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The Captain of the Polestar, and Other Tales
The Captain of the Polestar, and Other Tales

Chapter V · Chapter 5

Chapter 5 of The Captain of the Polestar, and Other Tales is here in full — 176 sentences across 36 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Captain of the Polestar, and Other Tales
Context Illustration Reading 1/35 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
I wish the man did not run in my thoughts so much.
I had a nightmare on the night of the 20th, in which I thought my bunk was a coffin, that I was laid out in it, and that Goring was endeavouring to nail up the lid, which I was frantically pushing away.
Even when I woke up, I could hardly persuade myself that I was not in a coffin.
As a medical man, I know that a nightmare is simply a vascular derangement of the cerebral hemispheres, and yet in my weak state I cannot shake off the morbid impression which it produces.
October 22.--A fine day, with hardly a cloud in the sky, and a fresh breeze from the sou’-west which wafts us gaily on our way.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
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A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The Captain of the Polestar, and Other Tales

Chapter V · Chapter 5

Chapter 5 of The Captain of the Polestar, and Other Tales is here in full — 176 sentences across 36 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/35 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
I wish the man did not run in my thoughts so much.
Line 2
I had a nightmare on the night of the 20th, in which I thought my bunk was a coffin, that I was laid out in it, and that Goring was endeavouring to nail up the lid, which I was frantically pushing away.
Line 3
Even when I woke up, I could hardly persuade myself that I was not in a coffin.
Line 4
As a medical man, I know that a nightmare is simply a vascular derangement of the cerebral hemispheres, and yet in my weak state I cannot shake off the morbid impression which it produces.
Line 5
October 22.--A fine day, with hardly a cloud in the sky, and a fresh breeze from the sou’-west which wafts us gaily on our way.

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.

Nightmare noun US /ˈnaɪt.mɛr/

A terrifying or distressing dream.

From this reading “I had a nightmare on the night of the 20th, in which I thought my bunk was a coffin, that I was laid out in it, and that Goring was endeavouring to nail up the lid, which I was frantically pushing away.”

All words in this reading · 80

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.

20th

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

From this reading I had a nightmare on the night of the 20th, in which I thought my bunk was a coffin, that I was laid out in it, and that Goring was endeavouring to nail up the lid, which I was frantically pushing away.

22

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

From this reading October 22.--A fine day, with hardly a cloud in the sky, and a fresh breeze from the sou’-west which wafts us gaily on our way.

a

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

From this reading I had a nightmare on the night of the 20th, in which I thought my bunk was a coffin, that I was laid out in it, and that Goring was endeavouring to nail up the lid, which I was frantically pushing away.

and

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

From this reading I had a nightmare on the night of the 20th, in which I thought my bunk was a coffin, that I was laid out in it, and that Goring was endeavouring to nail up the lid, which I was frantically pushing away.

As

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

From this reading As a medical man, I know that a nightmare is simply a vascular derangement of the cerebral hemispheres, and yet in my weak state I cannot shake off the morbid impression which it produces.

away

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

From this reading I had a nightmare on the night of the 20th, in which I thought my bunk was a coffin, that I was laid out in it, and that Goring was endeavouring to nail up the lid, which I was frantically pushing away.

breeze

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

From this reading October 22.--A fine day, with hardly a cloud in the sky, and a fresh breeze from the sou’-west which wafts us gaily on our way.

bunk

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

From this reading I had a nightmare on the night of the 20th, in which I thought my bunk was a coffin, that I was laid out in it, and that Goring was endeavouring to nail up the lid, which I was frantically pushing away.

cannot

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

From this reading As a medical man, I know that a nightmare is simply a vascular derangement of the cerebral hemispheres, and yet in my weak state I cannot shake off the morbid impression which it produces.

cerebral

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

From this reading As a medical man, I know that a nightmare is simply a vascular derangement of the cerebral hemispheres, and yet in my weak state I cannot shake off the morbid impression which it produces.

cloud

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

From this reading October 22.--A fine day, with hardly a cloud in the sky, and a fresh breeze from the sou’-west which wafts us gaily on our way.

coffin

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

From this reading I had a nightmare on the night of the 20th, in which I thought my bunk was a coffin, that I was laid out in it, and that Goring was endeavouring to nail up the lid, which I was frantically pushing away.

could

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

From this reading Even when I woke up, I could hardly persuade myself that I was not in a coffin.

day

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

From this reading October 22.--A fine day, with hardly a cloud in the sky, and a fresh breeze from the sou’-west which wafts us gaily on our way.

derangement

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

From this reading As a medical man, I know that a nightmare is simply a vascular derangement of the cerebral hemispheres, and yet in my weak state I cannot shake off the morbid impression which it produces.

did

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

From this reading I wish the man did not run in my thoughts so much.

endeavouring

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

From this reading I had a nightmare on the night of the 20th, in which I thought my bunk was a coffin, that I was laid out in it, and that Goring was endeavouring to nail up the lid, which I was frantically pushing away.

Even

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

From this reading Even when I woke up, I could hardly persuade myself that I was not in a coffin.

fine

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

From this reading October 22.--A fine day, with hardly a cloud in the sky, and a fresh breeze from the sou’-west which wafts us gaily on our way.

frantically

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

From this reading I had a nightmare on the night of the 20th, in which I thought my bunk was a coffin, that I was laid out in it, and that Goring was endeavouring to nail up the lid, which I was frantically pushing away.

fresh

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

From this reading October 22.--A fine day, with hardly a cloud in the sky, and a fresh breeze from the sou’-west which wafts us gaily on our way.

from

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

From this reading October 22.--A fine day, with hardly a cloud in the sky, and a fresh breeze from the sou’-west which wafts us gaily on our way.

gaily

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

From this reading October 22.--A fine day, with hardly a cloud in the sky, and a fresh breeze from the sou’-west which wafts us gaily on our way.

Goring

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

From this reading I had a nightmare on the night of the 20th, in which I thought my bunk was a coffin, that I was laid out in it, and that Goring was endeavouring to nail up the lid, which I was frantically pushing away.

had

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

From this reading I had a nightmare on the night of the 20th, in which I thought my bunk was a coffin, that I was laid out in it, and that Goring was endeavouring to nail up the lid, which I was frantically pushing away.

hardly

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

From this reading Even when I woke up, I could hardly persuade myself that I was not in a coffin.

hemispheres

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

From this reading As a medical man, I know that a nightmare is simply a vascular derangement of the cerebral hemispheres, and yet in my weak state I cannot shake off the morbid impression which it produces.

I

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

From this reading I wish the man did not run in my thoughts so much.

impression

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

From this reading As a medical man, I know that a nightmare is simply a vascular derangement of the cerebral hemispheres, and yet in my weak state I cannot shake off the morbid impression which it produces.

in

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

From this reading I wish the man did not run in my thoughts so much.

is

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

From this reading As a medical man, I know that a nightmare is simply a vascular derangement of the cerebral hemispheres, and yet in my weak state I cannot shake off the morbid impression which it produces.

it

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

From this reading I had a nightmare on the night of the 20th, in which I thought my bunk was a coffin, that I was laid out in it, and that Goring was endeavouring to nail up the lid, which I was frantically pushing away.

know

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

From this reading As a medical man, I know that a nightmare is simply a vascular derangement of the cerebral hemispheres, and yet in my weak state I cannot shake off the morbid impression which it produces.

laid

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

From this reading I had a nightmare on the night of the 20th, in which I thought my bunk was a coffin, that I was laid out in it, and that Goring was endeavouring to nail up the lid, which I was frantically pushing away.

lid

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

From this reading I had a nightmare on the night of the 20th, in which I thought my bunk was a coffin, that I was laid out in it, and that Goring was endeavouring to nail up the lid, which I was frantically pushing away.

man

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

From this reading I wish the man did not run in my thoughts so much.

medical

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

From this reading As a medical man, I know that a nightmare is simply a vascular derangement of the cerebral hemispheres, and yet in my weak state I cannot shake off the morbid impression which it produces.

morbid

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

From this reading As a medical man, I know that a nightmare is simply a vascular derangement of the cerebral hemispheres, and yet in my weak state I cannot shake off the morbid impression which it produces.

much

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

From this reading I wish the man did not run in my thoughts so much.

my

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

From this reading I wish the man did not run in my thoughts so much.

myself

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

From this reading Even when I woke up, I could hardly persuade myself that I was not in a coffin.

nail

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

From this reading I had a nightmare on the night of the 20th, in which I thought my bunk was a coffin, that I was laid out in it, and that Goring was endeavouring to nail up the lid, which I was frantically pushing away.

night

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

From this reading I had a nightmare on the night of the 20th, in which I thought my bunk was a coffin, that I was laid out in it, and that Goring was endeavouring to nail up the lid, which I was frantically pushing away.

nightmarenounUS /ˈnaɪt.mɛr/

A terrifying or distressing dream.

From this reading I had a nightmare on the night of the 20th, in which I thought my bunk was a coffin, that I was laid out in it, and that Goring was endeavouring to nail up the lid, which I was frantically pushing away.

not

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

From this reading I wish the man did not run in my thoughts so much.

October

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

From this reading October 22.--A fine day, with hardly a cloud in the sky, and a fresh breeze from the sou’-west which wafts us gaily on our way.

of

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

From this reading I had a nightmare on the night of the 20th, in which I thought my bunk was a coffin, that I was laid out in it, and that Goring was endeavouring to nail up the lid, which I was frantically pushing away.

off

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

From this reading As a medical man, I know that a nightmare is simply a vascular derangement of the cerebral hemispheres, and yet in my weak state I cannot shake off the morbid impression which it produces.

on

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

From this reading I had a nightmare on the night of the 20th, in which I thought my bunk was a coffin, that I was laid out in it, and that Goring was endeavouring to nail up the lid, which I was frantically pushing away.

our

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

From this reading October 22.--A fine day, with hardly a cloud in the sky, and a fresh breeze from the sou’-west which wafts us gaily on our way.

out

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

From this reading I had a nightmare on the night of the 20th, in which I thought my bunk was a coffin, that I was laid out in it, and that Goring was endeavouring to nail up the lid, which I was frantically pushing away.

persuade

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

From this reading Even when I woke up, I could hardly persuade myself that I was not in a coffin.

produces

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

From this reading As a medical man, I know that a nightmare is simply a vascular derangement of the cerebral hemispheres, and yet in my weak state I cannot shake off the morbid impression which it produces.

pushing

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

From this reading I had a nightmare on the night of the 20th, in which I thought my bunk was a coffin, that I was laid out in it, and that Goring was endeavouring to nail up the lid, which I was frantically pushing away.

run

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

From this reading I wish the man did not run in my thoughts so much.

shake

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

From this reading As a medical man, I know that a nightmare is simply a vascular derangement of the cerebral hemispheres, and yet in my weak state I cannot shake off the morbid impression which it produces.

simply

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

From this reading As a medical man, I know that a nightmare is simply a vascular derangement of the cerebral hemispheres, and yet in my weak state I cannot shake off the morbid impression which it produces.

sky

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

From this reading October 22.--A fine day, with hardly a cloud in the sky, and a fresh breeze from the sou’-west which wafts us gaily on our way.

so

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

From this reading I wish the man did not run in my thoughts so much.

sou

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

From this reading October 22.--A fine day, with hardly a cloud in the sky, and a fresh breeze from the sou’-west which wafts us gaily on our way.

state

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

From this reading As a medical man, I know that a nightmare is simply a vascular derangement of the cerebral hemispheres, and yet in my weak state I cannot shake off the morbid impression which it produces.

that

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

From this reading I had a nightmare on the night of the 20th, in which I thought my bunk was a coffin, that I was laid out in it, and that Goring was endeavouring to nail up the lid, which I was frantically pushing away.

the

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

From this reading I wish the man did not run in my thoughts so much.

thought

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

From this reading I had a nightmare on the night of the 20th, in which I thought my bunk was a coffin, that I was laid out in it, and that Goring was endeavouring to nail up the lid, which I was frantically pushing away.

thoughts

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

From this reading I wish the man did not run in my thoughts so much.

to

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

From this reading I had a nightmare on the night of the 20th, in which I thought my bunk was a coffin, that I was laid out in it, and that Goring was endeavouring to nail up the lid, which I was frantically pushing away.

up

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

From this reading I had a nightmare on the night of the 20th, in which I thought my bunk was a coffin, that I was laid out in it, and that Goring was endeavouring to nail up the lid, which I was frantically pushing away.

us

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

From this reading October 22.--A fine day, with hardly a cloud in the sky, and a fresh breeze from the sou’-west which wafts us gaily on our way.

vascular

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

From this reading As a medical man, I know that a nightmare is simply a vascular derangement of the cerebral hemispheres, and yet in my weak state I cannot shake off the morbid impression which it produces.

wafts

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

From this reading October 22.--A fine day, with hardly a cloud in the sky, and a fresh breeze from the sou’-west which wafts us gaily on our way.

was

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

From this reading I had a nightmare on the night of the 20th, in which I thought my bunk was a coffin, that I was laid out in it, and that Goring was endeavouring to nail up the lid, which I was frantically pushing away.

way

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

From this reading October 22.--A fine day, with hardly a cloud in the sky, and a fresh breeze from the sou’-west which wafts us gaily on our way.

weak

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

From this reading As a medical man, I know that a nightmare is simply a vascular derangement of the cerebral hemispheres, and yet in my weak state I cannot shake off the morbid impression which it produces.

west

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

From this reading October 22.--A fine day, with hardly a cloud in the sky, and a fresh breeze from the sou’-west which wafts us gaily on our way.

when

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

From this reading Even when I woke up, I could hardly persuade myself that I was not in a coffin.

which

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

From this reading I had a nightmare on the night of the 20th, in which I thought my bunk was a coffin, that I was laid out in it, and that Goring was endeavouring to nail up the lid, which I was frantically pushing away.

wish

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

From this reading I wish the man did not run in my thoughts so much.

with

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

From this reading October 22.--A fine day, with hardly a cloud in the sky, and a fresh breeze from the sou’-west which wafts us gaily on our way.

woke

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

From this reading Even when I woke up, I could hardly persuade myself that I was not in a coffin.

yet

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

From this reading As a medical man, I know that a nightmare is simply a vascular derangement of the cerebral hemispheres, and yet in my weak state I cannot shake off the morbid impression which it produces.

Chapter 5 of The Captain of the Polestar, and Other Tales by Arthur Conan Doyle holds 176 sentences, grouped into 36 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the public-domain source, 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 5 of The Captain of the Polestar, and Other Tales contain?

Chapter 5 holds 176 sentences of The Captain of the Polestar, and Other Tales, unabridged, divided into 36 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 5 of The Captain of the Polestar, and Other Tales by Arthur Conan Doyle exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 176 sentences, grouped into 36 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 5 of The Captain of the Polestar, and Other Tales?

Work through the 36 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 36 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 5 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 5 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 Captain of the Polestar, and Other Tales

Common questions about reading The Captain of the Polestar, and Other Tales by Arthur Conan Doyle on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Captain of the Polestar, and Other Tales?

Yes. All 4188 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #294 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Captain of the Polestar, and Other Tales is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #294, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Captain of the Polestar, and Other Tales take to read?

About 349 minutes of reading across 838 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Captain of the Polestar, and Other Tales section by section

How to work through The Captain of the Polestar, and Other Tales section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 25 chapters of The Captain of the Polestar, and Other Tales 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 Captain of the Polestar, and Other Tales

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Captain of the Polestar, and Other Tales, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Other
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Captain of the Polestar, and Other Tales; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Tales
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Captain of the Polestar, and Other Tales; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Preface
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Captain of the Polestar, and Other Tales; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Following
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Captain of the Polestar, and Other Tales; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.