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

Chapter XXI

Chapter 21 of The Boy Ranchers at Spur Creek is here in full — 61 sentences across 13 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Willard F. Baker • Curated US English Learning Edition

Chapter 21 of The Boy Ranchers at Spur Creek by Willard F. Baker holds 61 sentences, grouped into 13 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 21 of The Boy Ranchers at Spur Creek contain?

Chapter 21 holds 61 sentences of The Boy Ranchers at Spur Creek, unabridged, divided into 13 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 21 of The Boy Ranchers at Spur Creek by Willard F. Baker exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 61 sentences, grouped into 13 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 21 of The Boy Ranchers at Spur Creek?

Work through the 13 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 13 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 21 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 21 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 1/13 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
A LEGAL CONTEST Holding the flag of truce above his head with both hands, the better to indicate that he was unarmed, the man, a bearded Mexican to all appearances, rode his horse half way across the stream.
He was then within easy talking distance of the cowboys and Old Billee called:
"That's far enough, Greaser!
Stay right where you are and speak your little piece.
Keep him covered, boys," he went on in a low voice to those around him.
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 XXI

Chapter 21 of The Boy Ranchers at Spur Creek is here in full — 61 sentences across 13 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/13 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
A LEGAL CONTEST Holding the flag of truce above his head with both hands, the better to indicate that he was unarmed, the man, a bearded Mexican to all appearances, rode his horse half way across the stream.
Line 2
He was then within easy talking distance of the cowboys and Old Billee called:
Line 3
"That's far enough, Greaser!
Line 4
Stay right where you are and speak your little piece.
Line 5
Keep him covered, boys," he went on in a low voice to those around him.

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.

Above preposition US /əˈbʌv/

higher than, or over, something

From this reading “A LEGAL CONTEST Holding the flag of truce above his head with both hands, the better to indicate that he was unarmed, the man, a bearded Mexican to all appearances, rode his horse half way across the stream.”

Velmora curated lexicon
Across preposition US /əˈkrɔːs/

from one side of something to the other

From this reading “A LEGAL CONTEST Holding the flag of truce above his head with both hands, the better to indicate that he was unarmed, the man, a bearded Mexican to all appearances, rode his horse half way across the stream.”

Velmora curated lexicon
Around preposition US /ərˈaʊnd/

surrounding, or on every side of, something

From this reading “Keep him covered, boys," he went on in a low voice to those around him.”

Velmora curated lexicon
Hands plural noun US /hændz/

members of a ship’s crew

From this reading “A LEGAL CONTEST Holding the flag of truce above his head with both hands, the better to indicate that he was unarmed, the man, a bearded Mexican to all appearances, rode his horse half way across the stream.”

Velmora curated lexicon
Those determiner US /ðoʊz/

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

From this reading “Keep him covered, boys," he went on in a low voice to those around him.”

Velmora curated lexicon
Within preposition US /wɪˈðɪn/

inside; before a period of time has passed

From this reading “He was then within easy talking distance of the cowboys and Old Billee called:”

Velmora curated lexicon
All words in this reading · 66

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 A LEGAL CONTEST Holding the flag of truce above his head with both hands, the better to indicate that he was unarmed, the man, a bearded Mexican to all appearances, rode his horse half way across the stream.

Velmora curated lexicon
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/

higher than, or over, something

From this reading A LEGAL CONTEST Holding the flag of truce above his head with both hands, the better to indicate that he was unarmed, the man, a bearded Mexican to all appearances, rode his horse half way across the stream.

Velmora curated lexicon
acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/

from one side of something to the other

From this reading A LEGAL CONTEST Holding the flag of truce above his head with both hands, the better to indicate that he was unarmed, the man, a bearded Mexican to all appearances, rode his horse half way across the stream.

Velmora curated lexicon
all

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

From this reading A LEGAL CONTEST Holding the flag of truce above his head with both hands, the better to indicate that he was unarmed, the man, a bearded Mexican to all appearances, rode his horse half way across the stream.

Pending verification
andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading He was then within easy talking distance of the cowboys and Old Billee called:

Velmora curated lexicon
appearances

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

From this reading A LEGAL CONTEST Holding the flag of truce above his head with both hands, the better to indicate that he was unarmed, the man, a bearded Mexican to all appearances, rode his horse half way across the stream.

Pending verification
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading Stay right where you are and speak your little piece.

Velmora curated lexicon
aroundprepositionUS /ərˈaʊnd/

surrounding, or on every side of, something

From this reading Keep him covered, boys," he went on in a low voice to those around him.

Velmora curated lexicon
bearded

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

From this reading A LEGAL CONTEST Holding the flag of truce above his head with both hands, the better to indicate that he was unarmed, the man, a bearded Mexican to all appearances, rode his horse half way across the stream.

Pending verification
better

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

From this reading A LEGAL CONTEST Holding the flag of truce above his head with both hands, the better to indicate that he was unarmed, the man, a bearded Mexican to all appearances, rode his horse half way across the stream.

Pending verification
Billee

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

From this reading He was then within easy talking distance of the cowboys and Old Billee called:

Pending verification
bothdeterminerUS /boʊθ/

the two together, not just one

From this reading A LEGAL CONTEST Holding the flag of truce above his head with both hands, the better to indicate that he was unarmed, the man, a bearded Mexican to all appearances, rode his horse half way across the stream.

Velmora curated lexicon
boys

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

From this reading Keep him covered, boys," he went on in a low voice to those around him.

Pending verification
called

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

From this reading He was then within easy talking distance of the cowboys and Old Billee called:

Pending verification
CONTEST

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

From this reading A LEGAL CONTEST Holding the flag of truce above his head with both hands, the better to indicate that he was unarmed, the man, a bearded Mexican to all appearances, rode his horse half way across the stream.

Pending verification
covered

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

From this reading Keep him covered, boys," he went on in a low voice to those around him.

Pending verification
cowboys

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

From this reading He was then within easy talking distance of the cowboys and Old Billee called:

Pending verification
distance

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

From this reading He was then within easy talking distance of the cowboys and Old Billee called:

Pending verification
easy

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

From this reading He was then within easy talking distance of the cowboys and Old Billee called:

Pending verification
enough

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

From this reading "That's far enough, Greaser!

Pending verification
far

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

From this reading "That's far enough, Greaser!

Pending verification
flag

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

From this reading A LEGAL CONTEST Holding the flag of truce above his head with both hands, the better to indicate that he was unarmed, the man, a bearded Mexican to all appearances, rode his horse half way across the stream.

Pending verification
Greaser

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

From this reading "That's far enough, Greaser!

Pending verification
half

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

From this reading A LEGAL CONTEST Holding the flag of truce above his head with both hands, the better to indicate that he was unarmed, the man, a bearded Mexican to all appearances, rode his horse half way across the stream.

Pending verification
handsplural nounUS /hændz/

members of a ship’s crew

From this reading A LEGAL CONTEST Holding the flag of truce above his head with both hands, the better to indicate that he was unarmed, the man, a bearded Mexican to all appearances, rode his horse half way across the stream.

Velmora curated lexicon
hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading A LEGAL CONTEST Holding the flag of truce above his head with both hands, the better to indicate that he was unarmed, the man, a bearded Mexican to all appearances, rode his horse half way across the stream.

Velmora curated lexicon
head

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

From this reading A LEGAL CONTEST Holding the flag of truce above his head with both hands, the better to indicate that he was unarmed, the man, a bearded Mexican to all appearances, rode his horse half way across the stream.

Pending verification
himpronounUS /hɪm/

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading Keep him covered, boys," he went on in a low voice to those around him.

Velmora curated lexicon
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading A LEGAL CONTEST Holding the flag of truce above his head with both hands, the better to indicate that he was unarmed, the man, a bearded Mexican to all appearances, rode his horse half way across the stream.

Velmora curated lexicon
Holding

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

From this reading A LEGAL CONTEST Holding the flag of truce above his head with both hands, the better to indicate that he was unarmed, the man, a bearded Mexican to all appearances, rode his horse half way across the stream.

Pending verification
horse

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

From this reading A LEGAL CONTEST Holding the flag of truce above his head with both hands, the better to indicate that he was unarmed, the man, a bearded Mexican to all appearances, rode his horse half way across the stream.

Pending verification
inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Keep him covered, boys," he went on in a low voice to those around him.

Velmora curated lexicon
indicate

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

From this reading A LEGAL CONTEST Holding the flag of truce above his head with both hands, the better to indicate that he was unarmed, the man, a bearded Mexican to all appearances, rode his horse half way across the stream.

Pending verification
Keep

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

From this reading Keep him covered, boys," he went on in a low voice to those around him.

Pending verification
LEGAL

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

From this reading A LEGAL CONTEST Holding the flag of truce above his head with both hands, the better to indicate that he was unarmed, the man, a bearded Mexican to all appearances, rode his horse half way across the stream.

Pending verification
little

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

From this reading Stay right where you are and speak your little piece.

Pending verification
low

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

From this reading Keep him covered, boys," he went on in a low voice to those around him.

Pending verification
man

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

From this reading A LEGAL CONTEST Holding the flag of truce above his head with both hands, the better to indicate that he was unarmed, the man, a bearded Mexican to all appearances, rode his horse half way across the stream.

Pending verification
Mexican

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

From this reading A LEGAL CONTEST Holding the flag of truce above his head with both hands, the better to indicate that he was unarmed, the man, a bearded Mexican to all appearances, rode his horse half way across the stream.

Pending verification
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading A LEGAL CONTEST Holding the flag of truce above his head with both hands, the better to indicate that he was unarmed, the man, a bearded Mexican to all appearances, rode his horse half way across the stream.

Velmora curated lexicon
Old

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

From this reading He was then within easy talking distance of the cowboys and Old Billee called:

Pending verification
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Keep him covered, boys," he went on in a low voice to those around him.

Velmora curated lexicon
piece

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

From this reading Stay right where you are and speak your little piece.

Pending verification
right

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

From this reading Stay right where you are and speak your little piece.

Pending verification
rode

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

From this reading A LEGAL CONTEST Holding the flag of truce above his head with both hands, the better to indicate that he was unarmed, the man, a bearded Mexican to all appearances, rode his horse half way across the stream.

Pending verification
speak

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

From this reading Stay right where you are and speak your little piece.

Pending verification
Stay

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

From this reading Stay right where you are and speak your little piece.

Pending verification
stream

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

From this reading A LEGAL CONTEST Holding the flag of truce above his head with both hands, the better to indicate that he was unarmed, the man, a bearded Mexican to all appearances, rode his horse half way across the stream.

Pending verification
talking

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

From this reading He was then within easy talking distance of the cowboys and Old Billee called:

Pending verification
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading A LEGAL CONTEST Holding the flag of truce above his head with both hands, the better to indicate that he was unarmed, the man, a bearded Mexican to all appearances, rode his horse half way across the stream.

Velmora curated lexicon
That's

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

From this reading "That's far enough, Greaser!

Pending verification
thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading A LEGAL CONTEST Holding the flag of truce above his head with both hands, the better to indicate that he was unarmed, the man, a bearded Mexican to all appearances, rode his horse half way across the stream.

Velmora curated lexicon
then

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

From this reading He was then within easy talking distance of the cowboys and Old Billee called:

Pending verification
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/

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

From this reading Keep him covered, boys," he went on in a low voice to those around him.

Velmora curated lexicon
toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading A LEGAL CONTEST Holding the flag of truce above his head with both hands, the better to indicate that he was unarmed, the man, a bearded Mexican to all appearances, rode his horse half way across the stream.

Velmora curated lexicon
truce

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

From this reading A LEGAL CONTEST Holding the flag of truce above his head with both hands, the better to indicate that he was unarmed, the man, a bearded Mexican to all appearances, rode his horse half way across the stream.

Pending verification
unarmed

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

From this reading A LEGAL CONTEST Holding the flag of truce above his head with both hands, the better to indicate that he was unarmed, the man, a bearded Mexican to all appearances, rode his horse half way across the stream.

Pending verification
voice

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

From this reading Keep him covered, boys," he went on in a low voice to those around him.

Pending verification
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading A LEGAL CONTEST Holding the flag of truce above his head with both hands, the better to indicate that he was unarmed, the man, a bearded Mexican to all appearances, rode his horse half way across the stream.

Velmora curated lexicon
way

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

From this reading A LEGAL CONTEST Holding the flag of truce above his head with both hands, the better to indicate that he was unarmed, the man, a bearded Mexican to all appearances, rode his horse half way across the stream.

Pending verification
went

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

From this reading Keep him covered, boys," he went on in a low voice to those around him.

Pending verification
whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading Stay right where you are and speak your little piece.

Velmora curated lexicon
withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading A LEGAL CONTEST Holding the flag of truce above his head with both hands, the better to indicate that he was unarmed, the man, a bearded Mexican to all appearances, rode his horse half way across the stream.

Velmora curated lexicon
withinprepositionUS /wɪˈðɪn/

inside; before a period of time has passed

From this reading He was then within easy talking distance of the cowboys and Old Billee called:

Velmora curated lexicon
youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading Stay right where you are and speak your little piece.

Velmora curated lexicon
yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading Stay right where you are and speak your little piece.

Velmora curated lexicon