading “It was just below a great bridge that spanned the river at this point, and here, after half an hour of anxiety and hard work, they finally succeeded in making their boat fast to the levee.”

steamboats noun US /ˈstiːmboʊts/

plural of “steamboat” — a boat propelled by a steam engine

From this reading “At length they reached a place of comparative quiet, amid the bewildering number of steamboats, tugs, and barges, by which they were now surrounded.”

throngs noun US /θrɔːŋz/

plural of “throng” — a large gathering of people

From this reading “But of all the hurrying throngs who passed the place, no one paid the slightest attention to them.”

tugs noun US /tʌɡz/

plural of “tug” — a sudden abrupt pull

From this reading “At length they reached a place of comparative quiet, amid the bewildering number of steamboats, tugs, and barges, by which they were now surrounded.”

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.

waited patiently verb + particle counted as “wait patiently”

In this reading “Then, not knowing what else to do, they waited patiently for some hours, in the hope that a customer would appear, and make them an offer for the Ark.”

next morning adjective + noun

In this reading “The next morning, after eating the very last of their provisions, which they shared impartially with Rusty, they cast the Ark loose from its moorings, and allowed it to drift a mile or two down past the city water front.”

At length preposition + noun

in a lengthy or prolix manner

In this reading “At length they reached a place of comparative quiet, amid the bewildering number of steamboats, tugs, and barges, by which they were now surrounded.”

slightest attention noun + noun counted as “slight attention”

In this reading “But of all the hurrying throngs who passed the place, no one paid the slightest attention to them.”

succeeded in verb + particle counted as “succeed in”

In this reading “It was just below a great bridge that spanned the river at this point, and here, after half an hour of anxiety and hard work, they finally succeeded in making their boat fast to the levee.”

after eating preposition + noun

In this reading “The next morning, after eating the very last of their provisions, which they shared impartially with Rusty, they cast the Ark loose from its moorings, and allowed it to drift a mile or two down past the city water front.”

some hours adjective + noun

In this reading “Then, not knowing what else to do, they waited patiently for some hours, in the hope that a customer would appear, and make them an offer for the Ark.”

reached a place verb + article + noun counted as “reach … place”

In this reading “At length they reached a place of comparative quiet, amid the bewildering number of steamboats, tugs, and barges, by which they were now surrounded.”

All words in this reading · 105

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 The next morning, after eating the very last of their provisions, which they shared impartially with Rusty, they cast the Ark loose from its moorings, and allowed it to drift a mile or two down past the city water front.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading The next morning, after eating the very last of their provisions, which they shared impartially with Rusty, they cast the Ark loose from its moorings, and allowed it to drift a mile or two down past the city water front.

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 But of all the hurrying throngs who passed the place, no one paid the slightest attention to them.

allowedverbUS /əˈlaʊd/

past form of “allow” — make it possible through a specific action or lack of action for something to happen

From this reading The next morning, after eating the very last of their provisions, which they shared impartially with Rusty, they cast the Ark loose from its moorings, and allowed it to drift a mile or two down past the city water front.

amidprepositionUS /əˈmɪd/

in the middle of; surrounded by

From this reading At length they reached a place of comparative quiet, amid the bewildering number of steamboats, tugs, and barges, by which they were now surrounded.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading It was just below a great bridge that spanned the river at this point, and here, after half an hour of anxiety and hard work, they finally succeeded in making their boat fast to the levee.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading The next morning, after eating the very last of their provisions, which they shared impartially with Rusty, they cast the Ark loose from its moorings, and allowed it to drift a mile or two down past the city water front.

anxietynounUS /æŋˈzaɪəti/

(psychiatry) a relatively permanent state of worry and nervousness occurring in a variety of mental disorders, usually accompanied by compulsive behavior or attacks of panic

From this reading It was just below a great bridge that spanned the river at this point, and here, after half an hour of anxiety and hard work, they finally succeeded in making their boat fast to the levee.

appearverbUS /əˈpɪr/

give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading Then, not knowing what else to do, they waited patiently for some hours, in the hope that a customer would appear, and make them an offer for the Ark.

ArknounUS /ɑːrk/

(Judaism) sacred chest where the ancient Hebrews kept the two tablets containing the Ten Commandments

From this reading The next morning, after eating the very last of their provisions, which they shared impartially with Rusty, they cast the Ark loose from its moorings, and allowed it to drift a mile or two down past the city water front.

AtprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading At length they reached a place of comparative quiet, amid the bewildering number of steamboats, tugs, and barges, by which they were now surrounded.

attentionnounUS /əˈtenʃən/

the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others

From this reading But of all the hurrying throngs who passed the place, no one paid the slightest attention to them.

bargesnounUS /ˈbɑːrdʒəz/

plural of “barge” — a flatbottom boat for carrying heavy loads (especially on canals)

From this reading At length they reached a place of comparative quiet, amid the bewildering number of steamboats, tugs, and barges, by which they were now surrounded.

belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/

at or to a lower level than something

From this reading It was just below a great bridge that spanned the river at this point, and here, after half an hour of anxiety and hard work, they finally succeeded in making their boat fast to the levee.

bewilderingverbUS /bɪˈwɪldərɪŋ/

-ing form of “bewilder” — be a mystery or bewildering to

From this reading At length they reached a place of comparative quiet, amid the bewildering number of steamboats, tugs, and barges, by which they were now surrounded.

boatnounUS /boʊt/

a small vessel for travel on water

From this reading It was just below a great bridge that spanned the river at this point, and here, after half an hour of anxiety and hard work, they finally succeeded in making their boat fast to the levee.

bridgenounUS /brɪdʒ/

a structure that allows people or vehicles to cross an obstacle such as a river or canal or railway etc.

From this reading It was just below a great bridge that spanned the river at this point, and here, after half an hour of anxiety and hard work, they finally succeeded in making their boat fast to the levee.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But of all the hurrying throngs who passed the place, no one paid the slightest attention to them.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading At length they reached a place of comparative quiet, amid the bewildering number of steamboats, tugs, and barges, by which they were now surrounded.

castverbUS /kæst/

put or send forth

From this reading The next morning, after eating the very last of their provisions, which they shared impartially with Rusty, they cast the Ark loose from its moorings, and allowed it to drift a mile or two down past the city water front.

citynounUS /ˈsɪti/

a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts

From this reading The next morning, after eating the very last of their provisions, which they shared impartially with Rusty, they cast the Ark loose from its moorings, and allowed it to drift a mile or two down past the city water front.

comparativeadjectiveUS /kəmˈperətɪv/

relating to or based on or involving comparison

From this reading At length they reached a place of comparative quiet, amid the bewildering number of steamboats, tugs, and barges, by which they were now surrounded.

customernounUS /ˈkʌstəmər/

someone who pays for goods or services

From this reading Then, not knowing what else to do, they waited patiently for some hours, in the hope that a customer would appear, and make them an offer for the Ark.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading Then, not knowing what else to do, they waited patiently for some hours, in the hope that a customer would appear, and make them an offer for the Ark.

downadjectiveUS /daʊn/

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading The next morning, after eating the very last of their provisions, which they shared impartially with Rusty, they cast the Ark loose from its moorings, and allowed it to drift a mile or two down past the city water front.

driftverbUS /drɪft/

be in motion due to some air or water current

From this reading The next morning, after eating the very last of their provisions, which they shared impartially with Rusty, they cast the Ark loose from its moorings, and allowed it to drift a mile or two down past the city water front.

eatingnounUS /ˈiːtɪŋ/

the act of consuming food

From this reading The next morning, after eating the very last of their provisions, which they shared impartially with Rusty, they cast the Ark loose from its moorings, and allowed it to drift a mile or two down past the city water front.

else

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

From this reading Then, not knowing what else to do, they waited patiently for some hours, in the hope that a customer would appear, and make them an offer for the Ark.

fastadverbUS /fæst/

quickly or rapidly (often used as a combining form)

From this reading It was just below a great bridge that spanned the river at this point, and here, after half an hour of anxiety and hard work, they finally succeeded in making their boat fast to the levee.

finallyadverbUS /ˈfaɪnəli/

after an unspecified period of time or an especially long delay

From this reading It was just below a great bridge that spanned the river at this point, and here, after half an hour of anxiety and hard work, they finally succeeded in making their boat fast to the levee.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Then, not knowing what else to do, they waited patiently for some hours, in the hope that a customer would appear, and make them an offer for the Ark.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading The next morning, after eating the very last of their provisions, which they shared impartially with Rusty, they cast the Ark loose from its moorings, and allowed it to drift a mile or two down past the city water front.

frontnounUS /frʌnt/

the side that is forward or prominent

From this reading The next morning, after eating the very last of their provisions, which they shared impartially with Rusty, they cast the Ark loose from its moorings, and allowed it to drift a mile or two down past the city water front.

greatadjectiveUS /ɡreɪt/

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind

From this reading It was just below a great bridge that spanned the river at this point, and here, after half an hour of anxiety and hard work, they finally succeeded in making their boat fast to the levee.

halfadjectiveUS /hæf/

consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity

From this reading It was just below a great bridge that spanned the river at this point, and here, after half an hour of anxiety and hard work, they finally succeeded in making their boat fast to the levee.

hardadjectiveUS /hɑːrd/

not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure

From this reading It was just below a great bridge that spanned the river at this point, and here, after half an hour of anxiety and hard work, they finally succeeded in making their boat fast to the levee.

hereadverbUS /hiːr/

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

From this reading It was just below a great bridge that spanned the river at this point, and here, after half an hour of anxiety and hard work, they finally succeeded in making their boat fast to the levee.

hopenounUS /hoʊp/

a specific instance of feeling hopeful

From this reading Then, not knowing what else to do, they waited patiently for some hours, in the hope that a customer would appear, and make them an offer for the Ark.

hournounUS /ˈaʊər/

a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day

From this reading It was just below a great bridge that spanned the river at this point, and here, after half an hour of anxiety and hard work, they finally succeeded in making their boat fast to the levee.

hoursnounUS /ˈaʊərz/

a period of time assigned for work

From this reading Then, not knowing what else to do, they waited patiently for some hours, in the hope that a customer would appear, and make them an offer for the Ark.

hurryingadjectiveUS /ˈhɜːriɪŋ/

moving with great haste

From this reading But of all the hurrying throngs who passed the place, no one paid the slightest attention to them.

impartiallyadverbUS /ˌɪmˈpɑːrʃəli/

in an impartial manner

From this reading The next morning, after eating the very last of their provisions, which they shared impartially with Rusty, they cast the Ark loose from its moorings, and allowed it to drift a mile or two down past the city water front.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading It was just below a great bridge that spanned the river at this point, and here, after half an hour of anxiety and hard work, they finally succeeded in making their boat fast to the levee.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading The next morning, after eating the very last of their provisions, which they shared impartially with Rusty, they cast the Ark loose from its moorings, and allowed it to drift a mile or two down past the city water front.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading The next morning, after eating the very last of their provisions, which they shared impartially with Rusty, they cast the Ark loose from its moorings, and allowed it to drift a mile or two down past the city water front.

justadverbUS /dʒʌst/

and nothing more

From this reading It was just below a great bridge that spanned the river at this point, and here, after half an hour of anxiety and hard work, they finally succeeded in making their boat fast to the levee.

knowingadjectiveUS /ˈnoʊɪŋ/

evidencing the possession of inside information

From this reading Then, not knowing what else to do, they waited patiently for some hours, in the hope that a customer would appear, and make them an offer for the Ark.

lastadjectiveUS /læst/

immediately past

From this reading The next morning, after eating the very last of their provisions, which they shared impartially with Rusty, they cast the Ark loose from its moorings, and allowed it to drift a mile or two down past the city water front.

lengthnounUS /leŋkθ/

the linear extent in space from one end to the other; the longest dimension of something that is fixed in place

From this reading At length they reached a place of comparative quiet, amid the bewildering number of steamboats, tugs, and barges, by which they were now surrounded.

leveenounUS /ˈlevi/

a formal reception of visitors or guests (as at a royal court)

From this reading It was just below a great bridge that spanned the river at this point, and here, after half an hour of anxiety and hard work, they finally succeeded in making their boat fast to the levee.

looseadjectiveUS /luːs/

not compact or dense in structure or arrangement

From this reading The next morning, after eating the very last of their provisions, which they shared impartially with Rusty, they cast the Ark loose from its moorings, and allowed it to drift a mile or two down past the city water front.

makeverbUS /meɪk/

engage in

From this reading Then, not knowing what else to do, they waited patiently for some hours, in the hope that a customer would appear, and make them an offer for the Ark.

makingnounUS /ˈmeɪkɪŋ/

the act that results in something coming to be

From this reading It was just below a great bridge that spanned the river at this point, and here, after half an hour of anxiety and hard work, they finally succeeded in making their boat fast to the levee.

milenounUS /maɪl/

a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters

From this reading The next morning, after eating the very last of their provisions, which they shared impartially with Rusty, they cast the Ark loose from its moorings, and allowed it to drift a mile or two down past the city water front.

mooringsnounUS /ˈmuːrɪŋz/

plural of “mooring” — a place where a craft can be made fast

From this reading The next morning, after eating the very last of their provisions, which they shared impartially with Rusty, they cast the Ark loose from its moorings, and allowed it to drift a mile or two down past the city water front.

morningnounUS /ˈmɔːrnɪŋ/

the time period between dawn and noon

From this reading The next morning, after eating the very last of their provisions, which they shared impartially with Rusty, they cast the Ark loose from its moorings, and allowed it to drift a mile or two down past the city water front.

nextadjectiveUS /nekst/

immediately following in time or order

From this reading The next morning, after eating the very last of their provisions, which they shared impartially with Rusty, they cast the Ark loose from its moorings, and allowed it to drift a mile or two down past the city water front.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading But of all the hurrying throngs who passed the place, no one paid the slightest attention to them.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Then, not knowing what else to do, they waited patiently for some hours, in the hope that a customer would appear, and make them an offer for the Ark.

nowadverbUS /naʊ/

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading At length they reached a place of comparative quiet, amid the bewildering number of steamboats, tugs, and barges, by which they were now surrounded.

numbernounUS /ˈnʌmbər/

the property possessed by a sum or total or indefinite quantity of units or individuals

From this reading At length they reached a place of comparative quiet, amid the bewildering number of steamboats, tugs, and barges, by which they were now surrounded.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The next morning, after eating the very last of their provisions, which they shared impartially with Rusty, they cast the Ark loose from its moorings, and allowed it to drift a mile or two down past the city water front.

offerverbUS /ˈɔːfər/

make available or accessible, provide or furnish

From this reading Then, not knowing what else to do, they waited patiently for some hours, in the hope that a customer would appear, and make them an offer for the Ark.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading But of all the hurrying throngs who passed the place, no one paid the slightest attention to them.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading The next morning, after eating the very last of their provisions, which they shared impartially with Rusty, they cast the Ark loose from its moorings, and allowed it to drift a mile or two down past the city water front.

paidadjectiveUS /peɪd/

marked by the reception of pay

From this reading But of all the hurrying throngs who passed the place, no one paid the slightest attention to them.

passedverbUS /pæst/

past form of “pass” — go across or through

From this reading But of all the hurrying throngs who passed the place, no one paid the slightest attention to them.

pastnounUS /pæst/

the time that has elapsed

From this reading The next morning, after eating the very last of their provisions, which they shared impartially with Rusty, they cast the Ark loose from its moorings, and allowed it to drift a mile or two down past the city water front.

patientlyadverbUS /ˈpeɪʃəntli/

with patience; in a patient manner

From this reading Then, not knowing what else to do, they waited patiently for some hours, in the hope that a customer would appear, and make them an offer for the Ark.

placenounUS /pleɪs/

a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading At length they reached a place of comparative quiet, amid the bewildering number of steamboats, tugs, and barges, by which they were now surrounded.

pointnounUS /pɔɪnt/

a geometric element that has position but no extension

From this reading It was just below a great bridge that spanned the river at this point, and here, after half an hour of anxiety and hard work, they finally succeeded in making their boat fast to the levee.

provisionsnounUS /prəˈvɪʒənz/

a stock or supply of foods

From this reading The next morning, after eating the very last of their provisions, which they shared impartially with Rusty, they cast the Ark loose from its moorings, and allowed it to drift a mile or two down past the city water front.

quietadjectiveUS /ˈkwaɪət/

characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity

From this reading At length they reached a place of comparative quiet, amid the bewildering number of steamboats, tugs, and barges, by which they were now surrounded.

reachedverbUS /riːtʃt/

past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract

From this reading At length they reached a place of comparative quiet, amid the bewildering number of steamboats, tugs, and barges, by which they were now surrounded.

rivernounUS /ˈrɪvər/

a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)

From this reading It was just below a great bridge that spanned the river at this point, and here, after half an hour of anxiety and hard work, they finally succeeded in making their boat fast to the levee.

RustyadjectiveUS /ˈrʌsti/

covered with or consisting of rust

From this reading The next morning, after eating the very last of their provisions, which they shared impartially with Rusty, they cast the Ark loose from its moorings, and allowed it to drift a mile or two down past the city water front.

sharedadjectiveUS /ʃerd/

have in common; held or experienced in common

From this reading The next morning, after eating the very last of their provisions, which they shared impartially with Rusty, they cast the Ark loose from its moorings, and allowed it to drift a mile or two down past the city water front.

slightestadjectiveUS /ˈslaɪtəst/

superlative of “slight” — (quantifier used with mass nouns) small in quantity or degree; not much or almost none or (with “a”) at least some

From this reading But of all the hurrying throngs who passed the place, no one paid the slightest attention to them.

someadjectiveUS /sʌm/

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading Then, not knowing what else to do, they waited patiently for some hours, in the hope that a customer would appear, and make them an offer for the Ark.

spannedverbUS /spænd/

inflected form of “span” — to cover or extend over an area or time period

From this reading It was just below a great bridge that spanned the river at this point, and here, after half an hour of anxiety and hard work, they finally succeeded in making their boat fast to the levee.

steamboatsnounUS /ˈstiːmboʊts/

plural of “steamboat” — a boat propelled by a steam engine

From this reading At length they reached a place of comparative quiet, amid the bewildering number of steamboats, tugs, and barges, by which they were now surrounded.

succeededverbUS /səkˈsiːdɪd/

past form of “succeed” — attain success or reach a desired goal

From this reading It was just below a great bridge that spanned the river at this point, and here, after half an hour of anxiety and hard work, they finally succeeded in making their boat fast to the levee.

surroundedadjectiveUS /sərˈaʊndɪd/

confined on all sides

From this reading At length they reached a place of comparative quiet, amid the bewildering number of steamboats, tugs, and barges, by which they were now surrounded.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading It was just below a great bridge that spanned the river at this point, and here, after half an hour of anxiety and hard work, they finally succeeded in making their boat fast to the levee.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The next morning, after eating the very last of their provisions, which they shared impartially with Rusty, they cast the Ark loose from its moorings, and allowed it to drift a mile or two down past the city water front.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading The next morning, after eating the very last of their provisions, which they shared impartially with Rusty, they cast the Ark loose from its moorings, and allowed it to drift a mile or two down past the city water front.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading Then, not knowing what else to do, they waited patiently for some hours, in the hope that a customer would appear, and make them an offer for the Ark.

ThenadverbUS /ðen/

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading Then, not knowing what else to do, they waited patiently for some hours, in the hope that a customer would appear, and make them an offer for the Ark.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading The next morning, after eating the very last of their provisions, which they shared impartially with Rusty, they cast the Ark loose from its moorings, and allowed it to drift a mile or two down past the city water front.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading It was just below a great bridge that spanned the river at this point, and here, after half an hour of anxiety and hard work, they finally succeeded in making their boat fast to the levee.

throngsnounUS /θrɔːŋz/

plural of “throng” — a large gathering of people

From this reading But of all the hurrying throngs who passed the place, no one paid the slightest attention to them.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading The next morning, after eating the very last of their provisions, which they shared impartially with Rusty, they cast the Ark loose from its moorings, and allowed it to drift a mile or two down past the city water front.

tugsnounUS /tʌɡz/

plural of “tug” — a sudden abrupt pull

From this reading At length they reached a place of comparative quiet, amid the bewildering number of steamboats, tugs, and barges, by which they were now surrounded.

twonounUS /tuː/

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading The next morning, after eating the very last of their provisions, which they shared impartially with Rusty, they cast the Ark loose from its moorings, and allowed it to drift a mile or two down past the city water front.

veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/

precisely as stated

From this reading The next morning, after eating the very last of their provisions, which they shared impartially with Rusty, they cast the Ark loose from its moorings, and allowed it to drift a mile or two down past the city water front.

waitedverbUS /ˈweɪtɪd/

past form of “wait” — stay in one place and anticipate or expect something

From this reading Then, not knowing what else to do, they waited patiently for some hours, in the hope that a customer would appear, and make them an offer for the Ark.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading It was just below a great bridge that spanned the river at this point, and here, after half an hour of anxiety and hard work, they finally succeeded in making their boat fast to the levee.

waternounUS /ˈwɔːtər/

binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent

From this reading The next morning, after eating the very last of their provisions, which they shared impartially with Rusty, they cast the Ark loose from its moorings, and allowed it to drift a mile or two down past the city water front.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading At length they reached a place of comparative quiet, amid the bewildering number of steamboats, tugs, and barges, by which they were now surrounded.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading Then, not knowing what else to do, they waited patiently for some hours, in the hope that a customer would appear, and make them an offer for the Ark.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading The next morning, after eating the very last of their provisions, which they shared impartially with Rusty, they cast the Ark loose from its moorings, and allowed it to drift a mile or two down past the city water front.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading But of all the hurrying throngs who passed the place, no one paid the slightest attention to them.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading The next morning, after eating the very last of their provisions, which they shared impartially with Rusty, they cast the Ark loose from its moorings, and allowed it to drift a mile or two down past the city water front.

workverbUS /wɜːrk/

exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity

From this reading It was just below a great bridge that spanned the river at this point, and here, after half an hour of anxiety and hard work, they finally succeeded in making their boat fast to the levee.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading Then, not knowing what else to do, they waited patiently for some hours, in the hope that a customer would appear, and make them an offer for the Ark.

Chapter 18 of Prince Dusty: A Story of the Oil Regions by Kirk Munroe holds 70 sentences, grouped into 14 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 18 of Prince Dusty: A Story of the Oil Regions contain?

Chapter 18 holds 70 sentences of Prince Dusty: A Story of the Oil Regions, unabridged, divided into 14 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 18 of Prince Dusty: A Story of the Oil Regions by Kirk Munroe exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 70 sentences, grouped into 14 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 18 of Prince Dusty: A Story of the Oil Regions?

Work through the 14 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 14 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 18 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 18 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 Prince Dusty: A Story of the Oil Regions

Common questions about reading Prince Dusty: A Story of the Oil Regions by Kirk Munroe on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Prince Dusty: A Story of the Oil Regions?

Yes. All 2320 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #61969 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Prince Dusty: A Story of the Oil Regions is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #61969, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Prince Dusty: A Story of the Oil Regions take to read?

About 193 minutes of reading across 464 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Prince Dusty: A Story of the Oil Regions section by section

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Vocabulary met early in Prince Dusty: A Story of the Oil Regions

Words and structures a reader meets early in Prince Dusty: A Story of the Oil Regions, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Water
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Prince Dusty: A Story of the Oil Regions; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Series
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Prince Dusty: A Story of the Oil Regions; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Books
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Prince Dusty: A Story of the Oil Regions; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Munroe
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Prince Dusty: A Story of the Oil Regions; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.