Chapter VII · Chapter 7

surrounded by; in the middle of a group

From this reading Here and there stray beams of light shot through the firs and cedars and stunted oaks that lay below them among the bowlders; and somewhere down among these little trees, watchful Jim declared that he had seen something white moving cautiously and stealthily to and fro.

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

From this reading But the reflection of the fire could be plainly seen on the rocks and trees on the north side of the Pass.

a structure or object that impedes free movement

From this reading Kneeling behind their rocky barrier the two men silently peered into the darkness down the hill.

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

From this reading But the reflection of the fire could be plainly seen on the rocks and trees on the north side of the Pass.

plural of “beam” — a signal transmitted along a narrow path; guides airplane pilots in darkness or bad weather

From this reading Here and there stray beams of light shot through the firs and cedars and stunted oaks that lay below them among the bowlders; and somewhere down among these little trees, watchful Jim declared that he had seen something white moving cautiously and stealthily to and fro.

at or toward the back of something

From this reading Kneeling behind their rocky barrier the two men silently peered into the darkness down the hill.

at or to a lower level than something

From this reading Here and there stray beams of light shot through the firs and cedars and stunted oaks that lay below them among the bowlders; and somewhere down among these little trees, watchful Jim declared that he had seen something white moving cautiously and stealthily to and fro.

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

From this reading Here and there stray beams of light shot through the firs and cedars and stunted oaks that lay below them among the bowlders; and somewhere down among these little trees, watchful Jim declared that he had seen something white moving cautiously and stealthily to and fro.

the act of burning something

From this reading The great ledge of rock under which they were hiding concealed from their view the burning fires of the Indians down in the roadway to the east.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But the reflection of the fire could be plainly seen on the rocks and trees on the north side of the Pass.

as if with kid gloves; with caution or prudence or tact

From this reading Here and there stray beams of light shot through the firs and cedars and stunted oaks that lay below them among the bowlders; and somewhere down among these little trees, watchful Jim declared that he had seen something white moving cautiously and stealthily to and fro.

plural of “cedar” — any of numerous trees of the family Cupressaceae that resemble cedars

From this reading Here and there stray beams of light shot through the firs and cedars and stunted oaks that lay below them among the bowlders; and somewhere down among these little trees, watchful Jim declared that he had seen something white moving cautiously and stealthily to and fro.

not accessible to view

From this reading The great ledge of rock under which they were hiding concealed from their view the burning fires of the Indians down in the roadway to the east.

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

From this reading But the reflection of the fire could be plainly seen on the rocks and trees on the north side of the Pass.

absence of light or illumination

From this reading Kneeling behind their rocky barrier the two men silently peered into the darkness down the hill.

made known or openly avowed

From this reading Here and there stray beams of light shot through the firs and cedars and stunted oaks that lay below them among the bowlders; and somewhere down among these little trees, watchful Jim declared that he had seen something white moving cautiously and stealthily to and fro.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading Kneeling behind their rocky barrier the two men silently peered into the darkness down the hill.

A series of thoughts, images, or emotions during sleep.

From this reading PIKE'S STRANGE DREAM.

the cardinal compass point that is at 90 degrees

From this reading The great ledge of rock under which they were hiding concealed from their view the burning fires of the Indians down in the roadway to the east.

start firing a weapon

From this reading But the reflection of the fire could be plainly seen on the rocks and trees on the north side of the Pass.

plural of “fire” — the event of something burning (often destructive)

From this reading The great ledge of rock under which they were hiding concealed from their view the burning fires of the Indians down in the roadway to the east.

plural of “fir” — nonresinous wood of a fir tree

From this reading Here and there stray beams of light shot through the firs and cedars and stunted oaks that lay below them among the bowlders; and somewhere down among these little trees, watchful Jim declared that he had seen something white moving cautiously and stealthily to and fro.

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

From this reading Here and there stray beams of light shot through the firs and cedars and stunted oaks that lay below them among the bowlders; and somewhere down among these little trees, watchful Jim declared that he had seen something white moving cautiously and stealthily to and fro.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading The great ledge of rock under which they were hiding concealed from their view the burning fires of the Indians down in the roadway to the east.

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind

From this reading The great ledge of rock under which they were hiding concealed from their view the burning fires of the Indians down in the roadway to the east.

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

From this reading Here and there stray beams of light shot through the firs and cedars and stunted oaks that lay below them among the bowlders; and somewhere down among these little trees, watchful Jim declared that he had seen something white moving cautiously and stealthily to and fro.

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

From this reading Here and there stray beams of light shot through the firs and cedars and stunted oaks that lay below them among the bowlders; and somewhere down among these little trees, watchful Jim declared that he had seen something white moving cautiously and stealthily to and fro.

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

From this reading Here and there stray beams of light shot through the firs and cedars and stunted oaks that lay below them among the bowlders; and somewhere down among these little trees, watchful Jim declared that he had seen something white moving cautiously and stealthily to and fro.

the activity of keeping something secret

From this reading The great ledge of rock under which they were hiding concealed from their view the burning fires of the Indians down in the roadway to the east.

a local and well-defined elevation of the land

From this reading Kneeling behind their rocky barrier the two men silently peered into the darkness down the hill.

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

From this reading The great ledge of rock under which they were hiding concealed from their view the burning fires of the Indians down in the roadway to the east.

plural of “indian” — a native or inhabitant of India

From this reading The great ledge of rock under which they were hiding concealed from their view the burning fires of the Indians down in the roadway to the east.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading Kneeling behind their rocky barrier the two men silently peered into the darkness down the hill.

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

From this reading Here and there stray beams of light shot through the firs and cedars and stunted oaks that lay below them among the bowlders; and somewhere down among these little trees, watchful Jim declared that he had seen something white moving cautiously and stealthily to and fro.

supporting yourself on your knees

From this reading Kneeling behind their rocky barrier the two men silently peered into the darkness down the hill.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading Here and there stray beams of light shot through the firs and cedars and stunted oaks that lay below them among the bowlders; and somewhere down among these little trees, watchful Jim declared that he had seen something white moving cautiously and stealthily to and fro.

a projecting ridge on a mountain or submerged under water

From this reading The great ledge of rock under which they were hiding concealed from their view the burning fires of the Indians down in the roadway to the east.

of comparatively little physical weight or density

From this reading Here and there stray beams of light shot through the firs and cedars and stunted oaks that lay below them among the bowlders; and somewhere down among these little trees, watchful Jim declared that he had seen something white moving cautiously and stealthily to and fro.

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading Here and there stray beams of light shot through the firs and cedars and stunted oaks that lay below them among the bowlders; and somewhere down among these little trees, watchful Jim declared that he had seen something white moving cautiously and stealthily to and fro.

the force of workers available

From this reading Kneeling behind their rocky barrier the two men silently peered into the darkness down the hill.

in motion

From this reading Here and there stray beams of light shot through the firs and cedars and stunted oaks that lay below them among the bowlders; and somewhere down among these little trees, watchful Jim declared that he had seen something white moving cautiously and stealthily to and fro.

the region of the United States lying to the north of the Mason-Dixon line

From this reading But the reflection of the fire could be plainly seen on the rocks and trees on the north side of the Pass.

plural of “oak” — the hard durable wood of any oak; used especially for furniture and flooring

From this reading Here and there stray beams of light shot through the firs and cedars and stunted oaks that lay below them among the bowlders; and somewhere down among these little trees, watchful Jim declared that he had seen something white moving cautiously and stealthily to and fro.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The great ledge of rock under which they were hiding concealed from their view the burning fires of the Indians down in the roadway to the east.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading But the reflection of the fire could be plainly seen on the rocks and trees on the north side of the Pass.

go across or through

From this reading But the reflection of the fire could be plainly seen on the rocks and trees on the north side of the Pass.

past form of “peer” — look searchingly

From this reading Kneeling behind their rocky barrier the two men silently peered into the darkness down the hill.

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

From this reading PIKE'S STRANGE DREAM.

unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)

From this reading But the reflection of the fire could be plainly seen on the rocks and trees on the north side of the Pass.

a calm, lengthy, intent consideration

From this reading But the reflection of the fire could be plainly seen on the rocks and trees on the north side of the Pass.

a road (especially that part of a road) over which vehicles travel

From this reading The great ledge of rock under which they were hiding concealed from their view the burning fires of the Indians down in the roadway to the east.

a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter

From this reading The great ledge of rock under which they were hiding concealed from their view the burning fires of the Indians down in the roadway to the east.

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

From this reading But the reflection of the fire could be plainly seen on the rocks and trees on the north side of the Pass.

abounding in rocks or stones

From this reading Kneeling behind their rocky barrier the two men silently peered into the darkness down the hill.

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

From this reading But the reflection of the fire could be plainly seen on the rocks and trees on the north side of the Pass.

the act of firing a projectile

From this reading Here and there stray beams of light shot through the firs and cedars and stunted oaks that lay below them among the bowlders; and somewhere down among these little trees, watchful Jim declared that he had seen something white moving cautiously and stealthily to and fro.

a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location

From this reading But the reflection of the fire could be plainly seen on the rocks and trees on the north side of the Pass.

without speaking

From this reading Kneeling behind their rocky barrier the two men silently peered into the darkness down the hill.

a thing, without saying which

From this reading Here and there stray beams of light shot through the firs and cedars and stunted oaks that lay below them among the bowlders; and somewhere down among these little trees, watchful Jim declared that he had seen something white moving cautiously and stealthily to and fro.

in or at or to some place

From this reading Here and there stray beams of light shot through the firs and cedars and stunted oaks that lay below them among the bowlders; and somewhere down among these little trees, watchful Jim declared that he had seen something white moving cautiously and stealthily to and fro.

in a stealthy manner

From this reading Here and there stray beams of light shot through the firs and cedars and stunted oaks that lay below them among the bowlders; and somewhere down among these little trees, watchful Jim declared that he had seen something white moving cautiously and stealthily to and fro.

being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird

From this reading PIKE'S STRANGE DREAM.

move about aimlessly or without any destination, often in search of food or employment

From this reading Here and there stray beams of light shot through the firs and cedars and stunted oaks that lay below them among the bowlders; and somewhere down among these little trees, watchful Jim declared that he had seen something white moving cautiously and stealthily to and fro.

inferior in size or quality

From this reading Here and there stray beams of light shot through the firs and cedars and stunted oaks that lay below them among the bowlders; and somewhere down among these little trees, watchful Jim declared that he had seen something white moving cautiously and stealthily to and fro.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Here and there stray beams of light shot through the firs and cedars and stunted oaks that lay below them among the bowlders; and somewhere down among these little trees, watchful Jim declared that he had seen something white moving cautiously and stealthily to and fro.

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

From this reading Kneeling behind their rocky barrier the two men silently peered into the darkness down the hill.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Kneeling behind their rocky barrier the two men silently peered into the darkness down the hill.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading Here and there stray beams of light shot through the firs and cedars and stunted oaks that lay below them among the bowlders; and somewhere down among these little trees, watchful Jim declared that he had seen something white moving cautiously and stealthily to and fro.

in or at that place or location

From this reading Here and there stray beams of light shot through the firs and cedars and stunted oaks that lay below them among the bowlders; and somewhere down among these little trees, watchful Jim declared that he had seen something white moving cautiously and stealthily to and fro.

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

From this reading Here and there stray beams of light shot through the firs and cedars and stunted oaks that lay below them among the bowlders; and somewhere down among these little trees, watchful Jim declared that he had seen something white moving cautiously and stealthily to and fro.

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading The great ledge of rock under which they were hiding concealed from their view the burning fires of the Indians down in the roadway to the east.

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading Here and there stray beams of light shot through the firs and cedars and stunted oaks that lay below them among the bowlders; and somewhere down among these little trees, watchful Jim declared that he had seen something white moving cautiously and stealthily to and fro.

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

From this reading The great ledge of rock under which they were hiding concealed from their view the burning fires of the Indians down in the roadway to the east.

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 But the reflection of the fire could be plainly seen on the rocks and trees on the north side of the Pass.

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

From this reading Kneeling behind their rocky barrier the two men silently peered into the darkness down the hill.

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading The great ledge of rock under which they were hiding concealed from their view the burning fires of the Indians down in the roadway to the east.

a way of regarding situations or topics etc.

From this reading The great ledge of rock under which they were hiding concealed from their view the burning fires of the Indians down in the roadway to the east.

engaged in or accustomed to close observation

From this reading Here and there stray beams of light shot through the firs and cedars and stunted oaks that lay below them among the bowlders; and somewhere down among these little trees, watchful Jim declared that he had seen something white moving cautiously and stealthily to and fro.

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

From this reading The great ledge of rock under which they were hiding concealed from their view the burning fires of the Indians down in the roadway to the east.

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

From this reading The great ledge of rock under which they were hiding concealed from their view the burning fires of the Indians down in the roadway to the east.

a Caucasian

From this reading Here and there stray beams of light shot through the firs and cedars and stunted oaks that lay below them among the bowlders; and somewhere down among these little trees, watchful Jim declared that he had seen something white moving cautiously and stealthily to and fro.