The Boy Scout Fire Fighters

Chapter XIII

Chapter 13 of The Boy Scout Fire Fighters is here in full — 118 sentences across 24 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Robert Maitland • Curated US English Learning Edition

Cover illustration for The Boy Scout Fire Fighters

English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5

AN UNGRATEFUL PARENT When his work was done the next day, Jack Danby found Dick Crawford waiting for him.

"Jack," said the Assistant Scout-Master, "I don't want to raise any false hopes in you, but I think we're on the verge of finding out something about you--about who you really are, and all that."

"How, Dick?

I'd give anything if that were true!"

"We were awfully stupid not to think of it last night, Jack.

Narrator

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.

Chapter XIII Reading 1/23

The Boy Scout Fire Fighters

Chapter XIII

Chapter 13 of The Boy Scout Fire Fighters is here in full — 118 sentences across 24 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/23 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1

AN UNGRATEFUL PARENT When his work was done the next day, Jack Danby found Dick Crawford waiting for him.

Line 2

"Jack," said the Assistant Scout-Master, "I don't want to raise any false hopes in you, but I think we're on the verge of finding out something about you--about who you really are, and all that."

Line 3

"How, Dick?

Line 4

I'd give anything if that were true!"

Line 5

"We were awfully stupid not to think of it last night, Jack.

/wiː wɜːr ˈɑːfli ˈstuːpəd nɑːt tuː θɪŋk ʌv ɪt læst naɪt dʒæk/

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.

Assistant noun US /əˈsɪstənt/

a person who contributes to the fulfillment of a need or furtherance of an effort or purpose

From this reading “"Jack," said the Assistant Scout-Master, "I don't want to raise any false hopes in you, but I think we're on the verge of finding out something about you--about who you really are, and all that."”

awfully adverb US /ˈɑːfli/

used as intensifiers

From this reading “"We were awfully stupid not to think of it last night, Jack.”

Crawford noun US /ˈkrɔːfərd/

United States neoclassical sculptor (1814-1857)

From this reading “AN UNGRATEFUL PARENT When his work was done the next day, Jack Danby found Dick Crawford waiting for him.”

parent noun US /ˈperənt/

a father or mother; one who begets or one who gives birth to or nurtures and raises a child; a relative who plays the role of guardian

From this reading “AN UNGRATEFUL PARENT When his work was done the next day, Jack Danby found Dick Crawford waiting for him.”

raise verb US /reɪz/

raise the level or amount of something

stupid adjective US /ˈstuːpəd/

lacking or marked by lack of intellectual acuity

From this reading “"We were awfully stupid not to think of it last night, Jack.”

ungrateful adjective US /ənˈɡreɪtfəl/

not feeling or showing gratitude

From this reading “AN UNGRATEFUL PARENT When his work was done the next day, Jack Danby found Dick Crawford waiting for him.”

verge noun US /vɜːrdʒ/

a region marking a boundary

Word partnerships in these lines

English keeps certain words together, and knowing the pair is worth more than knowing each word alone. Every partnership below was counted across our whole published library, and earns its place by appearing far more often than two unrelated words of the same frequency would.

Shown as this reading writes them, with the form the library counts, what kind of pairing it is, and how often it occurs.

next day adjective + noun

In this reading “AN UNGRATEFUL PARENT When his work was done the next day, Jack Danby found Dick Crawford waiting for him.”

last night adjective + noun

In this reading “"We were awfully stupid not to think of it last night, Jack.”

on the verge preposition + article + noun counted as “on … verge”

In this reading “"Jack," said the Assistant Scout-Master, "I don't want to raise any false hopes in you, but I think we're on the verge of finding out something about you--about who you really are, and all that."”

false hopes adjective + noun counted as “false hope”

think of verb + particle

keep in mind for attention or consideration

In this reading “"We were awfully stupid not to think of it last night, Jack.”

All words in this reading · 62

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.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading "Jack," said the Assistant Scout-Master, "I don't want to raise any false hopes in you, but I think we're on the verge of finding out something about you--about who you really are, and all that."

alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

ANdeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading AN UNGRATEFUL PARENT When his work was done the next day, Jack Danby found Dick Crawford waiting for him.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

anyadjectiveUS /ˈeni/

one or some or every or all without specification

anythingpronounUS /ˈeniθɪŋ/

any thing at all

From this reading I'd give anything if that were true!"

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

AssistantnounUS /əˈsɪstənt/

a person who contributes to the fulfillment of a need or furtherance of an effort or purpose

awfullyadverbUS /ˈɑːfli/

used as intensifiers

From this reading "We were awfully stupid not to think of it last night, Jack.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

CrawfordnounUS /ˈkrɔːfərd/

United States neoclassical sculptor (1814-1857)

From this reading AN UNGRATEFUL PARENT When his work was done the next day, Jack Danby found Dick Crawford waiting for him.

Danby

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

From this reading AN UNGRATEFUL PARENT When his work was done the next day, Jack Danby found Dick Crawford waiting for him.

daynounUS /deɪ/

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading AN UNGRATEFUL PARENT When his work was done the next day, Jack Danby found Dick Crawford waiting for him.

DicknounUS /dɪk/

someone who is a detective

From this reading AN UNGRATEFUL PARENT When his work was done the next day, Jack Danby found Dick Crawford waiting for him.

don't

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

doneadjectiveUS /dʌn/

having finished or arrived at completion

From this reading AN UNGRATEFUL PARENT When his work was done the next day, Jack Danby found Dick Crawford waiting for him.

falseadjectiveUS /fɔːls/

not in accordance with the fact or reality or actuality

findingnounUS /ˈfaɪndɪŋ/

the act of determining the properties of something, usually by research or calculation

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading AN UNGRATEFUL PARENT When his work was done the next day, Jack Danby found Dick Crawford waiting for him.

foundverbUS /faʊnd/

set up or found

From this reading AN UNGRATEFUL PARENT When his work was done the next day, Jack Danby found Dick Crawford waiting for him.

giveverbUS /ɡɪv/

cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense

From this reading I'd give anything if that were true!"

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading AN UNGRATEFUL PARENT When his work was done the next day, Jack Danby found Dick Crawford waiting for him.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading AN UNGRATEFUL PARENT When his work was done the next day, Jack Danby found Dick Crawford waiting for him.

hopesnounUS /hoʊps/

plural of “hope” — a specific instance of feeling hopeful

How

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

From this reading "How, Dick?

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

I'd

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

From this reading I'd give anything if that were true!"

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading I'd give anything if that were true!"

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading "We were awfully stupid not to think of it last night, Jack.

JacknounUS /dʒæk/

a small worthless amount

From this reading AN UNGRATEFUL PARENT When his work was done the next day, Jack Danby found Dick Crawford waiting for him.

lastadjectiveUS /læst/

immediately past

From this reading "We were awfully stupid not to think of it last night, Jack.

nextadjectiveUS /nekst/

immediately following in time or order

From this reading AN UNGRATEFUL PARENT When his work was done the next day, Jack Danby found Dick Crawford waiting for him.

nightnounUS /naɪt/

the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside

From this reading "We were awfully stupid not to think of it last night, Jack.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading "We were awfully stupid not to think of it last night, Jack.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

outadjectiveUS /aʊt/

not allowed to continue to bat or run

PARENTnounUS /ˈperənt/

a father or mother; one who begets or one who gives birth to or nurtures and raises a child; a relative who plays the role of guardian

From this reading AN UNGRATEFUL PARENT When his work was done the next day, Jack Danby found Dick Crawford waiting for him.

raiseverbUS /reɪz/

raise the level or amount of something

reallyadverbUS /ˈrɪli/

in accordance with truth or fact or reality

saidadjectiveUS /sed/

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

Scout-Master

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

somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

stupidadjectiveUS /ˈstuːpəd/

lacking or marked by lack of intellectual acuity

From this reading "We were awfully stupid not to think of it last night, Jack.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading AN UNGRATEFUL PARENT When his work was done the next day, Jack Danby found Dick Crawford waiting for him.

thinkverbUS /θɪŋk/

judge or regard; look upon; judge

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

trueadjectiveUS /truː/

consistent with fact or reality; not false

From this reading I'd give anything if that were true!"

UNGRATEFULadjectiveUS /ənˈɡreɪtfəl/

not feeling or showing gratitude

From this reading AN UNGRATEFUL PARENT When his work was done the next day, Jack Danby found Dick Crawford waiting for him.

vergenounUS /vɜːrdʒ/

a region marking a boundary

waitingnounUS /ˈweɪtɪŋ/

the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)

From this reading AN UNGRATEFUL PARENT When his work was done the next day, Jack Danby found Dick Crawford waiting for him.

wantverbUS /wɑːnt/

feel or have a desire for; want strongly

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading AN UNGRATEFUL PARENT When his work was done the next day, Jack Danby found Dick Crawford waiting for him.

WepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading "We were awfully stupid not to think of it last night, Jack.

we're

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

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading I'd give anything if that were true!"

WhenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading AN UNGRATEFUL PARENT When his work was done the next day, Jack Danby found Dick Crawford waiting for him.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

workverbUS /wɜːrk/

exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity

From this reading AN UNGRATEFUL PARENT When his work was done the next day, Jack Danby found Dick Crawford waiting for him.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

Chapter 13 of The Boy Scout Fire Fighters by Robert Maitland holds 118 sentences, grouped into 24 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 13 of The Boy Scout Fire Fighters contain?

Chapter 13 holds 118 sentences of The Boy Scout Fire Fighters, unabridged, divided into 24 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 13 of The Boy Scout Fire Fighters by Robert Maitland exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 118 sentences, grouped into 24 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 13 of The Boy Scout Fire Fighters?

Work through the 24 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 24 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 13 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 13 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 Scout Fire Fighters

Common questions about reading The Boy Scout Fire Fighters by Robert Maitland on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Boy Scout Fire Fighters?

Yes. All 2330 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #26875 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Boy Scout Fire Fighters is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #26875, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Boy Scout Fire Fighters take to read?

About 194 minutes of reading across 466 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

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Vocabulary met early in The Boy Scout Fire Fighters

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Boy Scout Fire Fighters, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Saalfield: A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Boy Scout Fire Fighters; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Publishing: A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Boy Scout Fire Fighters; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Chapters: A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Boy Scout Fire Fighters; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Source: A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Boy Scout Fire Fighters; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.

Chapter XIII

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