Complete classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
Rebel Spurs
Rebel Spurs

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of Rebel Spurs is here in full — 427 sentences across 86 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Rebel Spurs
Context Illustration Reading 1/85 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
_Published by_ The World Publishing Company 2231 West 110th Street, Cleveland 2, Ohio _Published simultaneously in Canada by_ Nelson, Foster & Scott Ltd.
Project Gutenberg has not been able to find a United States copyright renewal.
To the best of our knowledge, this work has fallen to the public domain.
_For_ HENDRY PEART _and_ CARROLL COLLINS _who share my interest in "The West."_ In 1866, only men uprooted by war had reason to ride into Tubacca, Arizona, a nondescript town as shattered and anonymous as the veterans drifting through it.
So when Drew Rennie, newly discharged from Forrest’s Confederate scouts, arrived leading everything he owned behind himhis thoroughbred stud Shiloh, a mare about to foal, and a mulehe knew his business would not be questioned.
0:00 / 0:00
Speed 0.75x
AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Rebel Spurs

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of Rebel Spurs is here in full — 427 sentences across 86 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/85 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
_Published by_ The World Publishing Company 2231 West 110th Street, Cleveland 2, Ohio _Published simultaneously in Canada by_ Nelson, Foster & Scott Ltd.
Line 2
Project Gutenberg has not been able to find a United States copyright renewal.
/ˈprɑːdʒekt ˈɡuːtənbərɡ hæz nɑːt bɪn ˈeɪbəl tuː faɪnd ə juːˈnaɪtɪd steɪts ˈkɑːpiraɪt rɪˈnuːəl/
Line 3
To the best of our knowledge, this work has fallen to the public domain.
/tuː ðə best ʌv ˈaʊər ˈnɑːlədʒ ðɪs wɜːrk hæz ˈfɑːlən tuː ðə ˈpʌblɪk doʊˈmeɪn/
Line 4
_For_ HENDRY PEART _and_ CARROLL COLLINS _who share my interest in "The West."_ In 1866, only men uprooted by war had reason to ride into Tubacca, Arizona, a nondescript town as shattered and anonymous as the veterans drifting through it.
Line 5
So when Drew Rennie, newly discharged from Forrest’s Confederate scouts, arrived leading everything he owned behind himhis thoroughbred stud Shiloh, a mare about to foal, and a mulehe knew his business would not be questioned.

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.

foal noun US /foʊl/

a young horse

From this reading “So when Drew Rennie, newly discharged from Forrest’s Confederate scouts, arrived leading everything he owned behind him—his thoroughbred stud Shiloh, a mare about to foal, and a mule—he knew his business would not be questioned.”

Gutenberg noun US /ˈɡuːtənbərɡ/

German printer who was the first in Europe to print using movable type and the first to use a press (1400-1468)

From this reading “Project Gutenberg has not been able to find a United States copyright renewal.”

nondescript adjective US /ˈnɑːndɪˈskrɪpt/

lacking distinct or individual characteristics; dull and uninteresting

From this reading “_For_ HENDRY PEART _and_ CARROLL COLLINS _who share my interest in "The West."_ In 1866, only men uprooted by war had reason to ride into Tubacca, Arizona, a nondescript town as shattered and anonymous as the veterans drifting through it.”

Shiloh noun US /ˈʃaɪloʊ/

the second great battle of the American Civil War (1862); the battle ended with the withdrawal of Confederate troops but it was not a Union victory

From this reading “So when Drew Rennie, newly discharged from Forrest’s Confederate scouts, arrived leading everything he owned behind him—his thoroughbred stud Shiloh, a mare about to foal, and a mule—he knew his business would not be questioned.”

stud verb US /stʌd/

scatter or intersperse like dots or studs

From this reading “So when Drew Rennie, newly discharged from Forrest’s Confederate scouts, arrived leading everything he owned behind him—his thoroughbred stud Shiloh, a mare about to foal, and a mule—he knew his business would not be questioned.”

thoroughbred noun US /ˈθɜːroʊˈbred/

a well-bred person

From this reading “So when Drew Rennie, newly discharged from Forrest’s Confederate scouts, arrived leading everything he owned behind him—his thoroughbred stud Shiloh, a mare about to foal, and a mule—he knew his business would not be questioned.”

uprooted verb US /əˈpruːtɪd/

past form of “uproot” — move (people) forcibly from their homeland into a new and foreign environment

From this reading “_For_ HENDRY PEART _and_ CARROLL COLLINS _who share my interest in "The West."_ In 1866, only men uprooted by war had reason to ride into Tubacca, Arizona, a nondescript town as shattered and anonymous as the veterans drifting through it.”

veterans noun US /ˈvetərənz/

plural of “veteran” — a serviceman who has seen considerable active service

From this reading “_For_ HENDRY PEART _and_ CARROLL COLLINS _who share my interest in "The West."_ In 1866, only men uprooted by war had reason to ride into Tubacca, Arizona, a nondescript town as shattered and anonymous as the veterans drifting through it.”

All words in this reading · 102

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.

110th

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

From this reading _Published by_ The World Publishing Company 2231 West 110th Street, Cleveland 2, Ohio _Published simultaneously in Canada by_ Nelson, Foster & Scott Ltd.

1866

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

From this reading _For_ HENDRY PEART _and_ CARROLL COLLINS _who share my interest in "The West."_ In 1866, only men uprooted by war had reason to ride into Tubacca, Arizona, a nondescript town as shattered and anonymous as the veterans drifting through it.

2

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

From this reading _Published by_ The World Publishing Company 2231 West 110th Street, Cleveland 2, Ohio _Published simultaneously in Canada by_ Nelson, Foster & Scott Ltd.

2231

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

From this reading _Published by_ The World Publishing Company 2231 West 110th Street, Cleveland 2, Ohio _Published simultaneously in Canada by_ Nelson, Foster & Scott Ltd.

adeterminerUS /ə/

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

From this reading Project Gutenberg has not been able to find a United States copyright renewal.

ableadjectiveUS /ˈeɪbəl/

(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something

From this reading Project Gutenberg has not been able to find a United States copyright renewal.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading So when Drew Rennie, newly discharged from Forrest’s Confederate scouts, arrived leading everything he owned behind him—his thoroughbred stud Shiloh, a mare about to foal, and a mule—he knew his business would not be questioned.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading _For_ HENDRY PEART _and_ CARROLL COLLINS _who share my interest in "The West."_ In 1866, only men uprooted by war had reason to ride into Tubacca, Arizona, a nondescript town as shattered and anonymous as the veterans drifting through it.

anonymousadjectiveUS /əˈnɑːnəməs/

having no known name or identity or known source

From this reading _For_ HENDRY PEART _and_ CARROLL COLLINS _who share my interest in "The West."_ In 1866, only men uprooted by war had reason to ride into Tubacca, Arizona, a nondescript town as shattered and anonymous as the veterans drifting through it.

ArizonanounUS /ˌerɪˈzoʊnə/

a state in southwestern United States; site of the Grand Canyon

From this reading _For_ HENDRY PEART _and_ CARROLL COLLINS _who share my interest in "The West."_ In 1866, only men uprooted by war had reason to ride into Tubacca, Arizona, a nondescript town as shattered and anonymous as the veterans drifting through it.

arrivedverbUS /ərˈaɪvd/

past form of “arrive” — reach a destination; arrive by movement or progress

From this reading So when Drew Rennie, newly discharged from Forrest’s Confederate scouts, arrived leading everything he owned behind him—his thoroughbred stud Shiloh, a mare about to foal, and a mule—he knew his business would not be questioned.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading _For_ HENDRY PEART _and_ CARROLL COLLINS _who share my interest in "The West."_ In 1866, only men uprooted by war had reason to ride into Tubacca, Arizona, a nondescript town as shattered and anonymous as the veterans drifting through it.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading So when Drew Rennie, newly discharged from Forrest’s Confederate scouts, arrived leading everything he owned behind him—his thoroughbred stud Shiloh, a mare about to foal, and a mule—he knew his business would not be questioned.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Project Gutenberg has not been able to find a United States copyright renewal.

behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/

at or toward the back of something

From this reading So when Drew Rennie, newly discharged from Forrest’s Confederate scouts, arrived leading everything he owned behind him—his thoroughbred stud Shiloh, a mare about to foal, and a mule—he knew his business would not be questioned.

bestnounUS /best/

the supreme effort one can make

From this reading To the best of our knowledge, this work has fallen to the public domain.

businessnounUS /ˈbɪznəs/

a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it

From this reading So when Drew Rennie, newly discharged from Forrest’s Confederate scouts, arrived leading everything he owned behind him—his thoroughbred stud Shiloh, a mare about to foal, and a mule—he knew his business would not be questioned.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading _Published by_ The World Publishing Company 2231 West 110th Street, Cleveland 2, Ohio _Published simultaneously in Canada by_ Nelson, Foster & Scott Ltd.

CanadanounUS /ˈkænədə/

a nation in northern North America; the French were the first Europeans to settle in mainland Canada

From this reading _Published by_ The World Publishing Company 2231 West 110th Street, Cleveland 2, Ohio _Published simultaneously in Canada by_ Nelson, Foster & Scott Ltd.

CARROLLnounUS /ˈkærəl/

English author; Charles Dodgson was an Oxford don of mathematics who is remembered for the children's stories he wrote under the pen name Lewis Carroll (1832-1898)

From this reading _For_ HENDRY PEART _and_ CARROLL COLLINS _who share my interest in "The West."_ In 1866, only men uprooted by war had reason to ride into Tubacca, Arizona, a nondescript town as shattered and anonymous as the veterans drifting through it.

ClevelandnounUS /ˈkliːvlənd/

the largest city in Ohio; located in northeastern Ohio on Lake Erie; a major Great Lakes port

From this reading _Published by_ The World Publishing Company 2231 West 110th Street, Cleveland 2, Ohio _Published simultaneously in Canada by_ Nelson, Foster & Scott Ltd.

COLLINSnounUS /ˈkɑːlɪnz/

English writer noted for early detective novels (1824-1889)

From this reading _For_ HENDRY PEART _and_ CARROLL COLLINS _who share my interest in "The West."_ In 1866, only men uprooted by war had reason to ride into Tubacca, Arizona, a nondescript town as shattered and anonymous as the veterans drifting through it.

CompanynounUS /ˈkʌmpəniː/

an institution created to conduct business

From this reading _Published by_ The World Publishing Company 2231 West 110th Street, Cleveland 2, Ohio _Published simultaneously in Canada by_ Nelson, Foster & Scott Ltd.

ConfederatenounUS /kənˈfedərət/

a supporter of the Confederate States of America

From this reading So when Drew Rennie, newly discharged from Forrest’s Confederate scouts, arrived leading everything he owned behind him—his thoroughbred stud Shiloh, a mare about to foal, and a mule—he knew his business would not be questioned.

copyrightnounUS /ˈkɑːpiraɪt/

a document granting exclusive right to publish and sell literary or musical or artistic work

From this reading Project Gutenberg has not been able to find a United States copyright renewal.

dischargedadjectiveUS /dɪsˈtʃɑːrdʒd/

having lost your job

From this reading So when Drew Rennie, newly discharged from Forrest’s Confederate scouts, arrived leading everything he owned behind him—his thoroughbred stud Shiloh, a mare about to foal, and a mule—he knew his business would not be questioned.

domainnounUS /doʊˈmeɪn/

a particular environment or walk of life

From this reading To the best of our knowledge, this work has fallen to the public domain.

DrewnounUS /druː/

United States actor (born in Ireland); father of Georgiana Emma Barrymore (1827-1862)

From this reading So when Drew Rennie, newly discharged from Forrest’s Confederate scouts, arrived leading everything he owned behind him—his thoroughbred stud Shiloh, a mare about to foal, and a mule—he knew his business would not be questioned.

driftingnounUS /ˈdrɪftɪŋ/

aimless wandering from place to place

From this reading _For_ HENDRY PEART _and_ CARROLL COLLINS _who share my interest in "The West."_ In 1866, only men uprooted by war had reason to ride into Tubacca, Arizona, a nondescript town as shattered and anonymous as the veterans drifting through it.

everythingpronounUS /ˈevriθɪŋ/

all things; all of a situation

From this reading So when Drew Rennie, newly discharged from Forrest’s Confederate scouts, arrived leading everything he owned behind him—his thoroughbred stud Shiloh, a mare about to foal, and a mule—he knew his business would not be questioned.

fallenadjectiveUS /ˈfɑːlən/

having dropped by the force of gravity

From this reading To the best of our knowledge, this work has fallen to the public domain.

findverbUS /faɪnd/

come upon, as if by accident; meet with

From this reading Project Gutenberg has not been able to find a United States copyright renewal.

foalnounUS /foʊl/

a young horse

From this reading So when Drew Rennie, newly discharged from Forrest’s Confederate scouts, arrived leading everything he owned behind him—his thoroughbred stud Shiloh, a mare about to foal, and a mule—he knew his business would not be questioned.

ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading _For_ HENDRY PEART _and_ CARROLL COLLINS _who share my interest in "The West."_ In 1866, only men uprooted by war had reason to ride into Tubacca, Arizona, a nondescript town as shattered and anonymous as the veterans drifting through it.

Forrest's

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

From this reading So when Drew Rennie, newly discharged from Forrest’s Confederate scouts, arrived leading everything he owned behind him—his thoroughbred stud Shiloh, a mare about to foal, and a mule—he knew his business would not be questioned.

FosterverbUS /ˈfɑːstər/

promote the growth of

From this reading _Published by_ The World Publishing Company 2231 West 110th Street, Cleveland 2, Ohio _Published simultaneously in Canada by_ Nelson, Foster & Scott Ltd.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading So when Drew Rennie, newly discharged from Forrest’s Confederate scouts, arrived leading everything he owned behind him—his thoroughbred stud Shiloh, a mare about to foal, and a mule—he knew his business would not be questioned.

GutenbergnounUS /ˈɡuːtənbərɡ/

German printer who was the first in Europe to print using movable type and the first to use a press (1400-1468)

From this reading Project Gutenberg has not been able to find a United States copyright renewal.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading _For_ HENDRY PEART _and_ CARROLL COLLINS _who share my interest in "The West."_ In 1866, only men uprooted by war had reason to ride into Tubacca, Arizona, a nondescript town as shattered and anonymous as the veterans drifting through it.

hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading Project Gutenberg has not been able to find a United States copyright renewal.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading So when Drew Rennie, newly discharged from Forrest’s Confederate scouts, arrived leading everything he owned behind him—his thoroughbred stud Shiloh, a mare about to foal, and a mule—he knew his business would not be questioned.

HENDRY

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

From this reading _For_ HENDRY PEART _and_ CARROLL COLLINS _who share my interest in "The West."_ In 1866, only men uprooted by war had reason to ride into Tubacca, Arizona, a nondescript town as shattered and anonymous as the veterans drifting through it.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading So when Drew Rennie, newly discharged from Forrest’s Confederate scouts, arrived leading everything he owned behind him—his thoroughbred stud Shiloh, a mare about to foal, and a mule—he knew his business would not be questioned.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading So when Drew Rennie, newly discharged from Forrest’s Confederate scouts, arrived leading everything he owned behind him—his thoroughbred stud Shiloh, a mare about to foal, and a mule—he knew his business would not be questioned.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading _Published by_ The World Publishing Company 2231 West 110th Street, Cleveland 2, Ohio _Published simultaneously in Canada by_ Nelson, Foster & Scott Ltd.

interestnounUS /ˈɪntrəst/

a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something

From this reading _For_ HENDRY PEART _and_ CARROLL COLLINS _who share my interest in "The West."_ In 1866, only men uprooted by war had reason to ride into Tubacca, Arizona, a nondescript town as shattered and anonymous as the veterans drifting through it.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading _For_ HENDRY PEART _and_ CARROLL COLLINS _who share my interest in "The West."_ In 1866, only men uprooted by war had reason to ride into Tubacca, Arizona, a nondescript town as shattered and anonymous as the veterans drifting through it.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading _For_ HENDRY PEART _and_ CARROLL COLLINS _who share my interest in "The West."_ In 1866, only men uprooted by war had reason to ride into Tubacca, Arizona, a nondescript town as shattered and anonymous as the veterans drifting through it.

knewverbUS /nuː/

inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading So when Drew Rennie, newly discharged from Forrest’s Confederate scouts, arrived leading everything he owned behind him—his thoroughbred stud Shiloh, a mare about to foal, and a mule—he knew his business would not be questioned.

knowledgenounUS /ˈnɑːlədʒ/

the psychological result of perception and learning and reasoning

From this reading To the best of our knowledge, this work has fallen to the public domain.

leadingadjectiveUS /ˈliːdɪŋ/

indicating the most important performer or role

From this reading So when Drew Rennie, newly discharged from Forrest’s Confederate scouts, arrived leading everything he owned behind him—his thoroughbred stud Shiloh, a mare about to foal, and a mule—he knew his business would not be questioned.

Ltd

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

From this reading _Published by_ The World Publishing Company 2231 West 110th Street, Cleveland 2, Ohio _Published simultaneously in Canada by_ Nelson, Foster & Scott Ltd.

marenounUS /mer/

female equine animal

From this reading So when Drew Rennie, newly discharged from Forrest’s Confederate scouts, arrived leading everything he owned behind him—his thoroughbred stud Shiloh, a mare about to foal, and a mule—he knew his business would not be questioned.

mennounUS /men/

the force of workers available

From this reading _For_ HENDRY PEART _and_ CARROLL COLLINS _who share my interest in "The West."_ In 1866, only men uprooted by war had reason to ride into Tubacca, Arizona, a nondescript town as shattered and anonymous as the veterans drifting through it.

mulenounUS /mjuːl/

hybrid offspring of a male donkey and a female horse; usually sterile

From this reading So when Drew Rennie, newly discharged from Forrest’s Confederate scouts, arrived leading everything he owned behind him—his thoroughbred stud Shiloh, a mare about to foal, and a mule—he knew his business would not be questioned.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading _For_ HENDRY PEART _and_ CARROLL COLLINS _who share my interest in "The West."_ In 1866, only men uprooted by war had reason to ride into Tubacca, Arizona, a nondescript town as shattered and anonymous as the veterans drifting through it.

NelsonnounUS /ˈnelsən/

English admiral who defeated the French fleets of Napoleon but was mortally wounded at Trafalgar (1758-1805)

From this reading _Published by_ The World Publishing Company 2231 West 110th Street, Cleveland 2, Ohio _Published simultaneously in Canada by_ Nelson, Foster & Scott Ltd.

newlyadverbUS /ˈnuːli/

very recently

From this reading So when Drew Rennie, newly discharged from Forrest’s Confederate scouts, arrived leading everything he owned behind him—his thoroughbred stud Shiloh, a mare about to foal, and a mule—he knew his business would not be questioned.

nondescriptadjectiveUS /ˈnɑːndɪˈskrɪpt/

lacking distinct or individual characteristics; dull and uninteresting

From this reading _For_ HENDRY PEART _and_ CARROLL COLLINS _who share my interest in "The West."_ In 1866, only men uprooted by war had reason to ride into Tubacca, Arizona, a nondescript town as shattered and anonymous as the veterans drifting through it.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Project Gutenberg has not been able to find a United States copyright renewal.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading To the best of our knowledge, this work has fallen to the public domain.

OhionounUS /oʊˈhaɪoʊ/

a midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region

From this reading _Published by_ The World Publishing Company 2231 West 110th Street, Cleveland 2, Ohio _Published simultaneously in Canada by_ Nelson, Foster & Scott Ltd.

onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/

and nothing more

From this reading _For_ HENDRY PEART _and_ CARROLL COLLINS _who share my interest in "The West."_ In 1866, only men uprooted by war had reason to ride into Tubacca, Arizona, a nondescript town as shattered and anonymous as the veterans drifting through it.

ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading To the best of our knowledge, this work has fallen to the public domain.

ownedadjectiveUS /oʊnd/

having an owner; often used in combination

From this reading So when Drew Rennie, newly discharged from Forrest’s Confederate scouts, arrived leading everything he owned behind him—his thoroughbred stud Shiloh, a mare about to foal, and a mule—he knew his business would not be questioned.

PEART

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

From this reading _For_ HENDRY PEART _and_ CARROLL COLLINS _who share my interest in "The West."_ In 1866, only men uprooted by war had reason to ride into Tubacca, Arizona, a nondescript town as shattered and anonymous as the veterans drifting through it.

ProjectverbUS /ˈprɑːdʒekt/

communicate vividly

From this reading Project Gutenberg has not been able to find a United States copyright renewal.

publicnounUS /ˈpʌblɪk/

people in general considered as a whole

From this reading To the best of our knowledge, this work has fallen to the public domain.

PublishedadjectiveUS /ˈpʌblɪʃt/

prepared and printed for distribution and sale

From this reading _Published by_ The World Publishing Company 2231 West 110th Street, Cleveland 2, Ohio _Published simultaneously in Canada by_ Nelson, Foster & Scott Ltd.

PublishingnounUS /ˈpʌblɪʃɪŋ/

the business of issuing printed matter for sale or distribution

From this reading _Published by_ The World Publishing Company 2231 West 110th Street, Cleveland 2, Ohio _Published simultaneously in Canada by_ Nelson, Foster & Scott Ltd.

questionedverbUS /ˈkwestʃənd/

past form of “question” — challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of

From this reading So when Drew Rennie, newly discharged from Forrest’s Confederate scouts, arrived leading everything he owned behind him—his thoroughbred stud Shiloh, a mare about to foal, and a mule—he knew his business would not be questioned.

reasonnounUS /ˈriːzən/

a rational motive for a belief or action

From this reading _For_ HENDRY PEART _and_ CARROLL COLLINS _who share my interest in "The West."_ In 1866, only men uprooted by war had reason to ride into Tubacca, Arizona, a nondescript town as shattered and anonymous as the veterans drifting through it.

renewalnounUS /rɪˈnuːəl/

the conversion of wasteland into land suitable for use of habitation or cultivation

From this reading Project Gutenberg has not been able to find a United States copyright renewal.

Rennie

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

From this reading So when Drew Rennie, newly discharged from Forrest’s Confederate scouts, arrived leading everything he owned behind him—his thoroughbred stud Shiloh, a mare about to foal, and a mule—he knew his business would not be questioned.

rideverbUS /raɪd/

sit and travel on the back of animal, usually while controlling its motions

From this reading _For_ HENDRY PEART _and_ CARROLL COLLINS _who share my interest in "The West."_ In 1866, only men uprooted by war had reason to ride into Tubacca, Arizona, a nondescript town as shattered and anonymous as the veterans drifting through it.

ScottnounUS /skɑːt/

award-winning United States film actor (1928-1999)

From this reading _Published by_ The World Publishing Company 2231 West 110th Street, Cleveland 2, Ohio _Published simultaneously in Canada by_ Nelson, Foster & Scott Ltd.

scoutsnounUS /skaʊts/

plural of “scout” — a person employed to keep watch for some anticipated event

From this reading So when Drew Rennie, newly discharged from Forrest’s Confederate scouts, arrived leading everything he owned behind him—his thoroughbred stud Shiloh, a mare about to foal, and a mule—he knew his business would not be questioned.

shareverbUS /ʃer/

have in common

From this reading _For_ HENDRY PEART _and_ CARROLL COLLINS _who share my interest in "The West."_ In 1866, only men uprooted by war had reason to ride into Tubacca, Arizona, a nondescript town as shattered and anonymous as the veterans drifting through it.

shatteredadjectiveUS /ˈʃætərd/

ruined or disrupted

From this reading _For_ HENDRY PEART _and_ CARROLL COLLINS _who share my interest in "The West."_ In 1866, only men uprooted by war had reason to ride into Tubacca, Arizona, a nondescript town as shattered and anonymous as the veterans drifting through it.

ShilohnounUS /ˈʃaɪloʊ/

the second great battle of the American Civil War (1862); the battle ended with the withdrawal of Confederate troops but it was not a Union victory

From this reading So when Drew Rennie, newly discharged from Forrest’s Confederate scouts, arrived leading everything he owned behind him—his thoroughbred stud Shiloh, a mare about to foal, and a mule—he knew his business would not be questioned.

simultaneouslyadverbUS /ˌsaɪməlˈteɪniəsli/

at the same instant

From this reading _Published by_ The World Publishing Company 2231 West 110th Street, Cleveland 2, Ohio _Published simultaneously in Canada by_ Nelson, Foster & Scott Ltd.

SoconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading So when Drew Rennie, newly discharged from Forrest’s Confederate scouts, arrived leading everything he owned behind him—his thoroughbred stud Shiloh, a mare about to foal, and a mule—he knew his business would not be questioned.

StatesnounUS /steɪts/

plural of “state” — the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation

From this reading Project Gutenberg has not been able to find a United States copyright renewal.

StreetnounUS /striːt/

a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings

From this reading _Published by_ The World Publishing Company 2231 West 110th Street, Cleveland 2, Ohio _Published simultaneously in Canada by_ Nelson, Foster & Scott Ltd.

studverbUS /stʌd/

scatter or intersperse like dots or studs

From this reading So when Drew Rennie, newly discharged from Forrest’s Confederate scouts, arrived leading everything he owned behind him—his thoroughbred stud Shiloh, a mare about to foal, and a mule—he knew his business would not be questioned.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading _Published by_ The World Publishing Company 2231 West 110th Street, Cleveland 2, Ohio _Published simultaneously in Canada by_ Nelson, Foster & Scott Ltd.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading To the best of our knowledge, this work has fallen to the public domain.

thoroughbrednounUS /ˈθɜːroʊˈbred/

a well-bred person

From this reading So when Drew Rennie, newly discharged from Forrest’s Confederate scouts, arrived leading everything he owned behind him—his thoroughbred stud Shiloh, a mare about to foal, and a mule—he knew his business would not be questioned.

throughprepositionUS /θruː/

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading _For_ HENDRY PEART _and_ CARROLL COLLINS _who share my interest in "The West."_ In 1866, only men uprooted by war had reason to ride into Tubacca, Arizona, a nondescript town as shattered and anonymous as the veterans drifting through it.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Project Gutenberg has not been able to find a United States copyright renewal.

townnounUS /taʊn/

an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city

From this reading _For_ HENDRY PEART _and_ CARROLL COLLINS _who share my interest in "The West."_ In 1866, only men uprooted by war had reason to ride into Tubacca, Arizona, a nondescript town as shattered and anonymous as the veterans drifting through it.

Tubacca

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

From this reading _For_ HENDRY PEART _and_ CARROLL COLLINS _who share my interest in "The West."_ In 1866, only men uprooted by war had reason to ride into Tubacca, Arizona, a nondescript town as shattered and anonymous as the veterans drifting through it.

UnitedadjectiveUS /juːˈnaɪtɪd/

characterized by unity; being or joined into a single entity

From this reading Project Gutenberg has not been able to find a United States copyright renewal.

uprootedverbUS /əˈpruːtɪd/

past form of “uproot” — move (people) forcibly from their homeland into a new and foreign environment

From this reading _For_ HENDRY PEART _and_ CARROLL COLLINS _who share my interest in "The West."_ In 1866, only men uprooted by war had reason to ride into Tubacca, Arizona, a nondescript town as shattered and anonymous as the veterans drifting through it.

veteransnounUS /ˈvetərənz/

plural of “veteran” — a serviceman who has seen considerable active service

From this reading _For_ HENDRY PEART _and_ CARROLL COLLINS _who share my interest in "The West."_ In 1866, only men uprooted by war had reason to ride into Tubacca, Arizona, a nondescript town as shattered and anonymous as the veterans drifting through it.

warnounUS /wɔːr/

the waging of armed conflict against an enemy

From this reading _For_ HENDRY PEART _and_ CARROLL COLLINS _who share my interest in "The West."_ In 1866, only men uprooted by war had reason to ride into Tubacca, Arizona, a nondescript town as shattered and anonymous as the veterans drifting through it.

WestnounUS /west/

the countries of (originally) Europe and (now including) North America and South America

From this reading _Published by_ The World Publishing Company 2231 West 110th Street, Cleveland 2, Ohio _Published simultaneously in Canada by_ Nelson, Foster & Scott Ltd.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading So when Drew Rennie, newly discharged from Forrest’s Confederate scouts, arrived leading everything he owned behind him—his thoroughbred stud Shiloh, a mare about to foal, and a mule—he knew his business would not be questioned.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading _For_ HENDRY PEART _and_ CARROLL COLLINS _who share my interest in "The West."_ In 1866, only men uprooted by war had reason to ride into Tubacca, Arizona, a nondescript town as shattered and anonymous as the veterans drifting through it.

workverbUS /wɜːrk/

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

From this reading To the best of our knowledge, this work has fallen to the public domain.

WorldnounUS /wɜːrld/

everything that exists anywhere

From this reading _Published by_ The World Publishing Company 2231 West 110th Street, Cleveland 2, Ohio _Published simultaneously in Canada by_ Nelson, Foster & Scott Ltd.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading So when Drew Rennie, newly discharged from Forrest’s Confederate scouts, arrived leading everything he owned behind him—his thoroughbred stud Shiloh, a mare about to foal, and a mule—he knew his business would not be questioned.

Chapter 1 of Rebel Spurs by Andre Norton holds 427 sentences, grouped into 86 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 1 of Rebel Spurs contain?

Chapter 1 holds 427 sentences of Rebel Spurs, unabridged, divided into 86 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of Rebel Spurs by Andre Norton exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 427 sentences, grouped into 86 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 1 of Rebel Spurs?

Work through the 86 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 86 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 1 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 1 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 Rebel Spurs

Common questions about reading Rebel Spurs by Andre Norton on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Rebel Spurs?

Yes. All 5104 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #20840 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Rebel Spurs is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #20840, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Rebel Spurs take to read?

About 425 minutes of reading across 1021 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Rebel Spurs section by section

How to work through Rebel Spurs section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 12 chapters of Rebel Spurs 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 Rebel Spurs

Words and structures a reader meets early in Rebel Spurs, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Published
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Rebel Spurs; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
World
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Rebel Spurs; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Publishing
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Rebel Spurs; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Company
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Rebel Spurs; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.