Chapter 4 of The Boy Trapper is here in full — 218 sentences across 44 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter IV
Chapter 4 of The Boy Trapper is here in full — 218 sentences across 44 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
MORE BAD NEWS. David's feelings, as he stood there in the road, gazing after the retreating horseman, were by no means of the most pleasant nature. He was naturally a cheerful, light-hearted boy, and he would not look on the dark side of things if he could help it. But he couldn't help it now. Here was more trouble.
Chapter 4 of The Boy Trapper is here in full — 218 sentences across 44 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/43 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5
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.
being full of or promoting cheer; having or showing good spirits
From this reading “He was naturally a cheerful, light-hearted boy, and he would not look on the dark side of things if he could help it.”
possessive form of “david” — patron saint of Wales (circa 520-600)
From this reading “David's feelings, as he stood there in the road, gazing after the retreating horseman, were by no means of the most pleasant nature.”
emotional or moral sensitivity (especially in relation to personal principles or dignity)
From this reading “David's feelings, as he stood there in the road, gazing after the retreating horseman, were by no means of the most pleasant nature.”
-ing form of “gaze” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading “David's feelings, as he stood there in the road, gazing after the retreating horseman, were by no means of the most pleasant nature.”
a man skilled in equitation
From this reading “David's feelings, as he stood there in the road, gazing after the retreating horseman, were by no means of the most pleasant nature.”
as might be expected
From this reading “He was naturally a cheerful, light-hearted boy, and he would not look on the dark side of things if he could help it.”
affording pleasure; being in harmony with your taste or likings
From this reading “David's feelings, as he stood there in the road, gazing after the retreating horseman, were by no means of the most pleasant nature.”
-ing form of “retreat” — pull back or move away or backward
From this reading “David's feelings, as he stood there in the road, gazing after the retreating horseman, were by no means of the most pleasant nature.”
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.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He was naturally a cheerful, light-hearted boy, and he would not look on the dark side of things if he could help it.
later than; following
From this reading David's feelings, as he stood there in the road, gazing after the retreating horseman, were by no means of the most pleasant nature.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He was naturally a cheerful, light-hearted boy, and he would not look on the dark side of things if he could help it.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading David's feelings, as he stood there in the road, gazing after the retreating horseman, were by no means of the most pleasant nature.
having undesirable or negative qualities
From this reading MORE BAD NEWS.
a youthful male person
From this reading He was naturally a cheerful, light-hearted boy, and he would not look on the dark side of things if he could help it.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But he couldn't help it now.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading David's feelings, as he stood there in the road, gazing after the retreating horseman, were by no means of the most pleasant nature.
being full of or promoting cheer; having or showing good spirits
From this reading He was naturally a cheerful, light-hearted boy, and he would not look on the dark side of things if he could help it.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading He was naturally a cheerful, light-hearted boy, and he would not look on the dark side of things if he could help it.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But he couldn't help it now.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading He was naturally a cheerful, light-hearted boy, and he would not look on the dark side of things if he could help it.
possessive form of “david” — patron saint of Wales (circa 520-600)
From this reading David's feelings, as he stood there in the road, gazing after the retreating horseman, were by no means of the most pleasant nature.
emotional or moral sensitivity (especially in relation to personal principles or dignity)
From this reading David's feelings, as he stood there in the road, gazing after the retreating horseman, were by no means of the most pleasant nature.
-ing form of “gaze” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading David's feelings, as he stood there in the road, gazing after the retreating horseman, were by no means of the most pleasant nature.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading David's feelings, as he stood there in the road, gazing after the retreating horseman, were by no means of the most pleasant nature.
give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading He was naturally a cheerful, light-hearted boy, and he would not look on the dark side of things if he could help it.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading Here was more trouble.
a man skilled in equitation
From this reading David's feelings, as he stood there in the road, gazing after the retreating horseman, were by no means of the most pleasant nature.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading He was naturally a cheerful, light-hearted boy, and he would not look on the dark side of things if he could help it.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading David's feelings, as he stood there in the road, gazing after the retreating horseman, were by no means of the most pleasant nature.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He was naturally a cheerful, light-hearted boy, and he would not look on the dark side of things if he could help it.
carefree and happy and lighthearted
From this reading He was naturally a cheerful, light-hearted boy, and he would not look on the dark side of things if he could help it.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading He was naturally a cheerful, light-hearted boy, and he would not look on the dark side of things if he could help it.
thing or person that acts to produce a particular effect or achieve an end
From this reading David's feelings, as he stood there in the road, gazing after the retreating horseman, were by no means of the most pleasant nature.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading MORE BAD NEWS.
used to form the superlative
From this reading David's feelings, as he stood there in the road, gazing after the retreating horseman, were by no means of the most pleasant nature.
as might be expected
From this reading He was naturally a cheerful, light-hearted boy, and he would not look on the dark side of things if he could help it.
the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized
From this reading David's feelings, as he stood there in the road, gazing after the retreating horseman, were by no means of the most pleasant nature.
information about recent and important events
From this reading MORE BAD NEWS.
not any; not one
From this reading David's feelings, as he stood there in the road, gazing after the retreating horseman, were by no means of the most pleasant nature.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He was naturally a cheerful, light-hearted boy, and he would not look on the dark side of things if he could help it.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading But he couldn't help it now.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading David's feelings, as he stood there in the road, gazing after the retreating horseman, were by no means of the most pleasant nature.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He was naturally a cheerful, light-hearted boy, and he would not look on the dark side of things if he could help it.
affording pleasure; being in harmony with your taste or likings
From this reading David's feelings, as he stood there in the road, gazing after the retreating horseman, were by no means of the most pleasant nature.
-ing form of “retreat” — pull back or move away or backward
From this reading David's feelings, as he stood there in the road, gazing after the retreating horseman, were by no means of the most pleasant nature.
an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation
From this reading David's feelings, as he stood there in the road, gazing after the retreating horseman, were by no means of the most pleasant nature.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading He was naturally a cheerful, light-hearted boy, and he would not look on the dark side of things if he could help it.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading David's feelings, as he stood there in the road, gazing after the retreating horseman, were by no means of the most pleasant nature.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading David's feelings, as he stood there in the road, gazing after the retreating horseman, were by no means of the most pleasant nature.
in or at that place or location
From this reading David's feelings, as he stood there in the road, gazing after the retreating horseman, were by no means of the most pleasant nature.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading He was naturally a cheerful, light-hearted boy, and he would not look on the dark side of things if he could help it.
a source of difficulty
From this reading Here was more trouble.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was naturally a cheerful, light-hearted boy, and he would not look on the dark side of things if he could help it.
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading David's feelings, as he stood there in the road, gazing after the retreating horseman, were by no means of the most pleasant nature.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading He was naturally a cheerful, light-hearted boy, and he would not look on the dark side of things if he could help it.
Chapter 4 of The Boy Trapper by Harry Castlemon holds 218 sentences, grouped into 44 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.
Chapter 4 holds 218 sentences of The Boy Trapper, unabridged, divided into 44 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 4 of The Boy Trapper by Harry Castlemon exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 218 sentences, grouped into 44 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.
Work through the 44 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 44 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.
Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 4 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.
Common questions about reading The Boy Trapper by Harry Castlemon on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 0 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #? are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #?, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 5 minutes of reading across 0 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through The Boy Trapper section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 0 chapters of The Boy Trapper to begin.
Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.
Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.
Words and structures a reader meets early in The Boy Trapper, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
