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Spinifex and Sand A Narrative of Five Years'
Spinifex and Sand A Narrative of Five Years'

Chapter XX · Chapter 20

Chapter 20 of Spinifex and Sand A Narrative of Five Years' is here in full — 237 sentences across 48 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By David Wynford Carnegie • Curated US English Learning Edition
Cover illustration for Spinifex and Sand A Narrative of Five Years'
Context Illustration Reading 1/47 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
A DESERT TRIBE The next morning we were up betimes and ready to start as soon as ever the tracks were visible; presently a smoke, their first hunting-smoke of the day, rose close to us.
Despatching Charlie on Satan, and Godfrey on foot, with instructions to catch a native if possible, I hastened along the tracks followed by the rest of the party.
We reached their camp just in time to see the late inmates disappear into a thicket of mulga close by.
Neither Charlie nor Godfrey was able to come up with the lighters of the fire unseen, and these, too, fled into the scrub, where chase was almost impossible.
Their camp deserves description, as it was the first (excepting travelling camps) we had seen of the desert black-fellow.
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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.

Spinifex and Sand A Narrative of Five Years'

Chapter XX · Chapter 20

Chapter 20 of Spinifex and Sand A Narrative of Five Years' is here in full — 237 sentences across 48 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/47 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
A DESERT TRIBE The next morning we were up betimes and ready to start as soon as ever the tracks were visible; presently a smoke, their first hunting-smoke of the day, rose close to us.
Line 2
Despatching Charlie on Satan, and Godfrey on foot, with instructions to catch a native if possible, I hastened along the tracks followed by the rest of the party.
Line 3
We reached their camp just in time to see the late inmates disappear into a thicket of mulga close by.
Line 4
Neither Charlie nor Godfrey was able to come up with the lighters of the fire unseen, and these, too, fled into the scrub, where chase was almost impossible.
Line 5
Their camp deserves description, as it was the first (excepting travelling camps) we had seen of the desert black-fellow.

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.

camps noun US /kæmps/

plural of “camp” — temporary living quarters specially built by the army for soldiers

From this reading “Their camp deserves description, as it was the first (excepting travelling camps) we had seen of the desert black-fellow.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
deserves verb US /dɪˈzɜːrvz/

third-person singular of “deserve” — be worthy or deserving

From this reading “Their camp deserves description, as it was the first (excepting travelling camps) we had seen of the desert black-fellow.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
disappear verb US /ˌdɪsəˈpɪr/

get lost, as without warning or explanation

From this reading “We reached their camp just in time to see the late inmates disappear into a thicket of mulga close by.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
excepting verb US /ˌekˈseptɪŋ/

-ing form of “except” — take exception to

From this reading “Their camp deserves description, as it was the first (excepting travelling camps) we had seen of the desert black-fellow.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
inmates noun US /ˈɪnmeɪts/

plural of “inmate” — one of several resident of a dwelling (especially someone confined to a prison or hospital)

From this reading “We reached their camp just in time to see the late inmates disappear into a thicket of mulga close by.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
lighters noun US /ˈlaɪtərz/

plural of “lighter” — a substance used to ignite or kindle a fire

From this reading “Neither Charlie nor Godfrey was able to come up with the lighters of the fire unseen, and these, too, fled into the scrub, where chase was almost impossible.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
scrub verb US /skrʌb/

clean with hard rubbing

From this reading “Neither Charlie nor Godfrey was able to come up with the lighters of the fire unseen, and these, too, fled into the scrub, where chase was almost impossible.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
thicket noun US /ˈθɪkɪt/

a dense growth of bushes

From this reading “We reached their camp just in time to see the late inmates disappear into a thicket of mulga close by.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1

All words in this reading · 85

Every word in these five lines is listed here, and every one of them can be played on its own.

Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

AdeterminerUS /ə/

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

From this reading A DESERT TRIBE The next morning we were up betimes and ready to start as soon as ever the tracks were visible; presently a smoke, their first hunting-smoke of the day, rose close to us.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
ableadjectiveUS /ˈeɪbəl/

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

From this reading Neither Charlie nor Godfrey was able to come up with the lighters of the fire unseen, and these, too, fled into the scrub, where chase was almost impossible.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
almostadverbUS /ˈɔːlmoʊst/

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

From this reading Neither Charlie nor Godfrey was able to come up with the lighters of the fire unseen, and these, too, fled into the scrub, where chase was almost impossible.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/

following the length of something from one end toward the other

From this reading Despatching Charlie on Satan, and Godfrey on foot, with instructions to catch a native if possible, I hastened along the tracks followed by the rest of the party.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading A DESERT TRIBE The next morning we were up betimes and ready to start as soon as ever the tracks were visible; presently a smoke, their first hunting-smoke of the day, rose close to us.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading A DESERT TRIBE The next morning we were up betimes and ready to start as soon as ever the tracks were visible; presently a smoke, their first hunting-smoke of the day, rose close to us.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
betimesadverb

in good time

From this reading A DESERT TRIBE The next morning we were up betimes and ready to start as soon as ever the tracks were visible; presently a smoke, their first hunting-smoke of the day, rose close to us.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
black-fellow

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

From this reading Their camp deserves description, as it was the first (excepting travelling camps) we had seen of the desert black-fellow.

Pending verification
byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Despatching Charlie on Satan, and Godfrey on foot, with instructions to catch a native if possible, I hastened along the tracks followed by the rest of the party.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
campnounUS /kæmp/

temporary living quarters specially built by the army for soldiers

From this reading We reached their camp just in time to see the late inmates disappear into a thicket of mulga close by.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
campsnounUS /kæmps/

plural of “camp” — temporary living quarters specially built by the army for soldiers

From this reading Their camp deserves description, as it was the first (excepting travelling camps) we had seen of the desert black-fellow.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
catchverbUS /kætʃ/

discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state

From this reading Despatching Charlie on Satan, and Godfrey on foot, with instructions to catch a native if possible, I hastened along the tracks followed by the rest of the party.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Charlie

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

From this reading Despatching Charlie on Satan, and Godfrey on foot, with instructions to catch a native if possible, I hastened along the tracks followed by the rest of the party.

Pending verification
chaseverbUS /tʃeɪs/

go after with the intent to catch

From this reading Neither Charlie nor Godfrey was able to come up with the lighters of the fire unseen, and these, too, fled into the scrub, where chase was almost impossible.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
closeadjectiveUS /kloʊs/

at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other

From this reading A DESERT TRIBE The next morning we were up betimes and ready to start as soon as ever the tracks were visible; presently a smoke, their first hunting-smoke of the day, rose close to us.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
comeverbUS /kʌm/

move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading Neither Charlie nor Godfrey was able to come up with the lighters of the fire unseen, and these, too, fled into the scrub, where chase was almost impossible.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
daynounUS /deɪ/

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading A DESERT TRIBE The next morning we were up betimes and ready to start as soon as ever the tracks were visible; presently a smoke, their first hunting-smoke of the day, rose close to us.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
descriptionnounUS /dɪˈskrɪpʃən/

a statement that represents something in words

From this reading Their camp deserves description, as it was the first (excepting travelling camps) we had seen of the desert black-fellow.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
DESERTverbUS /ˈdezərt/

leave someone who needs or counts on you; leave in the lurch

From this reading A DESERT TRIBE The next morning we were up betimes and ready to start as soon as ever the tracks were visible; presently a smoke, their first hunting-smoke of the day, rose close to us.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
deservesverbUS /dɪˈzɜːrvz/

third-person singular of “deserve” — be worthy or deserving

From this reading Their camp deserves description, as it was the first (excepting travelling camps) we had seen of the desert black-fellow.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Despatching

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

From this reading Despatching Charlie on Satan, and Godfrey on foot, with instructions to catch a native if possible, I hastened along the tracks followed by the rest of the party.

Pending verification
disappearverbUS /ˌdɪsəˈpɪr/

get lost, as without warning or explanation

From this reading We reached their camp just in time to see the late inmates disappear into a thicket of mulga close by.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
everadverbUS /ˈevər/

at any time

From this reading A DESERT TRIBE The next morning we were up betimes and ready to start as soon as ever the tracks were visible; presently a smoke, their first hunting-smoke of the day, rose close to us.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
exceptingverbUS /ˌekˈseptɪŋ/

-ing form of “except” — take exception to

From this reading Their camp deserves description, as it was the first (excepting travelling camps) we had seen of the desert black-fellow.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
fireverbUS /ˈfaɪər/

start firing a weapon

From this reading Neither Charlie nor Godfrey was able to come up with the lighters of the fire unseen, and these, too, fled into the scrub, where chase was almost impossible.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading A DESERT TRIBE The next morning we were up betimes and ready to start as soon as ever the tracks were visible; presently a smoke, their first hunting-smoke of the day, rose close to us.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
fledverbUS /fled/

inflected form of “flee” — run away quickly

From this reading Neither Charlie nor Godfrey was able to come up with the lighters of the fire unseen, and these, too, fled into the scrub, where chase was almost impossible.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
followedverbUS /ˈfɑːloʊd/

past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after

From this reading Despatching Charlie on Satan, and Godfrey on foot, with instructions to catch a native if possible, I hastened along the tracks followed by the rest of the party.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
footnounUS /fʊt/

the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint

From this reading Despatching Charlie on Satan, and Godfrey on foot, with instructions to catch a native if possible, I hastened along the tracks followed by the rest of the party.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Godfrey

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

From this reading Despatching Charlie on Satan, and Godfrey on foot, with instructions to catch a native if possible, I hastened along the tracks followed by the rest of the party.

Pending verification
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Their camp deserves description, as it was the first (excepting travelling camps) we had seen of the desert black-fellow.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
hastenedverbUS /ˈheɪsənd/

past form of “hasten” — act or move at high speed

From this reading Despatching Charlie on Satan, and Godfrey on foot, with instructions to catch a native if possible, I hastened along the tracks followed by the rest of the party.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
hunting-smoke

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

From this reading A DESERT TRIBE The next morning we were up betimes and ready to start as soon as ever the tracks were visible; presently a smoke, their first hunting-smoke of the day, rose close to us.

Pending verification
IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading Despatching Charlie on Satan, and Godfrey on foot, with instructions to catch a native if possible, I hastened along the tracks followed by the rest of the party.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading Despatching Charlie on Satan, and Godfrey on foot, with instructions to catch a native if possible, I hastened along the tracks followed by the rest of the party.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
impossibleadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpɑːsəbəl/

not capable of occurring or being accomplished or dealt with

From this reading Neither Charlie nor Godfrey was able to come up with the lighters of the fire unseen, and these, too, fled into the scrub, where chase was almost impossible.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading We reached their camp just in time to see the late inmates disappear into a thicket of mulga close by.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
inmatesnounUS /ˈɪnmeɪts/

plural of “inmate” — one of several resident of a dwelling (especially someone confined to a prison or hospital)

From this reading We reached their camp just in time to see the late inmates disappear into a thicket of mulga close by.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
instructionsnounUS /ˌɪnˈstrʌkʃənz/

a manual usually accompanying a technical device and explaining how to install or operate it

From this reading Despatching Charlie on Satan, and Godfrey on foot, with instructions to catch a native if possible, I hastened along the tracks followed by the rest of the party.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading We reached their camp just in time to see the late inmates disappear into a thicket of mulga close by.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Their camp deserves description, as it was the first (excepting travelling camps) we had seen of the desert black-fellow.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
justadverbUS /dʒʌst/

and nothing more

From this reading We reached their camp just in time to see the late inmates disappear into a thicket of mulga close by.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
lateadjectiveUS /leɪt/

being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time

From this reading We reached their camp just in time to see the late inmates disappear into a thicket of mulga close by.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
lightersnounUS /ˈlaɪtərz/

plural of “lighter” — a substance used to ignite or kindle a fire

From this reading Neither Charlie nor Godfrey was able to come up with the lighters of the fire unseen, and these, too, fled into the scrub, where chase was almost impossible.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
morningnounUS /ˈmɔːrnɪŋ/

the time period between dawn and noon

From this reading A DESERT TRIBE The next morning we were up betimes and ready to start as soon as ever the tracks were visible; presently a smoke, their first hunting-smoke of the day, rose close to us.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
mulga

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

From this reading We reached their camp just in time to see the late inmates disappear into a thicket of mulga close by.

Pending verification
nativeadjectiveUS /ˈneɪtɪv/

characteristic of or existing by virtue of geographic origin

From this reading Despatching Charlie on Satan, and Godfrey on foot, with instructions to catch a native if possible, I hastened along the tracks followed by the rest of the party.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
NeitherdeterminerUS /ˈniːðər/

not one and not the other of two

From this reading Neither Charlie nor Godfrey was able to come up with the lighters of the fire unseen, and these, too, fled into the scrub, where chase was almost impossible.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
nextadjectiveUS /nekst/

immediately following in time or order

From this reading A DESERT TRIBE The next morning we were up betimes and ready to start as soon as ever the tracks were visible; presently a smoke, their first hunting-smoke of the day, rose close to us.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
norconjunctionUS /nɔːr/

and not; used after a negative to add a second negative

From this reading Neither Charlie nor Godfrey was able to come up with the lighters of the fire unseen, and these, too, fled into the scrub, where chase was almost impossible.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading A DESERT TRIBE The next morning we were up betimes and ready to start as soon as ever the tracks were visible; presently a smoke, their first hunting-smoke of the day, rose close to us.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Despatching Charlie on Satan, and Godfrey on foot, with instructions to catch a native if possible, I hastened along the tracks followed by the rest of the party.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
partynounUS /ˈpɑːrti/

an organization to gain political power

From this reading Despatching Charlie on Satan, and Godfrey on foot, with instructions to catch a native if possible, I hastened along the tracks followed by the rest of the party.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
possibleadjectiveUS /ˈpɑːsəbəl/

capable of happening or existing

From this reading Despatching Charlie on Satan, and Godfrey on foot, with instructions to catch a native if possible, I hastened along the tracks followed by the rest of the party.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
presentlyadverbUS /ˈprezəntli/

in the near future

From this reading A DESERT TRIBE The next morning we were up betimes and ready to start as soon as ever the tracks were visible; presently a smoke, their first hunting-smoke of the day, rose close to us.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
reachedverbUS /riːtʃt/

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

From this reading We reached their camp just in time to see the late inmates disappear into a thicket of mulga close by.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
readyadjectiveUS /ˈredi/

completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress

From this reading A DESERT TRIBE The next morning we were up betimes and ready to start as soon as ever the tracks were visible; presently a smoke, their first hunting-smoke of the day, rose close to us.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
restverbUS /rest/

not move; be in a resting position

From this reading Despatching Charlie on Satan, and Godfrey on foot, with instructions to catch a native if possible, I hastened along the tracks followed by the rest of the party.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
rosenounUS /roʊz/

any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses

From this reading A DESERT TRIBE The next morning we were up betimes and ready to start as soon as ever the tracks were visible; presently a smoke, their first hunting-smoke of the day, rose close to us.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
SatannounUS /ˈseɪtən/

(Judeo-Christian and Islamic religions) chief spirit of evil and adversary of God; tempter of mankind; master of Hell

From this reading Despatching Charlie on Satan, and Godfrey on foot, with instructions to catch a native if possible, I hastened along the tracks followed by the rest of the party.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
scrubverbUS /skrʌb/

clean with hard rubbing

From this reading Neither Charlie nor Godfrey was able to come up with the lighters of the fire unseen, and these, too, fled into the scrub, where chase was almost impossible.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
seeverbUS /siː/

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading We reached their camp just in time to see the late inmates disappear into a thicket of mulga close by.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
seenverbUS /siːn/

inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading Their camp deserves description, as it was the first (excepting travelling camps) we had seen of the desert black-fellow.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
smokenounUS /smoʊk/

a cloud of fine particles suspended in a gas

From this reading A DESERT TRIBE The next morning we were up betimes and ready to start as soon as ever the tracks were visible; presently a smoke, their first hunting-smoke of the day, rose close to us.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
soonadverbUS /suːn/

in the near future

From this reading A DESERT TRIBE The next morning we were up betimes and ready to start as soon as ever the tracks were visible; presently a smoke, their first hunting-smoke of the day, rose close to us.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
startverbUS /stɑːrt/

take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

From this reading A DESERT TRIBE The next morning we were up betimes and ready to start as soon as ever the tracks were visible; presently a smoke, their first hunting-smoke of the day, rose close to us.

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 A DESERT TRIBE The next morning we were up betimes and ready to start as soon as ever the tracks were visible; presently a smoke, their first hunting-smoke of the day, rose close to us.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading A DESERT TRIBE The next morning we were up betimes and ready to start as soon as ever the tracks were visible; presently a smoke, their first hunting-smoke of the day, rose close to us.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading Neither Charlie nor Godfrey was able to come up with the lighters of the fire unseen, and these, too, fled into the scrub, where chase was almost impossible.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
thicketnounUS /ˈθɪkɪt/

a dense growth of bushes

From this reading We reached their camp just in time to see the late inmates disappear into a thicket of mulga close by.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
timenounUS /taɪm/

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading We reached their camp just in time to see the late inmates disappear into a thicket of mulga close by.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading A DESERT TRIBE The next morning we were up betimes and ready to start as soon as ever the tracks were visible; presently a smoke, their first hunting-smoke of the day, rose close to us.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
tooadverbUS /tuː/

to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits

From this reading Neither Charlie nor Godfrey was able to come up with the lighters of the fire unseen, and these, too, fled into the scrub, where chase was almost impossible.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
tracksnounUS /træks/

plural of “track” — a line or route along which something travels or moves

From this reading A DESERT TRIBE The next morning we were up betimes and ready to start as soon as ever the tracks were visible; presently a smoke, their first hunting-smoke of the day, rose close to us.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
travellingnounUS /ˈtrævəlɪŋ/

the act of going from one place to another

From this reading Their camp deserves description, as it was the first (excepting travelling camps) we had seen of the desert black-fellow.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
TRIBEnounUS /traɪb/

a social division of (usually preliterate) people

From this reading A DESERT TRIBE The next morning we were up betimes and ready to start as soon as ever the tracks were visible; presently a smoke, their first hunting-smoke of the day, rose close to us.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
unseenadjectiveUS /ənˈsiːn/

not seen or perceived

From this reading Neither Charlie nor Godfrey was able to come up with the lighters of the fire unseen, and these, too, fled into the scrub, where chase was almost impossible.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
upadjectiveUS /ʌp/

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

From this reading A DESERT TRIBE The next morning we were up betimes and ready to start as soon as ever the tracks were visible; presently a smoke, their first hunting-smoke of the day, rose close to us.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
uspronounUS /ʌs/

the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading A DESERT TRIBE The next morning we were up betimes and ready to start as soon as ever the tracks were visible; presently a smoke, their first hunting-smoke of the day, rose close to us.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
visibleadjectiveUS /ˈvɪzəbəl/

capable of being seen; or open to easy view

From this reading A DESERT TRIBE The next morning we were up betimes and ready to start as soon as ever the tracks were visible; presently a smoke, their first hunting-smoke of the day, rose close to us.

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 Neither Charlie nor Godfrey was able to come up with the lighters of the fire unseen, and these, too, fled into the scrub, where chase was almost impossible.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading A DESERT TRIBE The next morning we were up betimes and ready to start as soon as ever the tracks were visible; presently a smoke, their first hunting-smoke of the day, rose close to us.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading A DESERT TRIBE The next morning we were up betimes and ready to start as soon as ever the tracks were visible; presently a smoke, their first hunting-smoke of the day, rose close to us.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading Neither Charlie nor Godfrey was able to come up with the lighters of the fire unseen, and these, too, fled into the scrub, where chase was almost impossible.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Despatching Charlie on Satan, and Godfrey on foot, with instructions to catch a native if possible, I hastened along the tracks followed by the rest of the party.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary

Chapter 20 of Spinifex and Sand A Narrative of Five Years' by David Wynford Carnegie holds 237 sentences, grouped into 48 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the public-domain source, 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 20 of Spinifex and Sand A Narrative of Five Years' contain?

Chapter 20 holds 237 sentences of Spinifex and Sand A Narrative of Five Years', unabridged, divided into 48 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 20 of Spinifex and Sand A Narrative of Five Years' by David Wynford Carnegie exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 237 sentences, grouped into 48 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 20 of Spinifex and Sand A Narrative of Five Years'?

Work through the 48 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 48 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 20 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 20 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 Spinifex and Sand A Narrative of Five Years'

Common questions about reading Spinifex and Sand A Narrative of Five Years' by David Wynford Carnegie on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Spinifex and Sand A Narrative of Five Years'?

Yes. All 4703 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #4975 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Spinifex and Sand A Narrative of Five Years' is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #4975, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Spinifex and Sand A Narrative of Five Years' take to read?

About 391 minutes of reading across 941 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Spinifex and Sand A Narrative of Five Years' section by section

How to work through Spinifex and Sand A Narrative of Five Years' section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

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    Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.

Vocabulary met early in Spinifex and Sand A Narrative of Five Years'

Words and structures a reader meets early in Spinifex and Sand A Narrative of Five Years', each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Month
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Spinifex and Sand A Narrative of Five Years'; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
September
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Spinifex and Sand A Narrative of Five Years'; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Percy
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Spinifex and Sand A Narrative of Five Years'; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Douglas
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Spinifex and Sand A Narrative of Five Years'; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.