Chapter 8 of Ralph on the Engine is here in full — 109 sentences across 22 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter VIII
Chapter 8 of Ralph on the Engine is here in full — 109 sentences across 22 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
THE HIDDEN PLUNDER "That's the fellow who brought the package of silk to old Ames," whispered Zeph, staring hard from under covert at Slump. "Yes, I recognize him," responded Ralph in quite as guarded a tone. "Quiet, now, Zeph." Ike Slump and Mort Bemis continued to linger at the tree. They were looking at the wagon and beyond it.
Chapter 8 of Ralph on the Engine is here in full — 109 sentences across 22 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/21 · 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.
a flock of coots
From this reading “THE HIDDEN PLUNDER "That's the fellow who brought the package of silk to old Ames," whispered Zeph, staring hard from under covert at Slump.”
prudent
From this reading “"Yes, I recognize him," responded Ralph in quite as guarded a tone.”
United States general who supervised the invasion of Normandy and the defeat of Nazi Germany; 34th President of the United States (1890-1961)
From this reading “Ike Slump and Mort Bemis continued to linger at the tree.”
remain present although waning or gradually dying
From this reading “Ike Slump and Mort Bemis continued to linger at the tree.”
a collection of things wrapped or boxed together
From this reading “THE HIDDEN PLUNDER "That's the fellow who brought the package of silk to old Ames," whispered Zeph, staring hard from under covert at Slump.”
Goods or treasure taken by force or theft, especially in war or banditry.
From this reading “THE HIDDEN PLUNDER "That's the fellow who brought the package of silk to old Ames," whispered Zeph, staring hard from under covert at Slump.”
assume a drooping posture or carriage
From this reading “THE HIDDEN PLUNDER "That's the fellow who brought the package of silk to old Ames," whispered Zeph, staring hard from under covert at Slump.”
any of various kinds of wheeled vehicles drawn by an animal or a tractor
From this reading “They were looking at the wagon and beyond it.”
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 "Yes, I recognize him," responded Ralph in quite as guarded a tone.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE HIDDEN PLUNDER "That's the fellow who brought the package of silk to old Ames," whispered Zeph, staring hard from under covert at Slump.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Ike Slump and Mort Bemis continued to linger at the tree.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "Yes, I recognize him," responded Ralph in quite as guarded a tone.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading THE HIDDEN PLUNDER "That's the fellow who brought the package of silk to old Ames," whispered Zeph, staring hard from under covert at Slump.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ike Slump and Mort Bemis continued to linger at the tree.
on the far side of; further than
From this reading They were looking at the wagon and beyond it.
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading THE HIDDEN PLUNDER "That's the fellow who brought the package of silk to old Ames," whispered Zeph, staring hard from under covert at Slump.
without stop or interruption
From this reading Ike Slump and Mort Bemis continued to linger at the tree.
a flock of coots
From this reading THE HIDDEN PLUNDER "That's the fellow who brought the package of silk to old Ames," whispered Zeph, staring hard from under covert at Slump.
a boy or man
From this reading THE HIDDEN PLUNDER "That's the fellow who brought the package of silk to old Ames," whispered Zeph, staring hard from under covert at Slump.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading THE HIDDEN PLUNDER "That's the fellow who brought the package of silk to old Ames," whispered Zeph, staring hard from under covert at Slump.
prudent
From this reading "Yes, I recognize him," responded Ralph in quite as guarded a tone.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading THE HIDDEN PLUNDER "That's the fellow who brought the package of silk to old Ames," whispered Zeph, staring hard from under covert at Slump.
not accessible to view
From this reading THE HIDDEN PLUNDER "That's the fellow who brought the package of silk to old Ames," whispered Zeph, staring hard from under covert at Slump.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "Yes, I recognize him," responded Ralph in quite as guarded a tone.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "Yes, I recognize him," responded Ralph in quite as guarded a tone.
United States general who supervised the invasion of Normandy and the defeat of Nazi Germany; 34th President of the United States (1890-1961)
From this reading Ike Slump and Mort Bemis continued to linger at the tree.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "Yes, I recognize him," responded Ralph in quite as guarded a tone.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading They were looking at the wagon and beyond it.
remain present although waning or gradually dying
From this reading Ike Slump and Mort Bemis continued to linger at the tree.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading They were looking at the wagon and beyond it.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ike Slump and Mort Bemis continued to linger at the tree.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading "Quiet, now, Zeph."
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE HIDDEN PLUNDER "That's the fellow who brought the package of silk to old Ames," whispered Zeph, staring hard from under covert at Slump.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading THE HIDDEN PLUNDER "That's the fellow who brought the package of silk to old Ames," whispered Zeph, staring hard from under covert at Slump.
a collection of things wrapped or boxed together
From this reading THE HIDDEN PLUNDER "That's the fellow who brought the package of silk to old Ames," whispered Zeph, staring hard from under covert at Slump.
Goods or treasure taken by force or theft, especially in war or banditry.
From this reading THE HIDDEN PLUNDER "That's the fellow who brought the package of silk to old Ames," whispered Zeph, staring hard from under covert at Slump.
characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity
From this reading "Quiet, now, Zeph."
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading "Yes, I recognize him," responded Ralph in quite as guarded a tone.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Yes, I recognize him," responded Ralph in quite as guarded a tone.
accept (someone) to be what is claimed or accept his power and authority
From this reading "Yes, I recognize him," responded Ralph in quite as guarded a tone.
past form of “respond” — show a response or a reaction to something
From this reading "Yes, I recognize him," responded Ralph in quite as guarded a tone.
a fabric made from the fine threads produced by certain insect larvae
From this reading THE HIDDEN PLUNDER "That's the fellow who brought the package of silk to old Ames," whispered Zeph, staring hard from under covert at Slump.
assume a drooping posture or carriage
From this reading THE HIDDEN PLUNDER "That's the fellow who brought the package of silk to old Ames," whispered Zeph, staring hard from under covert at Slump.
(used of eyes) open and fixed as if in fear or wonder
From this reading THE HIDDEN PLUNDER "That's the fellow who brought the package of silk to old Ames," whispered Zeph, staring hard from under covert at Slump.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE HIDDEN PLUNDER "That's the fellow who brought the package of silk to old Ames," whispered Zeph, staring hard from under covert at Slump.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE HIDDEN PLUNDER "That's the fellow who brought the package of silk to old Ames," whispered Zeph, staring hard from under covert at Slump.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They were looking at the wagon and beyond it.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE HIDDEN PLUNDER "That's the fellow who brought the package of silk to old Ames," whispered Zeph, staring hard from under covert at Slump.
the quality of a person's voice
From this reading "Yes, I recognize him," responded Ralph in quite as guarded a tone.
a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading Ike Slump and Mort Bemis continued to linger at the tree.
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading THE HIDDEN PLUNDER "That's the fellow who brought the package of silk to old Ames," whispered Zeph, staring hard from under covert at Slump.
any of various kinds of wheeled vehicles drawn by an animal or a tractor
From this reading They were looking at the wagon and beyond it.
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They were looking at the wagon and beyond it.
spoken in soft hushed tones without vibrations of the vocal cords
From this reading THE HIDDEN PLUNDER "That's the fellow who brought the package of silk to old Ames," whispered Zeph, staring hard from under covert at Slump.
which person or people
From this reading THE HIDDEN PLUNDER "That's the fellow who brought the package of silk to old Ames," whispered Zeph, staring hard from under covert at Slump.
an affirmative
From this reading "Yes, I recognize him," responded Ralph in quite as guarded a tone.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE HIDDEN PLUNDER "That's the fellow who brought the package of silk to old Ames," whispered Zeph, staring hard from under covert at Slump.
Chapter 8 of Ralph on the Engine by Allen Chapman holds 109 sentences, grouped into 22 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 8 holds 109 sentences of Ralph on the Engine, unabridged, divided into 22 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 8 of Ralph on the Engine by Allen Chapman exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 109 sentences, grouped into 22 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 22 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 22 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 8 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 Ralph on the Engine by Allen Chapman on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 3777 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #28292 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #28292, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 314 minutes of reading across 756 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through Ralph on the Engine section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 31 chapters of Ralph on the Engine 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 Ralph on the Engine, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
