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

Chapter XXVI · Chapter 26

Chapter 26 of Spinifex and Sand A Narrative of Five Years' is here in full — 67 sentences across 14 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Spinifex and Sand A Narrative of Five Years'
Context Illustration Reading 1/13 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
DEATH OF STANSMORE Where the Margaret River forces its way through the Ramsay Range, a fine pool enclosed between two steep rocks has been formed.
This is a permanent pool, and abounds in fish of various kinds.
Above and below it the river was merely a dry expanse of gravel and shingle; a month later it was a roaring torrent, in places twenty feet deep.
Close to the pool we noticed an old dray road, the old road to Mount Dockrell.
I asked Warri where he supposed it led to, and he answered "Coolgardie!"
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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 XXVI · Chapter 26

Chapter 26 of Spinifex and Sand A Narrative of Five Years' is here in full — 67 sentences across 14 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/13 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
DEATH OF STANSMORE Where the Margaret River forces its way through the Ramsay Range, a fine pool enclosed between two steep rocks has been formed.
Line 2
This is a permanent pool, and abounds in fish of various kinds.
/ðɪs ɪz ə ˈpɜːrmənənt puːl ənd əˈbaʊndz ɪn fɪʃ ʌv ˈveriəs kaɪndz/
Line 3
Above and below it the river was merely a dry expanse of gravel and shingle; a month later it was a roaring torrent, in places twenty feet deep.
/əˈbʌv ənd bɪˈloʊ ɪt ðə ˈrɪvər wɑːz ˈmɪrli ə draɪ ɪkˈspæns ʌv ˈɡrævəl ənd ˈʃɪŋɡəl ə mʌnθ ˈleɪtər ɪt wɑːz ə ˈrɔːrɪŋ ˈtɔːrənt ɪn ˈpleɪsəz ˈtwenti fiːt diːp/
Line 4
Close to the pool we noticed an old dray road, the old road to Mount Dockrell.
Line 5
I asked Warri where he supposed it led to, and he answered "Coolgardie!"

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.

abounds verb US /əˈbaʊndz/

third-person singular of “abound” — be abundant or plentiful; exist in large quantities

From this reading “This is a permanent pool, and abounds in fish of various kinds.”

dray noun US /dreɪ/

a low heavy horse cart without sides; used for haulage

From this reading “Close to the pool we noticed an old dray road, the old road to Mount Dockrell.”

enclosed adjective US /enˈkloʊzd/

closed in or surrounded or included within

From this reading “DEATH OF STANSMORE Where the Margaret River forces its way through the Ramsay Range, a fine pool enclosed between two steep rocks has been formed.”

expanse noun US /ɪkˈspæns/

a wide scope

From this reading “Above and below it the river was merely a dry expanse of gravel and shingle; a month later it was a roaring torrent, in places twenty feet deep.”

gravel noun US /ˈɡrævəl/

rock fragments and pebbles

From this reading “Above and below it the river was merely a dry expanse of gravel and shingle; a month later it was a roaring torrent, in places twenty feet deep.”

permanent adjective US /ˈpɜːrmənənt/

continuing or enduring without marked change in status or condition or place

From this reading “This is a permanent pool, and abounds in fish of various kinds.”

shingle noun US /ˈʃɪŋɡəl/

building material used as siding or roofing

From this reading “Above and below it the river was merely a dry expanse of gravel and shingle; a month later it was a roaring torrent, in places twenty feet deep.”

torrent noun US /ˈtɔːrənt/

a heavy rain

From this reading “Above and below it the river was merely a dry expanse of gravel and shingle; a month later it was a roaring torrent, in places twenty feet deep.”

All words in this reading · 68

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 DEATH OF STANSMORE Where the Margaret River forces its way through the Ramsay Range, a fine pool enclosed between two steep rocks has been formed.

aboundsverbUS /əˈbaʊndz/

third-person singular of “abound” — be abundant or plentiful; exist in large quantities

From this reading This is a permanent pool, and abounds in fish of various kinds.

AboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/

higher than, or over, something

From this reading Above and below it the river was merely a dry expanse of gravel and shingle; a month later it was a roaring torrent, in places twenty feet deep.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading Close to the pool we noticed an old dray road, the old road to Mount Dockrell.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading This is a permanent pool, and abounds in fish of various kinds.

answeredverbUS /ˈænsərd/

past form of “answer” — react verbally

From this reading I asked Warri where he supposed it led to, and he answered "Coolgardie!"

askedverbUS /æskt/

past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody

From this reading I asked Warri where he supposed it led to, and he answered "Coolgardie!"

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading DEATH OF STANSMORE Where the Margaret River forces its way through the Ramsay Range, a fine pool enclosed between two steep rocks has been formed.

belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/

at or to a lower level than something

From this reading Above and below it the river was merely a dry expanse of gravel and shingle; a month later it was a roaring torrent, in places twenty feet deep.

betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading DEATH OF STANSMORE Where the Margaret River forces its way through the Ramsay Range, a fine pool enclosed between two steep rocks has been formed.

CloseadjectiveUS /kloʊs/

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

From this reading Close to the pool we noticed an old dray road, the old road to Mount Dockrell.

Coolgardie

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

From this reading I asked Warri where he supposed it led to, and he answered "Coolgardie!"

DEATHnounUS /deθ/

the event of dying or departure from life

From this reading DEATH OF STANSMORE Where the Margaret River forces its way through the Ramsay Range, a fine pool enclosed between two steep rocks has been formed.

deepadjectiveUS /diːp/

relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply

From this reading Above and below it the river was merely a dry expanse of gravel and shingle; a month later it was a roaring torrent, in places twenty feet deep.

Dockrell

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

From this reading Close to the pool we noticed an old dray road, the old road to Mount Dockrell.

draynounUS /dreɪ/

a low heavy horse cart without sides; used for haulage

From this reading Close to the pool we noticed an old dray road, the old road to Mount Dockrell.

dryadjectiveUS /draɪ/

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

From this reading Above and below it the river was merely a dry expanse of gravel and shingle; a month later it was a roaring torrent, in places twenty feet deep.

enclosedadjectiveUS /enˈkloʊzd/

closed in or surrounded or included within

From this reading DEATH OF STANSMORE Where the Margaret River forces its way through the Ramsay Range, a fine pool enclosed between two steep rocks has been formed.

expansenounUS /ɪkˈspæns/

a wide scope

From this reading Above and below it the river was merely a dry expanse of gravel and shingle; a month later it was a roaring torrent, in places twenty feet deep.

feetnounUS /fiːt/

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

From this reading Above and below it the river was merely a dry expanse of gravel and shingle; a month later it was a roaring torrent, in places twenty feet deep.

fineadjectiveUS /faɪn/

being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition

From this reading DEATH OF STANSMORE Where the Margaret River forces its way through the Ramsay Range, a fine pool enclosed between two steep rocks has been formed.

fishnounUS /fɪʃ/

any of various mostly cold-blooded aquatic vertebrates usually having scales and breathing through gills

From this reading This is a permanent pool, and abounds in fish of various kinds.

forcesnounUS /ˈfɔːrsɪz/

plural of “force” — a powerful effect or influence

From this reading DEATH OF STANSMORE Where the Margaret River forces its way through the Ramsay Range, a fine pool enclosed between two steep rocks has been formed.

formedadjectiveUS /fɔːrmd/

having or given a form or shape

From this reading DEATH OF STANSMORE Where the Margaret River forces its way through the Ramsay Range, a fine pool enclosed between two steep rocks has been formed.

gravelnounUS /ˈɡrævəl/

rock fragments and pebbles

From this reading Above and below it the river was merely a dry expanse of gravel and shingle; a month later it was a roaring torrent, in places twenty feet deep.

hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

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

From this reading DEATH OF STANSMORE Where the Margaret River forces its way through the Ramsay Range, a fine pool enclosed between two steep rocks has been formed.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading I asked Warri where he supposed it led to, and he answered "Coolgardie!"

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading I asked Warri where he supposed it led to, and he answered "Coolgardie!"

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading This is a permanent pool, and abounds in fish of various kinds.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading This is a permanent pool, and abounds in fish of various kinds.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Above and below it the river was merely a dry expanse of gravel and shingle; a month later it was a roaring torrent, in places twenty feet deep.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading DEATH OF STANSMORE Where the Margaret River forces its way through the Ramsay Range, a fine pool enclosed between two steep rocks has been formed.

kindsnounUS /kaɪndz/

plural of “kind” — a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality

From this reading This is a permanent pool, and abounds in fish of various kinds.

lateradverbUS /ˈleɪtər/

happening at a time subsequent to a reference time

From this reading Above and below it the river was merely a dry expanse of gravel and shingle; a month later it was a roaring torrent, in places twenty feet deep.

lednounUS /led/

diode such that light emitted at a p-n junction is proportional to the bias current; color depends on the material used

From this reading I asked Warri where he supposed it led to, and he answered "Coolgardie!"

Margaret

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

From this reading DEATH OF STANSMORE Where the Margaret River forces its way through the Ramsay Range, a fine pool enclosed between two steep rocks has been formed.

merelyadverbUS /ˈmɪrli/

and nothing more

From this reading Above and below it the river was merely a dry expanse of gravel and shingle; a month later it was a roaring torrent, in places twenty feet deep.

monthnounUS /mʌnθ/

one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year

From this reading Above and below it the river was merely a dry expanse of gravel and shingle; a month later it was a roaring torrent, in places twenty feet deep.

MountverbUS /maʊnt/

attach to a support

From this reading Close to the pool we noticed an old dray road, the old road to Mount Dockrell.

noticedadjectiveUS /ˈnoʊtəst/

being perceived or observed

From this reading Close to the pool we noticed an old dray road, the old road to Mount Dockrell.

OFprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading DEATH OF STANSMORE Where the Margaret River forces its way through the Ramsay Range, a fine pool enclosed between two steep rocks has been formed.

oldadjectiveUS /oʊld/

(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading Close to the pool we noticed an old dray road, the old road to Mount Dockrell.

permanentadjectiveUS /ˈpɜːrmənənt/

continuing or enduring without marked change in status or condition or place

From this reading This is a permanent pool, and abounds in fish of various kinds.

placesnounUS /ˈpleɪsəz/

plural of “place” — a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading Above and below it the river was merely a dry expanse of gravel and shingle; a month later it was a roaring torrent, in places twenty feet deep.

poolnounUS /puːl/

an excavation that is (usually) filled with water

From this reading DEATH OF STANSMORE Where the Margaret River forces its way through the Ramsay Range, a fine pool enclosed between two steep rocks has been formed.

Ramsay

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

From this reading DEATH OF STANSMORE Where the Margaret River forces its way through the Ramsay Range, a fine pool enclosed between two steep rocks has been formed.

RangenounUS /reɪndʒ/

an area in which something acts or operates or has power or control: "the range of a supersonic jet"

From this reading DEATH OF STANSMORE Where the Margaret River forces its way through the Ramsay Range, a fine pool enclosed between two steep rocks has been formed.

RivernounUS /ˈrɪvər/

a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)

From this reading DEATH OF STANSMORE Where the Margaret River forces its way through the Ramsay Range, a fine pool enclosed between two steep rocks has been formed.

roadnounUS /roʊd/

an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation

From this reading Close to the pool we noticed an old dray road, the old road to Mount Dockrell.

roaringnounUS /ˈrɔːrɪŋ/

a deep prolonged loud noise

From this reading Above and below it the river was merely a dry expanse of gravel and shingle; a month later it was a roaring torrent, in places twenty feet deep.

rocksnounUS /rɑːks/

plural of “rock” — a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter

From this reading DEATH OF STANSMORE Where the Margaret River forces its way through the Ramsay Range, a fine pool enclosed between two steep rocks has been formed.

shinglenounUS /ˈʃɪŋɡəl/

building material used as siding or roofing

From this reading Above and below it the river was merely a dry expanse of gravel and shingle; a month later it was a roaring torrent, in places twenty feet deep.

STANSMORE

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

From this reading DEATH OF STANSMORE Where the Margaret River forces its way through the Ramsay Range, a fine pool enclosed between two steep rocks has been formed.

steepadjectiveUS /stiːp/

having a sharp inclination

From this reading DEATH OF STANSMORE Where the Margaret River forces its way through the Ramsay Range, a fine pool enclosed between two steep rocks has been formed.

supposedadjectiveUS /səˈpoʊzd/

required or under orders

From this reading I asked Warri where he supposed it led to, and he answered "Coolgardie!"

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading DEATH OF STANSMORE Where the Margaret River forces its way through the Ramsay Range, a fine pool enclosed between two steep rocks has been formed.

ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading This is a permanent pool, and abounds in fish of various kinds.

throughprepositionUS /θruː/

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading DEATH OF STANSMORE Where the Margaret River forces its way through the Ramsay Range, a fine pool enclosed between two steep rocks has been formed.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Close to the pool we noticed an old dray road, the old road to Mount Dockrell.

torrentnounUS /ˈtɔːrənt/

a heavy rain

From this reading Above and below it the river was merely a dry expanse of gravel and shingle; a month later it was a roaring torrent, in places twenty feet deep.

twentynounUS /ˈtwenti/

the cardinal number that is the sum of nineteen and one

From this reading Above and below it the river was merely a dry expanse of gravel and shingle; a month later it was a roaring torrent, in places twenty feet deep.

twonounUS /tuː/

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading DEATH OF STANSMORE Where the Margaret River forces its way through the Ramsay Range, a fine pool enclosed between two steep rocks has been formed.

variousadjectiveUS /ˈveriəs/

of many different kinds purposefully arranged but lacking any uniformity

From this reading This is a permanent pool, and abounds in fish of various kinds.

Warri

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

From this reading I asked Warri where he supposed it led to, and he answered "Coolgardie!"

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Above and below it the river was merely a dry expanse of gravel and shingle; a month later it was a roaring torrent, in places twenty feet deep.

waynounUS /weɪ/

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading DEATH OF STANSMORE Where the Margaret River forces its way through the Ramsay Range, a fine pool enclosed between two steep rocks has been formed.

wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading Close to the pool we noticed an old dray road, the old road to Mount Dockrell.

WhereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading DEATH OF STANSMORE Where the Margaret River forces its way through the Ramsay Range, a fine pool enclosed between two steep rocks has been formed.

Chapter 26 of Spinifex and Sand A Narrative of Five Years' by David Wynford Carnegie holds 67 sentences, grouped into 14 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 26 of Spinifex and Sand A Narrative of Five Years' contain?

Chapter 26 holds 67 sentences of Spinifex and Sand A Narrative of Five Years', unabridged, divided into 14 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 26 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 67 sentences, grouped into 14 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 26 of Spinifex and Sand A Narrative of Five Years'?

Work through the 14 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 14 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 26 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 26 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.

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  2. Read one section

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  3. Listen and tap

    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.