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Ralph on the Overland Express
Ralph on the Overland Express

Chapter XVIII · Chapter 18

Chapter 18 of Ralph on the Overland Express is here in full — 82 sentences across 17 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Allen Chapman • Curated US English Learning Edition
Cover illustration for Ralph on the Overland Express
Context Illustration Reading 1/16 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
AT THE SEMAPHORE THE young engineer of No. 999 struggled to his feet appalled.
The case seemed hopeless.
He had matches in his pocket.
In dry weather under the same circumstances he might to gather up enough dry grass and brush to build a fire between the rails, but now, with everything soaked and dripping this was impossible.
"The semaphore signal!" gasped Ralph.
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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.

Ralph on the Overland Express

Chapter XVIII · Chapter 18

Chapter 18 of Ralph on the Overland Express is here in full — 82 sentences across 17 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/16 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
AT THE SEMAPHORE THE young engineer of No. 999 struggled to his feet appalled.
Line 2
The case seemed hopeless.
/ðə keɪs siːmd ˈhoʊpləs/
Line 3
He had matches in his pocket.
/hiː hæd ˈmætʃəz ɪn hɪz ˈpɑːkət/
Line 4
In dry weather under the same circumstances he might to gather up enough dry grass and brush to build a fire between the rails, but now, with everything soaked and dripping this was impossible.
/ɪn draɪ ˈweðər ˈʌndər ðə seɪm ˈsɜːrkəmstænsəz hiː maɪt tuː ˈɡæðər ʌp ɪˈnʌf draɪ ɡræs ənd brʌʃ tuː bɪld ə ˈfaɪər bɪˈtwiːn ðə reɪlz bʌt naʊ wɪð ˈevriθɪŋ soʊkt ənd ˈdrɪpɪŋ ðɪs wɑːz ˌɪmˈpɑːsəbəl/
Line 5
"The semaphore signal!" gasped Ralph.

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.

appalled adjective US /əˈpɔːld/

struck with fear, dread, or consternation

From this reading “AT THE SEMAPHORE THE young engineer of No. 999 struggled to his feet appalled.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
brush verb US /brʌʃ/

rub with a brush, or as if with a brush

From this reading “In dry weather under the same circumstances he might to gather up enough dry grass and brush to build a fire between the rails, but now, with everything soaked and dripping this was impossible.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
dripping noun US /ˈdrɪpɪŋ/

a liquid (as water) that flows in drops (as from the eaves of house)

From this reading “In dry weather under the same circumstances he might to gather up enough dry grass and brush to build a fire between the rails, but now, with everything soaked and dripping this was impossible.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
engineer noun US /ˈendʒəˈnɪr/

a person who uses scientific knowledge to solve practical problems

From this reading “AT THE SEMAPHORE THE young engineer of No. 999 struggled to his feet appalled.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
matches noun US /ˈmætʃəz/

plural of “match” — lighter consisting of a thin piece of wood or cardboard tipped with combustible chemical; ignites with friction

From this reading “He had matches in his pocket.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
rails noun US /reɪlz/

a bar or pair of parallel bars of rolled steel making the railway along which railroad cars or other vehicles can roll

From this reading “In dry weather under the same circumstances he might to gather up enough dry grass and brush to build a fire between the rails, but now, with everything soaked and dripping this was impossible.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
soaked adjective US /soʊkt/

very drunk

From this reading “In dry weather under the same circumstances he might to gather up enough dry grass and brush to build a fire between the rails, but now, with everything soaked and dripping this was impossible.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
struggled verb US /ˈstrʌɡəld/

past form of “struggle” — make a strenuous or labored effort

From this reading “AT THE SEMAPHORE THE young engineer of No. 999 struggled to his feet appalled.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1

All words in this reading · 50

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.

999

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

From this reading AT THE SEMAPHORE THE young engineer of No. 999 struggled to his feet appalled.

Pending verification
adeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading In dry weather under the same circumstances he might to gather up enough dry grass and brush to build a fire between the rails, but now, with everything soaked and dripping this was impossible.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading In dry weather under the same circumstances he might to gather up enough dry grass and brush to build a fire between the rails, but now, with everything soaked and dripping this was impossible.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
appalledadjectiveUS /əˈpɔːld/

struck with fear, dread, or consternation

From this reading AT THE SEMAPHORE THE young engineer of No. 999 struggled to his feet appalled.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ATprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading AT THE SEMAPHORE THE young engineer of No. 999 struggled to his feet appalled.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading In dry weather under the same circumstances he might to gather up enough dry grass and brush to build a fire between the rails, but now, with everything soaked and dripping this was impossible.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
brushverbUS /brʌʃ/

rub with a brush, or as if with a brush

From this reading In dry weather under the same circumstances he might to gather up enough dry grass and brush to build a fire between the rails, but now, with everything soaked and dripping this was impossible.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
buildverbUS /bɪld/

make by combining materials and parts

From this reading In dry weather under the same circumstances he might to gather up enough dry grass and brush to build a fire between the rails, but now, with everything soaked and dripping this was impossible.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading In dry weather under the same circumstances he might to gather up enough dry grass and brush to build a fire between the rails, but now, with everything soaked and dripping this was impossible.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
casenounUS /keɪs/

an occurrence of something

From this reading The case seemed hopeless.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
circumstancesnounUS /ˈsɜːrkəmstænsəz/

your overall circumstances or condition in life (including everything that happens to you)

From this reading In dry weather under the same circumstances he might to gather up enough dry grass and brush to build a fire between the rails, but now, with everything soaked and dripping this was impossible.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
drippingnounUS /ˈdrɪpɪŋ/

a liquid (as water) that flows in drops (as from the eaves of house)

From this reading In dry weather under the same circumstances he might to gather up enough dry grass and brush to build a fire between the rails, but now, with everything soaked and dripping this was impossible.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
dryadjectiveUS /draɪ/

free from liquid or moisture; lacking natural or normal moisture or depleted of water; or no longer wet

From this reading In dry weather under the same circumstances he might to gather up enough dry grass and brush to build a fire between the rails, but now, with everything soaked and dripping this was impossible.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
engineernounUS /ˈendʒəˈnɪr/

a person who uses scientific knowledge to solve practical problems

From this reading AT THE SEMAPHORE THE young engineer of No. 999 struggled to his feet appalled.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
enoughnounUS /ɪˈnʌf/

an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose

From this reading In dry weather under the same circumstances he might to gather up enough dry grass and brush to build a fire between the rails, but now, with everything soaked and dripping this was impossible.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
everythingpronounUS /ˈevriθɪŋ/

all things; all of a situation

From this reading In dry weather under the same circumstances he might to gather up enough dry grass and brush to build a fire between the rails, but now, with everything soaked and dripping this was impossible.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
feetnounUS /fiːt/

plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint

From this reading AT THE SEMAPHORE THE young engineer of No. 999 struggled to his feet appalled.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
fireverbUS /ˈfaɪər/

start firing a weapon

From this reading In dry weather under the same circumstances he might to gather up enough dry grass and brush to build a fire between the rails, but now, with everything soaked and dripping this was impossible.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
gaspedverbUS /ɡæspt/

past form of “gasp” — breathe noisily, as when one is exhausted

From this reading "The semaphore signal!" gasped Ralph.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
gatherverbUS /ˈɡæðər/

assemble or get together

From this reading In dry weather under the same circumstances he might to gather up enough dry grass and brush to build a fire between the rails, but now, with everything soaked and dripping this was impossible.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
grassverbUS /ɡræs/

shoot down, of birds

From this reading In dry weather under the same circumstances he might to gather up enough dry grass and brush to build a fire between the rails, but now, with everything soaked and dripping this was impossible.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading He had matches in his pocket.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
HepronounUS /hiː/

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading He had matches in his pocket.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading AT THE SEMAPHORE THE young engineer of No. 999 struggled to his feet appalled.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
hopelessadjectiveUS /ˈhoʊpləs/

without hope because there seems to be no possibility of comfort or success

From this reading The case seemed hopeless.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
impossibleadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpɑːsəbəl/

not capable of occurring or being accomplished or dealt with

From this reading In dry weather under the same circumstances he might to gather up enough dry grass and brush to build a fire between the rails, but now, with everything soaked and dripping this was impossible.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading He had matches in his pocket.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
matchesnounUS /ˈmætʃəz/

plural of “match” — lighter consisting of a thin piece of wood or cardboard tipped with combustible chemical; ignites with friction

From this reading He had matches in his pocket.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading In dry weather under the same circumstances he might to gather up enough dry grass and brush to build a fire between the rails, but now, with everything soaked and dripping this was impossible.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
NodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading AT THE SEMAPHORE THE young engineer of No. 999 struggled to his feet appalled.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
nowadverbUS /naʊ/

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

From this reading In dry weather under the same circumstances he might to gather up enough dry grass and brush to build a fire between the rails, but now, with everything soaked and dripping this was impossible.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading AT THE SEMAPHORE THE young engineer of No. 999 struggled to his feet appalled.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
pocketnounUS /ˈpɑːkət/

a small pouch inside a garment for carrying small articles

From this reading He had matches in his pocket.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
railsnounUS /reɪlz/

a bar or pair of parallel bars of rolled steel making the railway along which railroad cars or other vehicles can roll

From this reading In dry weather under the same circumstances he might to gather up enough dry grass and brush to build a fire between the rails, but now, with everything soaked and dripping this was impossible.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Ralph

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

From this reading "The semaphore signal!" gasped Ralph.

Pending verification
sameadjectiveUS /seɪm/

Identical; not different.

From this reading In dry weather under the same circumstances he might to gather up enough dry grass and brush to build a fire between the rails, but now, with everything soaked and dripping this was impossible.

Velmora curated lexicon
seemedverbUS /siːmd/

past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading The case seemed hopeless.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
SEMAPHOREverb

send signals by or as if by semaphore

From this reading AT THE SEMAPHORE THE young engineer of No. 999 struggled to his feet appalled.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
signalnounUS /ˈsɪɡnəl/

any nonverbal action or gesture that encodes a message

From this reading "The semaphore signal!" gasped Ralph.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
soakedadjectiveUS /soʊkt/

very drunk

From this reading In dry weather under the same circumstances he might to gather up enough dry grass and brush to build a fire between the rails, but now, with everything soaked and dripping this was impossible.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
struggledverbUS /ˈstrʌɡəld/

past form of “struggle” — make a strenuous or labored effort

From this reading AT THE SEMAPHORE THE young engineer of No. 999 struggled to his feet appalled.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading AT THE SEMAPHORE THE young engineer of No. 999 struggled to his feet appalled.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading In dry weather under the same circumstances he might to gather up enough dry grass and brush to build a fire between the rails, but now, with everything soaked and dripping this was impossible.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading AT THE SEMAPHORE THE young engineer of No. 999 struggled to his feet appalled.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading In dry weather under the same circumstances he might to gather up enough dry grass and brush to build a fire between the rails, but now, with everything soaked and dripping this was impossible.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
upadjectiveUS /ʌp/

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

From this reading In dry weather under the same circumstances he might to gather up enough dry grass and brush to build a fire between the rails, but now, with everything soaked and dripping this was impossible.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading In dry weather under the same circumstances he might to gather up enough dry grass and brush to build a fire between the rails, but now, with everything soaked and dripping this was impossible.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
weathernounUS /ˈweðər/

the atmospheric conditions that comprise the state of the atmosphere in terms of temperature and wind and clouds and precipitation

From this reading In dry weather under the same circumstances he might to gather up enough dry grass and brush to build a fire between the rails, but now, with everything soaked and dripping this was impossible.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading In dry weather under the same circumstances he might to gather up enough dry grass and brush to build a fire between the rails, but now, with everything soaked and dripping this was impossible.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
youngadjectiveUS /jʌŋ/

(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth

From this reading AT THE SEMAPHORE THE young engineer of No. 999 struggled to his feet appalled.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1

Chapter 18 of Ralph on the Overland Express by Allen Chapman holds 82 sentences, grouped into 17 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 Ralph on the Overland Express contain?

Chapter 18 holds 82 sentences of Ralph on the Overland Express, unabridged, divided into 17 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 18 of Ralph on the Overland Express by Allen Chapman exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 82 sentences, grouped into 17 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 Ralph on the Overland Express?

Work through the 17 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 17 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 Ralph on the Overland Express

Common questions about reading Ralph on the Overland Express by Allen Chapman on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Ralph on the Overland Express?

Yes. All 3822 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #28655 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Ralph on the Overland Express is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #28655, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Ralph on the Overland Express take to read?

About 318 minutes of reading across 765 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Ralph on the Overland Express section by section

How to work through Ralph on the Overland Express section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 31 chapters of Ralph on the Overland Express 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 Ralph on the Overland Express

Words and structures a reader meets early in Ralph on the Overland Express, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Author
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Ralph on the Overland Express; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Ralph
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Ralph on the Overland Express; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Roundhouse
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Ralph on the Overland Express; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Switch
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Ralph on the Overland Express; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.