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The Boy Ranchers at Spur Creek
The Boy Ranchers at Spur Creek

Chapter XX

Chapter 20 of The Boy Ranchers at Spur Creek is here in full — 100 sentences across 20 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Willard F. Baker • Curated US English Learning Edition

Chapter 20 of The Boy Ranchers at Spur Creek by Willard F. Baker holds 100 sentences, grouped into 20 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 20 of The Boy Ranchers at Spur Creek contain?

Chapter 20 holds 100 sentences of The Boy Ranchers at Spur Creek, unabridged, divided into 20 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 20 of The Boy Ranchers at Spur Creek by Willard F. Baker exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 100 sentences, grouped into 20 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 20 of The Boy Ranchers at Spur Creek?

Work through the 20 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 20 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 20 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 20 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 The Boy Ranchers at Spur Creek

Common questions about reading The Boy Ranchers at Spur Creek by Willard F. Baker on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Boy Ranchers at Spur Creek?

Yes. All 2738 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #27095 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Boy Ranchers at Spur Creek is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #27095, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Boy Ranchers at Spur Creek take to read?

About 228 minutes of reading across 548 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Boy Ranchers at Spur Creek section by section

How to work through The Boy Ranchers at Spur Creek section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 25 chapters of The Boy Ranchers at Spur Creek 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 The Boy Ranchers at Spur Creek

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Boy Ranchers at Spur Creek, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Ranchers
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Boy Ranchers at Spur Creek; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Solving
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Boy Ranchers at Spur Creek; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Mystery
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Boy Ranchers at Spur Creek; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Diamond
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Boy Ranchers at Spur Creek; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Cover illustration for The Boy Ranchers at Spur Creek
Context Illustration Reading 1/20 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE FLAG OF TRUCE The advantage in the fight was on the side of the Diamond X outfit, even though it was outnumbered.
For the Greaser sheep herders nearly doubled the force of the cowboys.
But this, in itself, was not such a handicap as would at first appear.
Naturally any cowboy held himself more than a match for any two Greasers, and if this were not enough, the sheep men had the disadvantage of having to cross a stream in the face of fire.
This is always likely to result in disaster, even in more modern warfare than that which I am writing about.
0:00 / 0:00
Speed 0.75x
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 Boy Ranchers at Spur Creek

Chapter XX

Chapter 20 of The Boy Ranchers at Spur Creek is here in full — 100 sentences across 20 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/20 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE FLAG OF TRUCE The advantage in the fight was on the side of the Diamond X outfit, even though it was outnumbered.
Line 2
For the Greaser sheep herders nearly doubled the force of the cowboys.
Line 3
But this, in itself, was not such a handicap as would at first appear.
Line 4
Naturally any cowboy held himself more than a match for any two Greasers, and if this were not enough, the sheep men had the disadvantage of having to cross a stream in the face of fire.
Line 5
This is always likely to result in disaster, even in more modern warfare than that which I am writing about.

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, audio, and collocations from this reading.

About preposition US /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading “This is always likely to result in disaster, even in more modern warfare than that which I am writing about.”

Velmora curated lexicon
Having auxiliary verb US /ˈhævɪŋ/

the -ing form of “have”

From this reading “Naturally any cowboy held himself more than a match for any two Greasers, and if this were not enough, the sheep men had the disadvantage of having to cross a stream in the face of fire.”

Velmora curated lexicon
Himself pronoun US /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading “Naturally any cowboy held himself more than a match for any two Greasers, and if this were not enough, the sheep men had the disadvantage of having to cross a stream in the face of fire.”

Velmora curated lexicon
Itself pronoun US /ˌɪtˈself/

used when the thing doing the action is also its object

From this reading “But this, in itself, was not such a handicap as would at first appear.”

Velmora curated lexicon
Though conjunction US /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading “THE FLAG OF TRUCE The advantage in the fight was on the side of the Diamond X outfit, even though it was outnumbered.”

Velmora curated lexicon
Would modal verb US /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading “But this, in itself, was not such a handicap as would at first appear.”

Velmora curated lexicon
All words in this reading · 73

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 But this, in itself, was not such a handicap as would at first appear.

Velmora curated lexicon
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading This is always likely to result in disaster, even in more modern warfare than that which I am writing about.

Velmora curated lexicon
advantage

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

From this reading THE FLAG OF TRUCE The advantage in the fight was on the side of the Diamond X outfit, even though it was outnumbered.

Pending verification
always

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

From this reading This is always likely to result in disaster, even in more modern warfare than that which I am writing about.

Pending verification
amauxiliary verbUS /æm/

the form of “be” used with “I”

From this reading This is always likely to result in disaster, even in more modern warfare than that which I am writing about.

Velmora curated lexicon
andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Naturally any cowboy held himself more than a match for any two Greasers, and if this were not enough, the sheep men had the disadvantage of having to cross a stream in the face of fire.

Velmora curated lexicon
any

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

From this reading Naturally any cowboy held himself more than a match for any two Greasers, and if this were not enough, the sheep men had the disadvantage of having to cross a stream in the face of fire.

Pending verification
appear

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

From this reading But this, in itself, was not such a handicap as would at first appear.

Pending verification
asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading But this, in itself, was not such a handicap as would at first appear.

Velmora curated lexicon
atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading But this, in itself, was not such a handicap as would at first appear.

Velmora curated lexicon
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But this, in itself, was not such a handicap as would at first appear.

Velmora curated lexicon
cowboy

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

From this reading Naturally any cowboy held himself more than a match for any two Greasers, and if this were not enough, the sheep men had the disadvantage of having to cross a stream in the face of fire.

Pending verification
cowboys

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

From this reading For the Greaser sheep herders nearly doubled the force of the cowboys.

Pending verification
cross

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

From this reading Naturally any cowboy held himself more than a match for any two Greasers, and if this were not enough, the sheep men had the disadvantage of having to cross a stream in the face of fire.

Pending verification
Diamond

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

From this reading THE FLAG OF TRUCE The advantage in the fight was on the side of the Diamond X outfit, even though it was outnumbered.

Pending verification
disadvantage

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

From this reading Naturally any cowboy held himself more than a match for any two Greasers, and if this were not enough, the sheep men had the disadvantage of having to cross a stream in the face of fire.

Pending verification
disaster

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

From this reading This is always likely to result in disaster, even in more modern warfare than that which I am writing about.

Pending verification
doubled

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

From this reading For the Greaser sheep herders nearly doubled the force of the cowboys.

Pending verification
enough

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

From this reading Naturally any cowboy held himself more than a match for any two Greasers, and if this were not enough, the sheep men had the disadvantage of having to cross a stream in the face of fire.

Pending verification
even

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

From this reading THE FLAG OF TRUCE The advantage in the fight was on the side of the Diamond X outfit, even though it was outnumbered.

Pending verification
face

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

From this reading Naturally any cowboy held himself more than a match for any two Greasers, and if this were not enough, the sheep men had the disadvantage of having to cross a stream in the face of fire.

Pending verification
fight

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

From this reading THE FLAG OF TRUCE The advantage in the fight was on the side of the Diamond X outfit, even though it was outnumbered.

Pending verification
fire

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

From this reading Naturally any cowboy held himself more than a match for any two Greasers, and if this were not enough, the sheep men had the disadvantage of having to cross a stream in the face of fire.

Pending verification
first

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

From this reading But this, in itself, was not such a handicap as would at first appear.

Pending verification
FLAG

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

From this reading THE FLAG OF TRUCE The advantage in the fight was on the side of the Diamond X outfit, even though it was outnumbered.

Pending verification
ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading For the Greaser sheep herders nearly doubled the force of the cowboys.

Velmora curated lexicon
force

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

From this reading For the Greaser sheep herders nearly doubled the force of the cowboys.

Pending verification
Greaser

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

From this reading For the Greaser sheep herders nearly doubled the force of the cowboys.

Pending verification
Greasers

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

From this reading Naturally any cowboy held himself more than a match for any two Greasers, and if this were not enough, the sheep men had the disadvantage of having to cross a stream in the face of fire.

Pending verification
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Naturally any cowboy held himself more than a match for any two Greasers, and if this were not enough, the sheep men had the disadvantage of having to cross a stream in the face of fire.

Velmora curated lexicon
handicap

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

From this reading But this, in itself, was not such a handicap as would at first appear.

Pending verification
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/

the -ing form of “have”

From this reading Naturally any cowboy held himself more than a match for any two Greasers, and if this were not enough, the sheep men had the disadvantage of having to cross a stream in the face of fire.

Velmora curated lexicon
held

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

From this reading Naturally any cowboy held himself more than a match for any two Greasers, and if this were not enough, the sheep men had the disadvantage of having to cross a stream in the face of fire.

Pending verification
herders

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

From this reading For the Greaser sheep herders nearly doubled the force of the cowboys.

Pending verification
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading Naturally any cowboy held himself more than a match for any two Greasers, and if this were not enough, the sheep men had the disadvantage of having to cross a stream in the face of fire.

Velmora curated lexicon
IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading This is always likely to result in disaster, even in more modern warfare than that which I am writing about.

Velmora curated lexicon
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading Naturally any cowboy held himself more than a match for any two Greasers, and if this were not enough, the sheep men had the disadvantage of having to cross a stream in the face of fire.

Velmora curated lexicon
inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading THE FLAG OF TRUCE The advantage in the fight was on the side of the Diamond X outfit, even though it was outnumbered.

Velmora curated lexicon
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading This is always likely to result in disaster, even in more modern warfare than that which I am writing about.

Velmora curated lexicon
itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading THE FLAG OF TRUCE The advantage in the fight was on the side of the Diamond X outfit, even though it was outnumbered.

Velmora curated lexicon
itselfpronounUS /ˌɪtˈself/

used when the thing doing the action is also its object

From this reading But this, in itself, was not such a handicap as would at first appear.

Velmora curated lexicon
likely

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

From this reading This is always likely to result in disaster, even in more modern warfare than that which I am writing about.

Pending verification
match

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

From this reading Naturally any cowboy held himself more than a match for any two Greasers, and if this were not enough, the sheep men had the disadvantage of having to cross a stream in the face of fire.

Pending verification
men

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

From this reading Naturally any cowboy held himself more than a match for any two Greasers, and if this were not enough, the sheep men had the disadvantage of having to cross a stream in the face of fire.

Pending verification
modern

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

From this reading This is always likely to result in disaster, even in more modern warfare than that which I am writing about.

Pending verification
more

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

From this reading Naturally any cowboy held himself more than a match for any two Greasers, and if this were not enough, the sheep men had the disadvantage of having to cross a stream in the face of fire.

Pending verification
Naturally

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

From this reading Naturally any cowboy held himself more than a match for any two Greasers, and if this were not enough, the sheep men had the disadvantage of having to cross a stream in the face of fire.

Pending verification
nearly

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

From this reading For the Greaser sheep herders nearly doubled the force of the cowboys.

Pending verification
notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading But this, in itself, was not such a handicap as would at first appear.

Velmora curated lexicon
OFprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading THE FLAG OF TRUCE The advantage in the fight was on the side of the Diamond X outfit, even though it was outnumbered.

Velmora curated lexicon
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading THE FLAG OF TRUCE The advantage in the fight was on the side of the Diamond X outfit, even though it was outnumbered.

Velmora curated lexicon
outfit

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

From this reading THE FLAG OF TRUCE The advantage in the fight was on the side of the Diamond X outfit, even though it was outnumbered.

Pending verification
outnumbered

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

From this reading THE FLAG OF TRUCE The advantage in the fight was on the side of the Diamond X outfit, even though it was outnumbered.

Pending verification
result

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

From this reading This is always likely to result in disaster, even in more modern warfare than that which I am writing about.

Pending verification
sheep

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

From this reading For the Greaser sheep herders nearly doubled the force of the cowboys.

Pending verification
side

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

From this reading THE FLAG OF TRUCE The advantage in the fight was on the side of the Diamond X outfit, even though it was outnumbered.

Pending verification
stream

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

From this reading Naturally any cowboy held himself more than a match for any two Greasers, and if this were not enough, the sheep men had the disadvantage of having to cross a stream in the face of fire.

Pending verification
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading But this, in itself, was not such a handicap as would at first appear.

Velmora curated lexicon
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading Naturally any cowboy held himself more than a match for any two Greasers, and if this were not enough, the sheep men had the disadvantage of having to cross a stream in the face of fire.

Velmora curated lexicon
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading This is always likely to result in disaster, even in more modern warfare than that which I am writing about.

Velmora curated lexicon
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE FLAG OF TRUCE The advantage in the fight was on the side of the Diamond X outfit, even though it was outnumbered.

Velmora curated lexicon
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading But this, in itself, was not such a handicap as would at first appear.

Velmora curated lexicon
thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading THE FLAG OF TRUCE The advantage in the fight was on the side of the Diamond X outfit, even though it was outnumbered.

Velmora curated lexicon
toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Naturally any cowboy held himself more than a match for any two Greasers, and if this were not enough, the sheep men had the disadvantage of having to cross a stream in the face of fire.

Velmora curated lexicon
TRUCE

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

From this reading THE FLAG OF TRUCE The advantage in the fight was on the side of the Diamond X outfit, even though it was outnumbered.

Pending verification
two

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

From this reading Naturally any cowboy held himself more than a match for any two Greasers, and if this were not enough, the sheep men had the disadvantage of having to cross a stream in the face of fire.

Pending verification
warfare

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

From this reading This is always likely to result in disaster, even in more modern warfare than that which I am writing about.

Pending verification
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading THE FLAG OF TRUCE The advantage in the fight was on the side of the Diamond X outfit, even though it was outnumbered.

Velmora curated lexicon
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading Naturally any cowboy held himself more than a match for any two Greasers, and if this were not enough, the sheep men had the disadvantage of having to cross a stream in the face of fire.

Velmora curated lexicon
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading This is always likely to result in disaster, even in more modern warfare than that which I am writing about.

Velmora curated lexicon
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading But this, in itself, was not such a handicap as would at first appear.

Velmora curated lexicon
writing

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

From this reading This is always likely to result in disaster, even in more modern warfare than that which I am writing about.

Pending verification
X

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

From this reading THE FLAG OF TRUCE The advantage in the fight was on the side of the Diamond X outfit, even though it was outnumbered.

Pending verification