Chapter XVIII

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

From this reading A DASH FOR THE PAMPAS Down under the brushwood and the brambles which thickly covered the ground between the trunks of the forest trees the darkness was intense.

from one side of something to the other

From this reading Not an inch could he see in front of his face, for it happened that a bank of clouds had blown across the face of the tiny crescent of the moon, which had hitherto sent a few rays straggling here and there in between the trees, and now not a leaf shimmered under the pale rays, not a trunk was visible, there was no light but the occasional flare, some yards behind him, as one of his own men opened fire.

(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but

From this reading So black and forbidding that Dudley imagined that he could almost feel it and grip it in his hands.

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

From this reading Not an inch could he see in front of his face, for it happened that a bank of clouds had blown across the face of the tiny crescent of the moon, which had hitherto sent a few rays straggling here and there in between the trees, and now not a leaf shimmered under the pale rays, not a trunk was visible, there was no light but the occasional flare, some yards behind him, as one of his own men opened fire.

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

From this reading A DASH FOR THE PAMPAS Down under the brushwood and the brambles which thickly covered the ground between the trunks of the forest trees the darkness was intense.

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

From this reading Not an inch could he see in front of his face, for it happened that a bank of clouds had blown across the face of the tiny crescent of the moon, which had hitherto sent a few rays straggling here and there in between the trees, and now not a leaf shimmered under the pale rays, not a trunk was visible, there was no light but the occasional flare, some yards behind him, as one of his own men opened fire.

sloping land (especially the slope beside a body of water)

From this reading Not an inch could he see in front of his face, for it happened that a bank of clouds had blown across the face of the tiny crescent of the moon, which had hitherto sent a few rays straggling here and there in between the trees, and now not a leaf shimmered under the pale rays, not a trunk was visible, there was no light but the occasional flare, some yards behind him, as one of his own men opened fire.

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

From this reading "I must be near the body of the man Pepito killed, and once I reach it I shall lie still and try to get the bearings of the enemy.

plural of “bearing” — relevant relation or interconnection

From this reading "I must be near the body of the man Pepito killed, and once I reach it I shall lie still and try to get the bearings of the enemy.

at or toward the back of something

From this reading Not an inch could he see in front of his face, for it happened that a bank of clouds had blown across the face of the tiny crescent of the moon, which had hitherto sent a few rays straggling here and there in between the trees, and now not a leaf shimmered under the pale rays, not a trunk was visible, there was no light but the occasional flare, some yards behind him, as one of his own men opened fire.

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading A DASH FOR THE PAMPAS Down under the brushwood and the brambles which thickly covered the ground between the trunks of the forest trees the darkness was intense.

being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light

From this reading So black and forbidding that Dudley imagined that he could almost feel it and grip it in his hands.

being moved or acted upon by moving air or vapor

From this reading Not an inch could he see in front of his face, for it happened that a bank of clouds had blown across the face of the tiny crescent of the moon, which had hitherto sent a few rays straggling here and there in between the trees, and now not a leaf shimmered under the pale rays, not a trunk was visible, there was no light but the occasional flare, some yards behind him, as one of his own men opened fire.

the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)

From this reading "I must be near the body of the man Pepito killed, and once I reach it I shall lie still and try to get the bearings of the enemy.

plural of “bramble” — any of various rough thorny shrubs or vines

From this reading A DASH FOR THE PAMPAS Down under the brushwood and the brambles which thickly covered the ground between the trunks of the forest trees the darkness was intense.

the wood from bushes or small branches

From this reading A DASH FOR THE PAMPAS Down under the brushwood and the brambles which thickly covered the ground between the trunks of the forest trees the darkness was intense.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Not an inch could he see in front of his face, for it happened that a bank of clouds had blown across the face of the tiny crescent of the moon, which had hitherto sent a few rays straggling here and there in between the trees, and now not a leaf shimmered under the pale rays, not a trunk was visible, there was no light but the occasional flare, some yards behind him, as one of his own men opened fire.

plural of “cloud” — any collection of particles (e.g., smoke or dust) or gases that is visible

From this reading Not an inch could he see in front of his face, for it happened that a bank of clouds had blown across the face of the tiny crescent of the moon, which had hitherto sent a few rays straggling here and there in between the trees, and now not a leaf shimmered under the pale rays, not a trunk was visible, there was no light but the occasional flare, some yards behind him, as one of his own men opened fire.

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading So black and forbidding that Dudley imagined that he could almost feel it and grip it in his hands.

overlaid or spread or topped with or enclosed within something; sometimes used as a combining form

From this reading A DASH FOR THE PAMPAS Down under the brushwood and the brambles which thickly covered the ground between the trunks of the forest trees the darkness was intense.

past form of “crawl” — move slowly; in the case of people or animals with the body near the ground

From this reading "Just the time for me to succeed," he thought to himself when he had crawled a few yards on hands and knees.

any shape resembling the curved shape of the moon in its first or last quarters

From this reading Not an inch could he see in front of his face, for it happened that a bank of clouds had blown across the face of the tiny crescent of the moon, which had hitherto sent a few rays straggling here and there in between the trees, and now not a leaf shimmered under the pale rays, not a trunk was visible, there was no light but the occasional flare, some yards behind him, as one of his own men opened fire.

absence of light or illumination

From this reading A DASH FOR THE PAMPAS Down under the brushwood and the brambles which thickly covered the ground between the trunks of the forest trees the darkness was intense.

run or move very quickly or hastily

From this reading A DASH FOR THE PAMPAS Down under the brushwood and the brambles which thickly covered the ground between the trunks of the forest trees the darkness was intense.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading A DASH FOR THE PAMPAS Down under the brushwood and the brambles which thickly covered the ground between the trunks of the forest trees the darkness was intense.

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

From this reading So black and forbidding that Dudley imagined that he could almost feel it and grip it in his hands.

an opposing military force

From this reading "I must be near the body of the man Pepito killed, and once I reach it I shall lie still and try to get the bearings of the enemy.

the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear

From this reading Not an inch could he see in front of his face, for it happened that a bank of clouds had blown across the face of the tiny crescent of the moon, which had hitherto sent a few rays straggling here and there in between the trees, and now not a leaf shimmered under the pale rays, not a trunk was visible, there was no light but the occasional flare, some yards behind him, as one of his own men opened fire.

undergo an emotional sensation or be in a particular state of mind

From this reading So black and forbidding that Dudley imagined that he could almost feel it and grip it in his hands.

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number

From this reading Not an inch could he see in front of his face, for it happened that a bank of clouds had blown across the face of the tiny crescent of the moon, which had hitherto sent a few rays straggling here and there in between the trees, and now not a leaf shimmered under the pale rays, not a trunk was visible, there was no light but the occasional flare, some yards behind him, as one of his own men opened fire.

start firing a weapon

From this reading Not an inch could he see in front of his face, for it happened that a bank of clouds had blown across the face of the tiny crescent of the moon, which had hitherto sent a few rays straggling here and there in between the trees, and now not a leaf shimmered under the pale rays, not a trunk was visible, there was no light but the occasional flare, some yards behind him, as one of his own men opened fire.

a shape that spreads outward

From this reading Not an inch could he see in front of his face, for it happened that a bank of clouds had blown across the face of the tiny crescent of the moon, which had hitherto sent a few rays straggling here and there in between the trees, and now not a leaf shimmered under the pale rays, not a trunk was visible, there was no light but the occasional flare, some yards behind him, as one of his own men opened fire.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading A DASH FOR THE PAMPAS Down under the brushwood and the brambles which thickly covered the ground between the trunks of the forest trees the darkness was intense.

harshly uninviting or formidable in manner or appearance

From this reading So black and forbidding that Dudley imagined that he could almost feel it and grip it in his hands.

the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area

From this reading A DASH FOR THE PAMPAS Down under the brushwood and the brambles which thickly covered the ground between the trunks of the forest trees the darkness was intense.

the side that is forward or prominent

From this reading Not an inch could he see in front of his face, for it happened that a bank of clouds had blown across the face of the tiny crescent of the moon, which had hitherto sent a few rays straggling here and there in between the trees, and now not a leaf shimmered under the pale rays, not a trunk was visible, there was no light but the occasional flare, some yards behind him, as one of his own men opened fire.

come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading "I must be near the body of the man Pepito killed, and once I reach it I shall lie still and try to get the bearings of the enemy.

the act of grasping

From this reading So black and forbidding that Dudley imagined that he could almost feel it and grip it in his hands.

the solid part of the earth's surface

From this reading A DASH FOR THE PAMPAS Down under the brushwood and the brambles which thickly covered the ground between the trunks of the forest trees the darkness was intense.

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

From this reading Not an inch could he see in front of his face, for it happened that a bank of clouds had blown across the face of the tiny crescent of the moon, which had hitherto sent a few rays straggling here and there in between the trees, and now not a leaf shimmered under the pale rays, not a trunk was visible, there was no light but the occasional flare, some yards behind him, as one of his own men opened fire.

(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child

From this reading So black and forbidding that Dudley imagined that he could almost feel it and grip it in his hands.

past form of “happen” — come to pass

From this reading Not an inch could he see in front of his face, for it happened that a bank of clouds had blown across the face of the tiny crescent of the moon, which had hitherto sent a few rays straggling here and there in between the trees, and now not a leaf shimmered under the pale rays, not a trunk was visible, there was no light but the occasional flare, some yards behind him, as one of his own men opened fire.

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

From this reading So black and forbidding that Dudley imagined that he could almost feel it and grip it in his hands.

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

From this reading Not an inch could he see in front of his face, for it happened that a bank of clouds had blown across the face of the tiny crescent of the moon, which had hitherto sent a few rays straggling here and there in between the trees, and now not a leaf shimmered under the pale rays, not a trunk was visible, there was no light but the occasional flare, some yards behind him, as one of his own men opened fire.

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

From this reading Not an inch could he see in front of his face, for it happened that a bank of clouds had blown across the face of the tiny crescent of the moon, which had hitherto sent a few rays straggling here and there in between the trees, and now not a leaf shimmered under the pale rays, not a trunk was visible, there was no light but the occasional flare, some yards behind him, as one of his own men opened fire.

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading "Just the time for me to succeed," he thought to himself when he had crawled a few yards on hands and knees.

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

From this reading So black and forbidding that Dudley imagined that he could almost feel it and grip it in his hands.

used in negative statement to describe a situation that has existed up to this point or up to the present time

From this reading Not an inch could he see in front of his face, for it happened that a bank of clouds had blown across the face of the tiny crescent of the moon, which had hitherto sent a few rays straggling here and there in between the trees, and now not a leaf shimmered under the pale rays, not a trunk was visible, there was no light but the occasional flare, some yards behind him, as one of his own men opened fire.

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading "I must be near the body of the man Pepito killed, and once I reach it I shall lie still and try to get the bearings of the enemy.

past form of “imagine” — form a mental image of something that is not present or that is not the case

From this reading So black and forbidding that Dudley imagined that he could almost feel it and grip it in his hands.

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

From this reading So black and forbidding that Dudley imagined that he could almost feel it and grip it in his hands.

a unit of length equal to one twelfth of a foot

From this reading Not an inch could he see in front of his face, for it happened that a bank of clouds had blown across the face of the tiny crescent of the moon, which had hitherto sent a few rays straggling here and there in between the trees, and now not a leaf shimmered under the pale rays, not a trunk was visible, there was no light but the occasional flare, some yards behind him, as one of his own men opened fire.

possessing or displaying a distinctive feature to a heightened degree

From this reading A DASH FOR THE PAMPAS Down under the brushwood and the brambles which thickly covered the ground between the trunks of the forest trees the darkness was intense.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading So black and forbidding that Dudley imagined that he could almost feel it and grip it in his hands.

and nothing more

From this reading "Just the time for me to succeed," he thought to himself when he had crawled a few yards on hands and knees.

past form of “kill” — cause to die; put to death, usually intentionally or knowingly

From this reading "I must be near the body of the man Pepito killed, and once I reach it I shall lie still and try to get the bearings of the enemy.

plural of “knee” — hinge joint in the human leg connecting the tibia and fibula with the femur and protected in front by the patella

From this reading "Just the time for me to succeed," he thought to himself when he had crawled a few yards on hands and knees.

the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants

From this reading Not an inch could he see in front of his face, for it happened that a bank of clouds had blown across the face of the tiny crescent of the moon, which had hitherto sent a few rays straggling here and there in between the trees, and now not a leaf shimmered under the pale rays, not a trunk was visible, there was no light but the occasional flare, some yards behind him, as one of his own men opened fire.

be located or situated somewhere; occupy a certain position

From this reading "I must be near the body of the man Pepito killed, and once I reach it I shall lie still and try to get the bearings of the enemy.

of comparatively little physical weight or density

From this reading Not an inch could he see in front of his face, for it happened that a bank of clouds had blown across the face of the tiny crescent of the moon, which had hitherto sent a few rays straggling here and there in between the trees, and now not a leaf shimmered under the pale rays, not a trunk was visible, there was no light but the occasional flare, some yards behind him, as one of his own men opened fire.

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading "I must be near the body of the man Pepito killed, and once I reach it I shall lie still and try to get the bearings of the enemy.

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading "Just the time for me to succeed," he thought to himself when he had crawled a few yards on hands and knees.

the force of workers available

From this reading Not an inch could he see in front of his face, for it happened that a bank of clouds had blown across the face of the tiny crescent of the moon, which had hitherto sent a few rays straggling here and there in between the trees, and now not a leaf shimmered under the pale rays, not a trunk was visible, there was no light but the occasional flare, some yards behind him, as one of his own men opened fire.

the natural satellite of the Earth

From this reading Not an inch could he see in front of his face, for it happened that a bank of clouds had blown across the face of the tiny crescent of the moon, which had hitherto sent a few rays straggling here and there in between the trees, and now not a leaf shimmered under the pale rays, not a trunk was visible, there was no light but the occasional flare, some yards behind him, as one of his own men opened fire.

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading "I must be near the body of the man Pepito killed, and once I reach it I shall lie still and try to get the bearings of the enemy.

near in time or place or relationship

From this reading "I must be near the body of the man Pepito killed, and once I reach it I shall lie still and try to get the bearings of the enemy.

not any; not one

From this reading Not an inch could he see in front of his face, for it happened that a bank of clouds had blown across the face of the tiny crescent of the moon, which had hitherto sent a few rays straggling here and there in between the trees, and now not a leaf shimmered under the pale rays, not a trunk was visible, there was no light but the occasional flare, some yards behind him, as one of his own men opened fire.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Not an inch could he see in front of his face, for it happened that a bank of clouds had blown across the face of the tiny crescent of the moon, which had hitherto sent a few rays straggling here and there in between the trees, and now not a leaf shimmered under the pale rays, not a trunk was visible, there was no light but the occasional flare, some yards behind him, as one of his own men opened fire.

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

From this reading Not an inch could he see in front of his face, for it happened that a bank of clouds had blown across the face of the tiny crescent of the moon, which had hitherto sent a few rays straggling here and there in between the trees, and now not a leaf shimmered under the pale rays, not a trunk was visible, there was no light but the occasional flare, some yards behind him, as one of his own men opened fire.

occurring from time to time

From this reading Not an inch could he see in front of his face, for it happened that a bank of clouds had blown across the face of the tiny crescent of the moon, which had hitherto sent a few rays straggling here and there in between the trees, and now not a leaf shimmered under the pale rays, not a trunk was visible, there was no light but the occasional flare, some yards behind him, as one of his own men opened fire.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading A DASH FOR THE PAMPAS Down under the brushwood and the brambles which thickly covered the ground between the trunks of the forest trees the darkness was intense.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading "Just the time for me to succeed," he thought to himself when he had crawled a few yards on hands and knees.

on one occasion

From this reading "I must be near the body of the man Pepito killed, and once I reach it I shall lie still and try to get the bearings of the enemy.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Not an inch could he see in front of his face, for it happened that a bank of clouds had blown across the face of the tiny crescent of the moon, which had hitherto sent a few rays straggling here and there in between the trees, and now not a leaf shimmered under the pale rays, not a trunk was visible, there was no light but the occasional flare, some yards behind him, as one of his own men opened fire.

used of mouth or eyes

From this reading Not an inch could he see in front of his face, for it happened that a bank of clouds had blown across the face of the tiny crescent of the moon, which had hitherto sent a few rays straggling here and there in between the trees, and now not a leaf shimmered under the pale rays, not a trunk was visible, there was no light but the occasional flare, some yards behind him, as one of his own men opened fire.

have ownership or possession of

From this reading Not an inch could he see in front of his face, for it happened that a bank of clouds had blown across the face of the tiny crescent of the moon, which had hitherto sent a few rays straggling here and there in between the trees, and now not a leaf shimmered under the pale rays, not a trunk was visible, there was no light but the occasional flare, some yards behind him, as one of his own men opened fire.

very light colored; highly diluted with white

From this reading Not an inch could he see in front of his face, for it happened that a bank of clouds had blown across the face of the tiny crescent of the moon, which had hitherto sent a few rays straggling here and there in between the trees, and now not a leaf shimmered under the pale rays, not a trunk was visible, there was no light but the occasional flare, some yards behind him, as one of his own men opened fire.

the vast grassy plains of northern Argentina

From this reading A DASH FOR THE PAMPAS Down under the brushwood and the brambles which thickly covered the ground between the trunks of the forest trees the darkness was intense.

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

From this reading "I must be near the body of the man Pepito killed, and once I reach it I shall lie still and try to get the bearings of the enemy.

plural of “ray” — a column of light (as from a beacon)

From this reading Not an inch could he see in front of his face, for it happened that a bank of clouds had blown across the face of the tiny crescent of the moon, which had hitherto sent a few rays straggling here and there in between the trees, and now not a leaf shimmered under the pale rays, not a trunk was visible, there was no light but the occasional flare, some yards behind him, as one of his own men opened fire.

reach a destination, either real or abstract

From this reading "I must be near the body of the man Pepito killed, and once I reach it I shall lie still and try to get the bearings of the enemy.

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading Not an inch could he see in front of his face, for it happened that a bank of clouds had blown across the face of the tiny crescent of the moon, which had hitherto sent a few rays straggling here and there in between the trees, and now not a leaf shimmered under the pale rays, not a trunk was visible, there was no light but the occasional flare, some yards behind him, as one of his own men opened fire.

100 senti equal 1 kroon in Estonia

From this reading Not an inch could he see in front of his face, for it happened that a bank of clouds had blown across the face of the tiny crescent of the moon, which had hitherto sent a few rays straggling here and there in between the trees, and now not a leaf shimmered under the pale rays, not a trunk was visible, there was no light but the occasional flare, some yards behind him, as one of his own men opened fire.

used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest

From this reading "I must be near the body of the man Pepito killed, and once I reach it I shall lie still and try to get the bearings of the enemy.

past form of “shimmer” — shine with a weak or fitful light

From this reading Not an inch could he see in front of his face, for it happened that a bank of clouds had blown across the face of the tiny crescent of the moon, which had hitherto sent a few rays straggling here and there in between the trees, and now not a leaf shimmered under the pale rays, not a trunk was visible, there was no light but the occasional flare, some yards behind him, as one of his own men opened fire.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading So black and forbidding that Dudley imagined that he could almost feel it and grip it in his hands.

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

From this reading Not an inch could he see in front of his face, for it happened that a bank of clouds had blown across the face of the tiny crescent of the moon, which had hitherto sent a few rays straggling here and there in between the trees, and now not a leaf shimmered under the pale rays, not a trunk was visible, there was no light but the occasional flare, some yards behind him, as one of his own men opened fire.

not in physical motion

From this reading "I must be near the body of the man Pepito killed, and once I reach it I shall lie still and try to get the bearings of the enemy.

spreading out in different directions or distributed irregularly

From this reading Not an inch could he see in front of his face, for it happened that a bank of clouds had blown across the face of the tiny crescent of the moon, which had hitherto sent a few rays straggling here and there in between the trees, and now not a leaf shimmered under the pale rays, not a trunk was visible, there was no light but the occasional flare, some yards behind him, as one of his own men opened fire.

attain success or reach a desired goal

From this reading "Just the time for me to succeed," he thought to himself when he had crawled a few yards on hands and knees.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading So black and forbidding that Dudley imagined that he could almost feel it and grip it in his hands.

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

From this reading A DASH FOR THE PAMPAS Down under the brushwood and the brambles which thickly covered the ground between the trunks of the forest trees the darkness was intense.

in or at that place or location

From this reading Not an inch could he see in front of his face, for it happened that a bank of clouds had blown across the face of the tiny crescent of the moon, which had hitherto sent a few rays straggling here and there in between the trees, and now not a leaf shimmered under the pale rays, not a trunk was visible, there was no light but the occasional flare, some yards behind him, as one of his own men opened fire.

spoken with poor articulation as if with a thick tongue

From this reading A DASH FOR THE PAMPAS Down under the brushwood and the brambles which thickly covered the ground between the trunks of the forest trees the darkness was intense.

the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading "Just the time for me to succeed," he thought to himself when he had crawled a few yards on hands and knees.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading "Just the time for me to succeed," he thought to himself when he had crawled a few yards on hands and knees.

very small

From this reading Not an inch could he see in front of his face, for it happened that a bank of clouds had blown across the face of the tiny crescent of the moon, which had hitherto sent a few rays straggling here and there in between the trees, and now not a leaf shimmered under the pale rays, not a trunk was visible, there was no light but the occasional flare, some yards behind him, as one of his own men opened fire.

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

From this reading "Just the time for me to succeed," he thought to himself when he had crawled a few yards on hands and knees.

plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms

From this reading A DASH FOR THE PAMPAS Down under the brushwood and the brambles which thickly covered the ground between the trunks of the forest trees the darkness was intense.

the main stem of a tree; usually covered with bark; the bole is usually the part that is commercially useful for lumber

From this reading Not an inch could he see in front of his face, for it happened that a bank of clouds had blown across the face of the tiny crescent of the moon, which had hitherto sent a few rays straggling here and there in between the trees, and now not a leaf shimmered under the pale rays, not a trunk was visible, there was no light but the occasional flare, some yards behind him, as one of his own men opened fire.

(used in the plural) trousers that end at or above the knee

From this reading A DASH FOR THE PAMPAS Down under the brushwood and the brambles which thickly covered the ground between the trunks of the forest trees the darkness was intense.

make an effort or attempt

From this reading "I must be near the body of the man Pepito killed, and once I reach it I shall lie still and try to get the bearings of the enemy.

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading A DASH FOR THE PAMPAS Down under the brushwood and the brambles which thickly covered the ground between the trunks of the forest trees the darkness was intense.

capable of being seen; or open to easy view

From this reading Not an inch could he see in front of his face, for it happened that a bank of clouds had blown across the face of the tiny crescent of the moon, which had hitherto sent a few rays straggling here and there in between the trees, and now not a leaf shimmered under the pale rays, not a trunk was visible, there was no light but the occasional flare, some yards behind him, as one of his own men opened fire.

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

From this reading A DASH FOR THE PAMPAS Down under the brushwood and the brambles which thickly covered the ground between the trunks of the forest trees the darkness was intense.

at the time that

From this reading "Just the time for me to succeed," he thought to himself when he had crawled a few yards on hands and knees.

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

From this reading A DASH FOR THE PAMPAS Down under the brushwood and the brambles which thickly covered the ground between the trunks of the forest trees the darkness was intense.

plural of “yard” — a unit of length equal to 3 feet; defined as 91.44 centimeters; originally taken to be the average length of a stride

From this reading Not an inch could he see in front of his face, for it happened that a bank of clouds had blown across the face of the tiny crescent of the moon, which had hitherto sent a few rays straggling here and there in between the trees, and now not a leaf shimmered under the pale rays, not a trunk was visible, there was no light but the occasional flare, some yards behind him, as one of his own men opened fire.