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Stephen: A Soldier of the Cross
Stephen: A Soldier of the Cross

Chapter XV

Chapter 15 of Stephen: A Soldier of the Cross is here in full — 125 sentences across 25 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Stephen: A Soldier of the Cross
Context Illustration Reading 1/25 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
IN PURSUIT OF THE FUGITIVES.
To Abu Ben Hesed, sitting, as was his wont at the sunset hour, in the door of his tent, came Pagiel.
It was the evening of the fourth day after he had seen the two children disappear from out his sight on the back of the white dromedary.
He had not made haste to return; he needed time to think, for he was slow-witted, and the matter in hand was weighty.
"There is no place like the solitude of the wilderness for meditation," quoth Pagiel.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Stephen: A Soldier of the Cross

Chapter XV

Chapter 15 of Stephen: A Soldier of the Cross is here in full — 125 sentences across 25 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/25 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
IN PURSUIT OF THE FUGITIVES.
/ɪn pərˈsuːt ʌv ðə ˈfjuːdʒɪtɪvz/
Line 2
To Abu Ben Hesed, sitting, as was his wont at the sunset hour, in the door of his tent, came Pagiel.
Line 3
It was the evening of the fourth day after he had seen the two children disappear from out his sight on the back of the white dromedary.
/ɪt wɑːz ðə ˈiːvnɪŋ ʌv ðə fɔːrθ deɪ ˈæftər hiː hæd siːn ðə tuː ˈtʃɪldrən ˌdɪsəˈpɪr frʌm aʊt hɪz saɪt ɑːn ðə bæk ʌv ðə waɪt ˈdrɑːməderi/
Line 4
He had not made haste to return; he needed time to think, for he was slow-witted, and the matter in hand was weighty.
Line 5
"There is no place like the solitude of the wilderness for meditation," quoth Pagiel.

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.

disappear verb US /ˌdɪsəˈpɪr/

get lost, as without warning or explanation

From this reading “It was the evening of the fourth day after he had seen the two children disappear from out his sight on the back of the white dromedary.”

dromedary noun US /ˈdrɑːməderi/

one-humped camel of the hot deserts of northern Africa and southwestern Asia

From this reading “It was the evening of the fourth day after he had seen the two children disappear from out his sight on the back of the white dromedary.”

fugitives noun US /ˈfjuːdʒɪtɪvz/

plural of “fugitive” — someone who flees from an uncongenial situation

From this reading “IN PURSUIT OF THE FUGITIVES.”

meditation noun US /ˌmedəˈteɪʃən/

continuous and profound contemplation or musing on a subject or series of subjects of a deep or abstruse nature

From this reading “"There is no place like the solitude of the wilderness for meditation," quoth Pagiel.”

solitude noun US /ˈsɑːlətuːd/

a state of social isolation

From this reading “"There is no place like the solitude of the wilderness for meditation," quoth Pagiel.”

weighty adjective US /ˈweɪti/

having relatively great weight; heavy

From this reading “He had not made haste to return; he needed time to think, for he was slow-witted, and the matter in hand was weighty.”

wilderness noun US /ˈwɪldərnəs/

(politics) a state of disfavor

From this reading “"There is no place like the solitude of the wilderness for meditation," quoth Pagiel.”

wont noun US /woʊnt/

an established custom

From this reading “To Abu Ben Hesed, sitting, as was his wont at the sunset hour, in the door of his tent, came Pagiel.”

Word partnerships in these lines

English keeps certain words together, and knowing the pair is worth more than knowing each word alone. Every partnership below was counted across our whole published library, and earns its place by appearing far more often than two unrelated words of the same frequency would.

Shown as this reading writes them, with the form the library counts, what kind of pairing it is, and how often it occurs.

fourth day noun + noun

In this reading “It was the evening of the fourth day after he had seen the two children disappear from out his sight on the back of the white dromedary.”

made haste adjective + noun

In this reading “He had not made haste to return; he needed time to think, for he was slow-witted, and the matter in hand was weighty.”

disappear from verb + particle

In this reading “It was the evening of the fourth day after he had seen the two children disappear from out his sight on the back of the white dromedary.”

IN PURSUIT preposition + noun

In this reading “IN PURSUIT OF THE FUGITIVES.”

two children noun + noun counted as “two child”

In this reading “It was the evening of the fourth day after he had seen the two children disappear from out his sight on the back of the white dromedary.”

All words in this reading · 61

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.

Abu

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

From this reading To Abu Ben Hesed, sitting, as was his wont at the sunset hour, in the door of his tent, came Pagiel.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading It was the evening of the fourth day after he had seen the two children disappear from out his sight on the back of the white dromedary.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading He had not made haste to return; he needed time to think, for he was slow-witted, and the matter in hand was weighty.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading To Abu Ben Hesed, sitting, as was his wont at the sunset hour, in the door of his tent, came Pagiel.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading To Abu Ben Hesed, sitting, as was his wont at the sunset hour, in the door of his tent, came Pagiel.

backadverbUS /bæk/

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading It was the evening of the fourth day after he had seen the two children disappear from out his sight on the back of the white dromedary.

BennounUS /ben/

a mountain or tall hill

From this reading To Abu Ben Hesed, sitting, as was his wont at the sunset hour, in the door of his tent, came Pagiel.

cameverbUS /keɪm/

inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading To Abu Ben Hesed, sitting, as was his wont at the sunset hour, in the door of his tent, came Pagiel.

childrennounUS /ˈtʃɪldrən/

plural of “child” — a young person of either sex

From this reading It was the evening of the fourth day after he had seen the two children disappear from out his sight on the back of the white dromedary.

daynounUS /deɪ/

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading It was the evening of the fourth day after he had seen the two children disappear from out his sight on the back of the white dromedary.

disappearverbUS /ˌdɪsəˈpɪr/

get lost, as without warning or explanation

From this reading It was the evening of the fourth day after he had seen the two children disappear from out his sight on the back of the white dromedary.

doornounUS /dɔːr/

a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle

From this reading To Abu Ben Hesed, sitting, as was his wont at the sunset hour, in the door of his tent, came Pagiel.

dromedarynounUS /ˈdrɑːməderi/

one-humped camel of the hot deserts of northern Africa and southwestern Asia

From this reading It was the evening of the fourth day after he had seen the two children disappear from out his sight on the back of the white dromedary.

eveningnounUS /ˈiːvnɪŋ/

the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)

From this reading It was the evening of the fourth day after he had seen the two children disappear from out his sight on the back of the white dromedary.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading He had not made haste to return; he needed time to think, for he was slow-witted, and the matter in hand was weighty.

fourthnounUS /fɔːrθ/

following the third position; number four in a countable series

From this reading It was the evening of the fourth day after he had seen the two children disappear from out his sight on the back of the white dromedary.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading It was the evening of the fourth day after he had seen the two children disappear from out his sight on the back of the white dromedary.

FUGITIVESnounUS /ˈfjuːdʒɪtɪvz/

plural of “fugitive” — someone who flees from an uncongenial situation

From this reading IN PURSUIT OF THE FUGITIVES.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading It was the evening of the fourth day after he had seen the two children disappear from out his sight on the back of the white dromedary.

handnounUS /hænd/

the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb

From this reading He had not made haste to return; he needed time to think, for he was slow-witted, and the matter in hand was weighty.

hastenounUS /heɪst/

overly eager speed (and possible carelessness)

From this reading He had not made haste to return; he needed time to think, for he was slow-witted, and the matter in hand was weighty.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading It was the evening of the fourth day after he had seen the two children disappear from out his sight on the back of the white dromedary.

Hesed

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

From this reading To Abu Ben Hesed, sitting, as was his wont at the sunset hour, in the door of his tent, came Pagiel.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading To Abu Ben Hesed, sitting, as was his wont at the sunset hour, in the door of his tent, came Pagiel.

hournounUS /ˈaʊər/

a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day

From this reading To Abu Ben Hesed, sitting, as was his wont at the sunset hour, in the door of his tent, came Pagiel.

INprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading IN PURSUIT OF THE FUGITIVES.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading "There is no place like the solitude of the wilderness for meditation," quoth Pagiel.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was the evening of the fourth day after he had seen the two children disappear from out his sight on the back of the white dromedary.

likeverbUS /laɪk/

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading "There is no place like the solitude of the wilderness for meditation," quoth Pagiel.

madeadjectiveUS /meɪd/

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading He had not made haste to return; he needed time to think, for he was slow-witted, and the matter in hand was weighty.

matternounUS /ˈmætər/

a vaguely specified concern

From this reading He had not made haste to return; he needed time to think, for he was slow-witted, and the matter in hand was weighty.

meditationnounUS /ˌmedəˈteɪʃən/

continuous and profound contemplation or musing on a subject or series of subjects of a deep or abstruse nature

From this reading "There is no place like the solitude of the wilderness for meditation," quoth Pagiel.

neededadjectiveUS /ˈniːdəd/

necessary for relief or supply

From this reading He had not made haste to return; he needed time to think, for he was slow-witted, and the matter in hand was weighty.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading "There is no place like the solitude of the wilderness for meditation," quoth Pagiel.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading He had not made haste to return; he needed time to think, for he was slow-witted, and the matter in hand was weighty.

OFprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading IN PURSUIT OF THE FUGITIVES.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading It was the evening of the fourth day after he had seen the two children disappear from out his sight on the back of the white dromedary.

outadjectiveUS /aʊt/

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading It was the evening of the fourth day after he had seen the two children disappear from out his sight on the back of the white dromedary.

Pagiel

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

From this reading To Abu Ben Hesed, sitting, as was his wont at the sunset hour, in the door of his tent, came Pagiel.

placenounUS /pleɪs/

a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading "There is no place like the solitude of the wilderness for meditation," quoth Pagiel.

PURSUITnounUS /pərˈsuːt/

the act of pursuing in an effort to overtake or capture

From this reading IN PURSUIT OF THE FUGITIVES.

quoth

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

From this reading "There is no place like the solitude of the wilderness for meditation," quoth Pagiel.

returnverbUS /rɪˈtɜːrn/

go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before

From this reading He had not made haste to return; he needed time to think, for he was slow-witted, and the matter in hand was weighty.

seenverbUS /siːn/

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

From this reading It was the evening of the fourth day after he had seen the two children disappear from out his sight on the back of the white dromedary.

sightnounUS /saɪt/

an instance of visual perception

From this reading It was the evening of the fourth day after he had seen the two children disappear from out his sight on the back of the white dromedary.

sittingnounUS /ˈsɪtɪŋ/

(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)

From this reading To Abu Ben Hesed, sitting, as was his wont at the sunset hour, in the door of his tent, came Pagiel.

slow-wittedadjective

retarded in intellectual development

From this reading He had not made haste to return; he needed time to think, for he was slow-witted, and the matter in hand was weighty.

solitudenounUS /ˈsɑːlətuːd/

a state of social isolation

From this reading "There is no place like the solitude of the wilderness for meditation," quoth Pagiel.

sunsetnounUS /ˈsʌnset/

the time in the evening at which the sun begins to fall below the horizon

From this reading To Abu Ben Hesed, sitting, as was his wont at the sunset hour, in the door of his tent, came Pagiel.

tentnounUS /tent/

a portable shelter (usually of canvas stretched over supporting poles and fastened to the ground with ropes and pegs)

From this reading To Abu Ben Hesed, sitting, as was his wont at the sunset hour, in the door of his tent, came Pagiel.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading IN PURSUIT OF THE FUGITIVES.

ThereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading "There is no place like the solitude of the wilderness for meditation," quoth Pagiel.

thinkverbUS /θɪŋk/

judge or regard; look upon; judge

From this reading He had not made haste to return; he needed time to think, for he was slow-witted, and the matter in hand was weighty.

timenounUS /taɪm/

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading He had not made haste to return; he needed time to think, for he was slow-witted, and the matter in hand was weighty.

ToparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading To Abu Ben Hesed, sitting, as was his wont at the sunset hour, in the door of his tent, came Pagiel.

twonounUS /tuː/

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

From this reading It was the evening of the fourth day after he had seen the two children disappear from out his sight on the back of the white dromedary.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading To Abu Ben Hesed, sitting, as was his wont at the sunset hour, in the door of his tent, came Pagiel.

weightyadjectiveUS /ˈweɪti/

having relatively great weight; heavy

From this reading He had not made haste to return; he needed time to think, for he was slow-witted, and the matter in hand was weighty.

whitenounUS /waɪt/

a Caucasian

From this reading It was the evening of the fourth day after he had seen the two children disappear from out his sight on the back of the white dromedary.

wildernessnounUS /ˈwɪldərnəs/

(politics) a state of disfavor

From this reading "There is no place like the solitude of the wilderness for meditation," quoth Pagiel.

wontnounUS /woʊnt/

an established custom

From this reading To Abu Ben Hesed, sitting, as was his wont at the sunset hour, in the door of his tent, came Pagiel.

Chapter 15 of Stephen: A Soldier of the Cross by Florence Morse Kingsley holds 125 sentences, grouped into 25 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the source edition, unabridged, and the chapter records which sentences cover which part of the work so that nothing is dropped. Every word can be tapped for its pronunciation and dictionary entry.

What does chapter 15 of Stephen: A Soldier of the Cross contain?

Chapter 15 holds 125 sentences of Stephen: A Soldier of the Cross, unabridged, divided into 25 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 15 of Stephen: A Soldier of the Cross by Florence Morse Kingsley exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 125 sentences, grouped into 25 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 15 of Stephen: A Soldier of the Cross?

Work through the 25 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 25 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 15 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 15 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 Stephen: A Soldier of the Cross

Common questions about reading Stephen: A Soldier of the Cross by Florence Morse Kingsley on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Stephen: A Soldier of the Cross?

Yes. All 4155 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #41655 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Stephen: A Soldier of the Cross is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #41655, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Stephen: A Soldier of the Cross take to read?

About 346 minutes of reading across 831 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Stephen: A Soldier of the Cross section by section

How to work through Stephen: A Soldier of the Cross section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

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    Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.

  3. Listen and tap

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

Vocabulary met early in Stephen: A Soldier of the Cross

Words and structures a reader meets early in Stephen: A Soldier of the Cross, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Toronto
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Stephen: A Soldier of the Cross; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
William
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Stephen: A Soldier of the Cross; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Briggs
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Stephen: A Soldier of the Cross; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Wesley
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Stephen: A Soldier of the Cross; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.