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Tales of Aztlan
Tales of Aztlan

Chapter II · Chapter 2

Chapter 2 of Tales of Aztlan is here in full — 70 sentences across 14 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By George Hartmann • Curated US English Learning Edition
Cover illustration for Tales of Aztlan
Context Illustration Reading 1/14 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE MYSTERY OF THE SMOKING RUIN.
STALKING A WARRIOR.
THE AMBUSH Now we were past the most dangerous part of our journey, leaving the Comanche country and entering the domain of the Ute Indians and other tribes, who were not as brave as the Arapahoes and Comanches.
Here our caravan-formation was broken up and each outfit traveled separately at its own risk.
The next day we witnessed a most horrible and distressing sight.
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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.

Tales of Aztlan

Chapter II · Chapter 2

Chapter 2 of Tales of Aztlan is here in full — 70 sentences across 14 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/14 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE MYSTERY OF THE SMOKING RUIN.
/ðə ˈmɪstəri ʌv ðə ˈsmoʊkɪŋ ˈruːən/
Line 2
STALKING A WARRIOR.
/ˈstɔːkɪŋ ə ˈwɔːriər/
Line 3
THE AMBUSH Now we were past the most dangerous part of our journey, leaving the Comanche country and entering the domain of the Ute Indians and other tribes, who were not as brave as the Arapahoes and Comanches.
Line 4
Here our caravan-formation was broken up and each outfit traveled separately at its own risk.
Line 5
The next day we witnessed a most horrible and distressing sight.
/ðə nekst deɪ wiː ˈwɪtnəst ə moʊst ˈhɔːrəbəl ənd dɪˈstresɪŋ saɪt/

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.

ambush verb US /ˈæmbʊʃ/

wait in hiding to attack

From this reading “THE AMBUSH Now we were past the most dangerous part of our journey, leaving the Comanche country and entering the domain of the Ute Indians and other tribes, who were not as brave as the Arapahoes and Comanches.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Comanche noun US /kəˈmæntʃi/

a member of the Shoshonean people who formerly lived between Wyoming and the Mexican border but are now chiefly in Oklahoma

From this reading “THE AMBUSH Now we were past the most dangerous part of our journey, leaving the Comanche country and entering the domain of the Ute Indians and other tribes, who were not as brave as the Arapahoes and Comanches.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Comanches noun US /kəˈmæntʃiz/

plural of “comanche” — a member of the Shoshonean people who formerly lived between Wyoming and the Mexican border but are now chiefly in Oklahoma

From this reading “THE AMBUSH Now we were past the most dangerous part of our journey, leaving the Comanche country and entering the domain of the Ute Indians and other tribes, who were not as brave as the Arapahoes and Comanches.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
distressing adjective US /dɪˈstresɪŋ/

causing distress or worry or anxiety

From this reading “The next day we witnessed a most horrible and distressing sight.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
domain noun US /doʊˈmeɪn/

a particular environment or walk of life

From this reading “THE AMBUSH Now we were past the most dangerous part of our journey, leaving the Comanche country and entering the domain of the Ute Indians and other tribes, who were not as brave as the Arapahoes and Comanches.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
separately adverb US /ˈsepərətli/

apart from others

From this reading “Here our caravan-formation was broken up and each outfit traveled separately at its own risk.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
stalking noun US /ˈstɔːkɪŋ/

a hunt for game carried on by following it stealthily or waiting in ambush

From this reading “STALKING A WARRIOR.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
traveled adjective US /ˈtrævəld/

traveled over or through; sometimes used as a combining term

From this reading “Here our caravan-formation was broken up and each outfit traveled separately at its own risk.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1

All words in this reading · 53

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 STALKING A WARRIOR.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
AMBUSHverbUS /ˈæmbʊʃ/

wait in hiding to attack

From this reading THE AMBUSH Now we were past the most dangerous part of our journey, leaving the Comanche country and entering the domain of the Ute Indians and other tribes, who were not as brave as the Arapahoes and Comanches.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading THE AMBUSH Now we were past the most dangerous part of our journey, leaving the Comanche country and entering the domain of the Ute Indians and other tribes, who were not as brave as the Arapahoes and Comanches.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
Arapahoes

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

From this reading THE AMBUSH Now we were past the most dangerous part of our journey, leaving the Comanche country and entering the domain of the Ute Indians and other tribes, who were not as brave as the Arapahoes and Comanches.

Pending verification
asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading THE AMBUSH Now we were past the most dangerous part of our journey, leaving the Comanche country and entering the domain of the Ute Indians and other tribes, who were not as brave as the Arapahoes and Comanches.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Here our caravan-formation was broken up and each outfit traveled separately at its own risk.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
braveadjectiveUS /breɪv/

possessing or displaying courage; able to face and deal with danger or fear without flinching

From this reading THE AMBUSH Now we were past the most dangerous part of our journey, leaving the Comanche country and entering the domain of the Ute Indians and other tribes, who were not as brave as the Arapahoes and Comanches.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
brokenadjectiveUS /ˈbroʊkən/

physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split

From this reading Here our caravan-formation was broken up and each outfit traveled separately at its own risk.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
caravan-formation

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

From this reading Here our caravan-formation was broken up and each outfit traveled separately at its own risk.

Pending verification
ComanchenounUS /kəˈmæntʃi/

a member of the Shoshonean people who formerly lived between Wyoming and the Mexican border but are now chiefly in Oklahoma

From this reading THE AMBUSH Now we were past the most dangerous part of our journey, leaving the Comanche country and entering the domain of the Ute Indians and other tribes, who were not as brave as the Arapahoes and Comanches.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ComanchesnounUS /kəˈmæntʃiz/

plural of “comanche” — a member of the Shoshonean people who formerly lived between Wyoming and the Mexican border but are now chiefly in Oklahoma

From this reading THE AMBUSH Now we were past the most dangerous part of our journey, leaving the Comanche country and entering the domain of the Ute Indians and other tribes, who were not as brave as the Arapahoes and Comanches.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
countrynounUS /ˈkʌntri/

a politically organized body of people under a single government

From this reading THE AMBUSH Now we were past the most dangerous part of our journey, leaving the Comanche country and entering the domain of the Ute Indians and other tribes, who were not as brave as the Arapahoes and Comanches.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
dangerousadjectiveUS /ˈdeɪndʒərəs/

involving or causing danger or risk; liable to hurt or harm

From this reading THE AMBUSH Now we were past the most dangerous part of our journey, leaving the Comanche country and entering the domain of the Ute Indians and other tribes, who were not as brave as the Arapahoes and Comanches.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
daynounUS /deɪ/

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading The next day we witnessed a most horrible and distressing sight.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
distressingadjectiveUS /dɪˈstresɪŋ/

causing distress or worry or anxiety

From this reading The next day we witnessed a most horrible and distressing sight.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
domainnounUS /doʊˈmeɪn/

a particular environment or walk of life

From this reading THE AMBUSH Now we were past the most dangerous part of our journey, leaving the Comanche country and entering the domain of the Ute Indians and other tribes, who were not as brave as the Arapahoes and Comanches.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/

every one of two or more people or things, taken separately

From this reading Here our caravan-formation was broken up and each outfit traveled separately at its own risk.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
enteringnounUS /ˈentərɪŋ/

a movement into or inward

From this reading THE AMBUSH Now we were past the most dangerous part of our journey, leaving the Comanche country and entering the domain of the Ute Indians and other tribes, who were not as brave as the Arapahoes and Comanches.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
HereadverbUS /hiːr/

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

From this reading Here our caravan-formation was broken up and each outfit traveled separately at its own risk.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
horribleadjectiveUS /ˈhɔːrəbəl/

provoking horror

From this reading The next day we witnessed a most horrible and distressing sight.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
IndiansnounUS /ˈɪndiənz/

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

From this reading THE AMBUSH Now we were past the most dangerous part of our journey, leaving the Comanche country and entering the domain of the Ute Indians and other tribes, who were not as brave as the Arapahoes and Comanches.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading Here our caravan-formation was broken up and each outfit traveled separately at its own risk.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
journeyverbUS /ˈdʒɜːrni/

undertake a journey or trip

From this reading THE AMBUSH Now we were past the most dangerous part of our journey, leaving the Comanche country and entering the domain of the Ute Indians and other tribes, who were not as brave as the Arapahoes and Comanches.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
leavingnounUS /ˈliːvɪŋ/

the act of departing

From this reading THE AMBUSH Now we were past the most dangerous part of our journey, leaving the Comanche country and entering the domain of the Ute Indians and other tribes, who were not as brave as the Arapahoes and Comanches.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
mostadverbUS /moʊst/

used to form the superlative

From this reading THE AMBUSH Now we were past the most dangerous part of our journey, leaving the Comanche country and entering the domain of the Ute Indians and other tribes, who were not as brave as the Arapahoes and Comanches.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
MYSTERYnounUS /ˈmɪstəri/

something that baffles understanding and cannot be explained

From this reading THE MYSTERY OF THE SMOKING RUIN.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
nextadjectiveUS /nekst/

immediately following in time or order

From this reading The next day we witnessed a most horrible and distressing sight.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading THE AMBUSH Now we were past the most dangerous part of our journey, leaving the Comanche country and entering the domain of the Ute Indians and other tribes, who were not as brave as the Arapahoes and Comanches.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
NowadverbUS /naʊ/

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

From this reading THE AMBUSH Now we were past the most dangerous part of our journey, leaving the Comanche country and entering the domain of the Ute Indians and other tribes, who were not as brave as the Arapahoes and Comanches.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
OFprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading THE MYSTERY OF THE SMOKING RUIN.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
otheradjectiveUS /ˈʌðər/

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading THE AMBUSH Now we were past the most dangerous part of our journey, leaving the Comanche country and entering the domain of the Ute Indians and other tribes, who were not as brave as the Arapahoes and Comanches.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading THE AMBUSH Now we were past the most dangerous part of our journey, leaving the Comanche country and entering the domain of the Ute Indians and other tribes, who were not as brave as the Arapahoes and Comanches.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
outfitnounUS /ˈaʊtfɪt/

any cohesive unit such as a military company

From this reading Here our caravan-formation was broken up and each outfit traveled separately at its own risk.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ownverbUS /oʊn/

have ownership or possession of

From this reading Here our caravan-formation was broken up and each outfit traveled separately at its own risk.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
partnounUS /pɑːrt/

something determined in relation to something that includes it

From this reading THE AMBUSH Now we were past the most dangerous part of our journey, leaving the Comanche country and entering the domain of the Ute Indians and other tribes, who were not as brave as the Arapahoes and Comanches.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
pastnounUS /pæst/

the time that has elapsed

From this reading THE AMBUSH Now we were past the most dangerous part of our journey, leaving the Comanche country and entering the domain of the Ute Indians and other tribes, who were not as brave as the Arapahoes and Comanches.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
risknounUS /rɪsk/

a source of danger; a possibility of incurring loss or misfortune

From this reading Here our caravan-formation was broken up and each outfit traveled separately at its own risk.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
RUINnounUS /ˈruːən/

an irrecoverable state of devastation and destruction

From this reading THE MYSTERY OF THE SMOKING RUIN.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
separatelyadverbUS /ˈsepərətli/

apart from others

From this reading Here our caravan-formation was broken up and each outfit traveled separately at its own risk.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
sightnounUS /saɪt/

an instance of visual perception

From this reading The next day we witnessed a most horrible and distressing sight.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
SMOKINGnounUS /ˈsmoʊkɪŋ/

the act of smoking tobacco or other substances

From this reading THE MYSTERY OF THE SMOKING RUIN.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
STALKINGnounUS /ˈstɔːkɪŋ/

a hunt for game carried on by following it stealthily or waiting in ambush

From this reading STALKING A WARRIOR.

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 THE MYSTERY OF THE SMOKING RUIN.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
traveledadjectiveUS /ˈtrævəld/

traveled over or through; sometimes used as a combining term

From this reading Here our caravan-formation was broken up and each outfit traveled separately at its own risk.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
tribesnounUS /traɪbz/

plural of “tribe” — a social division of (usually preliterate) people

From this reading THE AMBUSH Now we were past the most dangerous part of our journey, leaving the Comanche country and entering the domain of the Ute Indians and other tribes, who were not as brave as the Arapahoes and Comanches.

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 Here our caravan-formation was broken up and each outfit traveled separately at its own risk.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Utenoun

a member of the Shoshonean people of Utah and Colorado and New Mexico

From this reading THE AMBUSH Now we were past the most dangerous part of our journey, leaving the Comanche country and entering the domain of the Ute Indians and other tribes, who were not as brave as the Arapahoes and Comanches.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
WARRIORnounUS /ˈwɔːriər/

someone engaged in or experienced in warfare

From this reading STALKING A WARRIOR.

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 Here our caravan-formation was broken up and each outfit traveled separately at its own risk.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading THE AMBUSH Now we were past the most dangerous part of our journey, leaving the Comanche country and entering the domain of the Ute Indians and other tribes, who were not as brave as the Arapahoes and Comanches.

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 THE AMBUSH Now we were past the most dangerous part of our journey, leaving the Comanche country and entering the domain of the Ute Indians and other tribes, who were not as brave as the Arapahoes and Comanches.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading THE AMBUSH Now we were past the most dangerous part of our journey, leaving the Comanche country and entering the domain of the Ute Indians and other tribes, who were not as brave as the Arapahoes and Comanches.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
witnessedverbUS /ˈwɪtnəst/

past form of “witness” — be a witness to

From this reading The next day we witnessed a most horrible and distressing sight.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1

Chapter 2 of Tales of Aztlan by George Hartmann holds 70 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 2 of Tales of Aztlan contain?

Chapter 2 holds 70 sentences of Tales of Aztlan, unabridged, divided into 14 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 2 of Tales of Aztlan by George Hartmann exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 70 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 2 of Tales of Aztlan?

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 2 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 2 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 Tales of Aztlan

Common questions about reading Tales of Aztlan by George Hartmann on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Tales of Aztlan?

Yes. All 1328 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #4294 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Tales of Aztlan is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #4294, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Tales of Aztlan take to read?

About 110 minutes of reading across 266 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Tales of Aztlan section by section

How to work through Tales of Aztlan section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 9 chapters of Tales of Aztlan to begin.

  2. Read one section

    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 Tales of Aztlan

Words and structures a reader meets early in Tales of Aztlan, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Several
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Tales of Aztlan; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Arrived
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Tales of Aztlan; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Railway
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Tales of Aztlan; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Journey
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Tales of Aztlan; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.