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The Birthright
The Birthright

Chapter X

Cover illustration for The Birthright
Context Illustration Reading 1/48 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
WHAT BECAME OF THE WRECKERS' LIGHT--HOW I ESCAPED AND ENTERED PENNINGTON An hour later a number of men were in the kitchen of Cap'n Jack's house, and from the way they talked I knew they meant that the vessel which they had been watching should that night be destroyed.
Never until then did I realise the utter heartlessness of the gang.
They seemed to care nothing for the lives of those on the ship which they had decided to wreck.
In their lust for gain nothing was sacred to them.
As far as I could gather, their plan was that I should lead Cap'n Jack's horse along the edge of the cliffs with a lantern fastened to its neck.
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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.

The Birthright

Chapter X

Reading 1/48 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
WHAT BECAME OF THE WRECKERS' LIGHT--HOW I ESCAPED AND ENTERED PENNINGTON An hour later a number of men were in the kitchen of Cap'n Jack's house, and from the way they talked I knew they meant that the vessel which they had been watching should that night be destroyed.
Line 2
Never until then did I realise the utter heartlessness of the gang.
Line 3
They seemed to care nothing for the lives of those on the ship which they had decided to wreck.
Line 4
In their lust for gain nothing was sacred to them.
Line 5
As far as I could gather, their plan was that I should lead Cap'n Jack's horse along the edge of the cliffs with a lantern fastened to its neck.

Learner Dictionary

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.

Along preposition US /əˈlɔːŋ/

following the length of something from one end toward the other

From this reading “As far as I could gather, their plan was that I should lead Cap'n Jack's horse along the edge of the cliffs with a lantern fastened to its neck.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “WHAT BECAME OF THE WRECKERS' LIGHT--HOW I ESCAPED AND ENTERED PENNINGTON An hour later a number of men were in the kitchen of Cap'n Jack's house, and from the way they talked I knew they meant that the vessel which they had been watching should that night be destroyed.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

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

From this reading “As far as I could gather, their plan was that I should lead Cap'n Jack's horse along the edge of the cliffs with a lantern fastened to its neck.”

Never noun US /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Never until then did I realise the utter heartlessness of the gang.”

Nothing pronoun US /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading “They seemed to care nothing for the lives of those on the ship which they had decided to wreck.”

Seemed noun US /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “They seemed to care nothing for the lives of those on the ship which they had decided to wreck.”

Ship noun US /ship/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “They seemed to care nothing for the lives of those on the ship which they had decided to wreck.”

Those determiner US /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading “They seemed to care nothing for the lives of those on the ship which they had decided to wreck.”

Until preposition US /ənˈtɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading “Never until then did I realise the utter heartlessness of the gang.”

All words in this reading · 80

Every word is available to listen to. 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 WHAT BECAME OF THE WRECKERS' LIGHT--HOW I ESCAPED AND ENTERED PENNINGTON An hour later a number of men were in the kitchen of Cap'n Jack's house, and from the way they talked I knew they meant that the vessel which they had been watching should that night be destroyed.

alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/

following the length of something from one end toward the other

From this reading As far as I could gather, their plan was that I should lead Cap'n Jack's horse along the edge of the cliffs with a lantern fastened to its neck.

AndeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading WHAT BECAME OF THE WRECKERS' LIGHT--HOW I ESCAPED AND ENTERED PENNINGTON An hour later a number of men were in the kitchen of Cap'n Jack's house, and from the way they talked I knew they meant that the vessel which they had been watching should that night be destroyed.

ANDconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading WHAT BECAME OF THE WRECKERS' LIGHT--HOW I ESCAPED AND ENTERED PENNINGTON An hour later a number of men were in the kitchen of Cap'n Jack's house, and from the way they talked I knew they meant that the vessel which they had been watching should that night be destroyed.

AsconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading As far as I could gather, their plan was that I should lead Cap'n Jack's horse along the edge of the cliffs with a lantern fastened to its neck.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading WHAT BECAME OF THE WRECKERS' LIGHT--HOW I ESCAPED AND ENTERED PENNINGTON An hour later a number of men were in the kitchen of Cap'n Jack's house, and from the way they talked I knew they meant that the vessel which they had been watching should that night be destroyed.

BECAME

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

From this reading WHAT BECAME OF THE WRECKERS' LIGHT--HOW I ESCAPED AND ENTERED PENNINGTON An hour later a number of men were in the kitchen of Cap'n Jack's house, and from the way they talked I knew they meant that the vessel which they had been watching should that night be destroyed.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading WHAT BECAME OF THE WRECKERS' LIGHT--HOW I ESCAPED AND ENTERED PENNINGTON An hour later a number of men were in the kitchen of Cap'n Jack's house, and from the way they talked I knew they meant that the vessel which they had been watching should that night be destroyed.

Cap'n

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

From this reading WHAT BECAME OF THE WRECKERS' LIGHT--HOW I ESCAPED AND ENTERED PENNINGTON An hour later a number of men were in the kitchen of Cap'n Jack's house, and from the way they talked I knew they meant that the vessel which they had been watching should that night be destroyed.

care

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

From this reading They seemed to care nothing for the lives of those on the ship which they had decided to wreck.

cliffs

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

From this reading As far as I could gather, their plan was that I should lead Cap'n Jack's horse along the edge of the cliffs with a lantern fastened to its neck.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading As far as I could gather, their plan was that I should lead Cap'n Jack's horse along the edge of the cliffs with a lantern fastened to its neck.

decided

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

From this reading They seemed to care nothing for the lives of those on the ship which they had decided to wreck.

destroyed

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

From this reading WHAT BECAME OF THE WRECKERS' LIGHT--HOW I ESCAPED AND ENTERED PENNINGTON An hour later a number of men were in the kitchen of Cap'n Jack's house, and from the way they talked I knew they meant that the vessel which they had been watching should that night be destroyed.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading Never until then did I realise the utter heartlessness of the gang.

edge

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

From this reading As far as I could gather, their plan was that I should lead Cap'n Jack's horse along the edge of the cliffs with a lantern fastened to its neck.

ENTERED

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

From this reading WHAT BECAME OF THE WRECKERS' LIGHT--HOW I ESCAPED AND ENTERED PENNINGTON An hour later a number of men were in the kitchen of Cap'n Jack's house, and from the way they talked I knew they meant that the vessel which they had been watching should that night be destroyed.

ESCAPED

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

From this reading WHAT BECAME OF THE WRECKERS' LIGHT--HOW I ESCAPED AND ENTERED PENNINGTON An hour later a number of men were in the kitchen of Cap'n Jack's house, and from the way they talked I knew they meant that the vessel which they had been watching should that night be destroyed.

far

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

From this reading As far as I could gather, their plan was that I should lead Cap'n Jack's horse along the edge of the cliffs with a lantern fastened to its neck.

fastened

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

From this reading As far as I could gather, their plan was that I should lead Cap'n Jack's horse along the edge of the cliffs with a lantern fastened to its neck.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading They seemed to care nothing for the lives of those on the ship which they had decided to wreck.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading WHAT BECAME OF THE WRECKERS' LIGHT--HOW I ESCAPED AND ENTERED PENNINGTON An hour later a number of men were in the kitchen of Cap'n Jack's house, and from the way they talked I knew they meant that the vessel which they had been watching should that night be destroyed.

gain

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

From this reading In their lust for gain nothing was sacred to them.

gang

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

From this reading Never until then did I realise the utter heartlessness of the gang.

gather

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

From this reading As far as I could gather, their plan was that I should lead Cap'n Jack's horse along the edge of the cliffs with a lantern fastened to its neck.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading WHAT BECAME OF THE WRECKERS' LIGHT--HOW I ESCAPED AND ENTERED PENNINGTON An hour later a number of men were in the kitchen of Cap'n Jack's house, and from the way they talked I knew they meant that the vessel which they had been watching should that night be destroyed.

heartlessness

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

From this reading Never until then did I realise the utter heartlessness of the gang.

horse

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

From this reading As far as I could gather, their plan was that I should lead Cap'n Jack's horse along the edge of the cliffs with a lantern fastened to its neck.

hour

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

From this reading WHAT BECAME OF THE WRECKERS' LIGHT--HOW I ESCAPED AND ENTERED PENNINGTON An hour later a number of men were in the kitchen of Cap'n Jack's house, and from the way they talked I knew they meant that the vessel which they had been watching should that night be destroyed.

house

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

From this reading WHAT BECAME OF THE WRECKERS' LIGHT--HOW I ESCAPED AND ENTERED PENNINGTON An hour later a number of men were in the kitchen of Cap'n Jack's house, and from the way they talked I knew they meant that the vessel which they had been watching should that night be destroyed.

HOW

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

From this reading WHAT BECAME OF THE WRECKERS' LIGHT--HOW I ESCAPED AND ENTERED PENNINGTON An hour later a number of men were in the kitchen of Cap'n Jack's house, and from the way they talked I knew they meant that the vessel which they had been watching should that night be destroyed.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading WHAT BECAME OF THE WRECKERS' LIGHT--HOW I ESCAPED AND ENTERED PENNINGTON An hour later a number of men were in the kitchen of Cap'n Jack's house, and from the way they talked I knew they meant that the vessel which they had been watching should that night be destroyed.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading WHAT BECAME OF THE WRECKERS' LIGHT--HOW I ESCAPED AND ENTERED PENNINGTON An hour later a number of men were in the kitchen of Cap'n Jack's house, and from the way they talked I knew they meant that the vessel which they had been watching should that night be destroyed.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading As far as I could gather, their plan was that I should lead Cap'n Jack's horse along the edge of the cliffs with a lantern fastened to its neck.

Jack's

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

From this reading WHAT BECAME OF THE WRECKERS' LIGHT--HOW I ESCAPED AND ENTERED PENNINGTON An hour later a number of men were in the kitchen of Cap'n Jack's house, and from the way they talked I knew they meant that the vessel which they had been watching should that night be destroyed.

kitchen

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

From this reading WHAT BECAME OF THE WRECKERS' LIGHT--HOW I ESCAPED AND ENTERED PENNINGTON An hour later a number of men were in the kitchen of Cap'n Jack's house, and from the way they talked I knew they meant that the vessel which they had been watching should that night be destroyed.

knew

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

From this reading WHAT BECAME OF THE WRECKERS' LIGHT--HOW I ESCAPED AND ENTERED PENNINGTON An hour later a number of men were in the kitchen of Cap'n Jack's house, and from the way they talked I knew they meant that the vessel which they had been watching should that night be destroyed.

lantern

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

From this reading As far as I could gather, their plan was that I should lead Cap'n Jack's horse along the edge of the cliffs with a lantern fastened to its neck.

later

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

From this reading WHAT BECAME OF THE WRECKERS' LIGHT--HOW I ESCAPED AND ENTERED PENNINGTON An hour later a number of men were in the kitchen of Cap'n Jack's house, and from the way they talked I knew they meant that the vessel which they had been watching should that night be destroyed.

lead

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

From this reading As far as I could gather, their plan was that I should lead Cap'n Jack's horse along the edge of the cliffs with a lantern fastened to its neck.

LIGHT

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

From this reading WHAT BECAME OF THE WRECKERS' LIGHT--HOW I ESCAPED AND ENTERED PENNINGTON An hour later a number of men were in the kitchen of Cap'n Jack's house, and from the way they talked I knew they meant that the vessel which they had been watching should that night be destroyed.

lives

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

From this reading They seemed to care nothing for the lives of those on the ship which they had decided to wreck.

lust

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

From this reading In their lust for gain nothing was sacred to them.

meant

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

From this reading WHAT BECAME OF THE WRECKERS' LIGHT--HOW I ESCAPED AND ENTERED PENNINGTON An hour later a number of men were in the kitchen of Cap'n Jack's house, and from the way they talked I knew they meant that the vessel which they had been watching should that night be destroyed.

men

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

From this reading WHAT BECAME OF THE WRECKERS' LIGHT--HOW I ESCAPED AND ENTERED PENNINGTON An hour later a number of men were in the kitchen of Cap'n Jack's house, and from the way they talked I knew they meant that the vessel which they had been watching should that night be destroyed.

neck

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

From this reading As far as I could gather, their plan was that I should lead Cap'n Jack's horse along the edge of the cliffs with a lantern fastened to its neck.

NevernounUS /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Never until then did I realise the utter heartlessness of the gang.

night

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

From this reading WHAT BECAME OF THE WRECKERS' LIGHT--HOW I ESCAPED AND ENTERED PENNINGTON An hour later a number of men were in the kitchen of Cap'n Jack's house, and from the way they talked I knew they meant that the vessel which they had been watching should that night be destroyed.

nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading They seemed to care nothing for the lives of those on the ship which they had decided to wreck.

number

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

From this reading WHAT BECAME OF THE WRECKERS' LIGHT--HOW I ESCAPED AND ENTERED PENNINGTON An hour later a number of men were in the kitchen of Cap'n Jack's house, and from the way they talked I knew they meant that the vessel which they had been watching should that night be destroyed.

OFprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading WHAT BECAME OF THE WRECKERS' LIGHT--HOW I ESCAPED AND ENTERED PENNINGTON An hour later a number of men were in the kitchen of Cap'n Jack's house, and from the way they talked I knew they meant that the vessel which they had been watching should that night be destroyed.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading They seemed to care nothing for the lives of those on the ship which they had decided to wreck.

PENNINGTON

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

From this reading WHAT BECAME OF THE WRECKERS' LIGHT--HOW I ESCAPED AND ENTERED PENNINGTON An hour later a number of men were in the kitchen of Cap'n Jack's house, and from the way they talked I knew they meant that the vessel which they had been watching should that night be destroyed.

plan

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

From this reading As far as I could gather, their plan was that I should lead Cap'n Jack's horse along the edge of the cliffs with a lantern fastened to its neck.

realise

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

From this reading Never until then did I realise the utter heartlessness of the gang.

sacred

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

From this reading In their lust for gain nothing was sacred to them.

seemednounUS /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading They seemed to care nothing for the lives of those on the ship which they had decided to wreck.

shipnounUS /ship/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading They seemed to care nothing for the lives of those on the ship which they had decided to wreck.

shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading WHAT BECAME OF THE WRECKERS' LIGHT--HOW I ESCAPED AND ENTERED PENNINGTON An hour later a number of men were in the kitchen of Cap'n Jack's house, and from the way they talked I knew they meant that the vessel which they had been watching should that night be destroyed.

talked

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

From this reading WHAT BECAME OF THE WRECKERS' LIGHT--HOW I ESCAPED AND ENTERED PENNINGTON An hour later a number of men were in the kitchen of Cap'n Jack's house, and from the way they talked I knew they meant that the vessel which they had been watching should that night be destroyed.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading WHAT BECAME OF THE WRECKERS' LIGHT--HOW I ESCAPED AND ENTERED PENNINGTON An hour later a number of men were in the kitchen of Cap'n Jack's house, and from the way they talked I knew they meant that the vessel which they had been watching should that night be destroyed.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading WHAT BECAME OF THE WRECKERS' LIGHT--HOW I ESCAPED AND ENTERED PENNINGTON An hour later a number of men were in the kitchen of Cap'n Jack's house, and from the way they talked I knew they meant that the vessel which they had been watching should that night be destroyed.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading In their lust for gain nothing was sacred to them.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading In their lust for gain nothing was sacred to them.

then

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

From this reading Never until then did I realise the utter heartlessness of the gang.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading WHAT BECAME OF THE WRECKERS' LIGHT--HOW I ESCAPED AND ENTERED PENNINGTON An hour later a number of men were in the kitchen of Cap'n Jack's house, and from the way they talked I knew they meant that the vessel which they had been watching should that night be destroyed.

thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading They seemed to care nothing for the lives of those on the ship which they had decided to wreck.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading They seemed to care nothing for the lives of those on the ship which they had decided to wreck.

untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading Never until then did I realise the utter heartlessness of the gang.

utter

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

From this reading Never until then did I realise the utter heartlessness of the gang.

vessel

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

From this reading WHAT BECAME OF THE WRECKERS' LIGHT--HOW I ESCAPED AND ENTERED PENNINGTON An hour later a number of men were in the kitchen of Cap'n Jack's house, and from the way they talked I knew they meant that the vessel which they had been watching should that night be destroyed.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading In their lust for gain nothing was sacred to them.

watching

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

From this reading WHAT BECAME OF THE WRECKERS' LIGHT--HOW I ESCAPED AND ENTERED PENNINGTON An hour later a number of men were in the kitchen of Cap'n Jack's house, and from the way they talked I knew they meant that the vessel which they had been watching should that night be destroyed.

way

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

From this reading WHAT BECAME OF THE WRECKERS' LIGHT--HOW I ESCAPED AND ENTERED PENNINGTON An hour later a number of men were in the kitchen of Cap'n Jack's house, and from the way they talked I knew they meant that the vessel which they had been watching should that night be destroyed.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading WHAT BECAME OF THE WRECKERS' LIGHT--HOW I ESCAPED AND ENTERED PENNINGTON An hour later a number of men were in the kitchen of Cap'n Jack's house, and from the way they talked I knew they meant that the vessel which they had been watching should that night be destroyed.

WHATpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading WHAT BECAME OF THE WRECKERS' LIGHT--HOW I ESCAPED AND ENTERED PENNINGTON An hour later a number of men were in the kitchen of Cap'n Jack's house, and from the way they talked I knew they meant that the vessel which they had been watching should that night be destroyed.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading WHAT BECAME OF THE WRECKERS' LIGHT--HOW I ESCAPED AND ENTERED PENNINGTON An hour later a number of men were in the kitchen of Cap'n Jack's house, and from the way they talked I knew they meant that the vessel which they had been watching should that night be destroyed.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading As far as I could gather, their plan was that I should lead Cap'n Jack's horse along the edge of the cliffs with a lantern fastened to its neck.

wreck

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

From this reading They seemed to care nothing for the lives of those on the ship which they had decided to wreck.

WRECKERS

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

From this reading WHAT BECAME OF THE WRECKERS' LIGHT--HOW I ESCAPED AND ENTERED PENNINGTON An hour later a number of men were in the kitchen of Cap'n Jack's house, and from the way they talked I knew they meant that the vessel which they had been watching should that night be destroyed.