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The Circus Boys Across the Continent
The Circus Boys Across the Continent

Chapter X · Chapter 10

Chapter 10 of The Circus Boys Across the Continent is here in full — 189 sentences across 38 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Circus Boys Across the Continent
Context Illustration Reading 1/37 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
HIS FIRST BAREBACK LESSON "Where's that boy?"
"He'll catch it if he ever dares show his face in this dressing tent again."
This and other expressions marked the disapproval of the performers of the manner in which their enclosure had been entered and disrupted.
"Don't blame him; blame the mule," advised Mr. Miaco, the head clown.
"Yes; Teddy wasn't to blame," declared Phil, who had entered at that moment.
0:00 / 0:00
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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 Circus Boys Across the Continent

Chapter X · Chapter 10

Chapter 10 of The Circus Boys Across the Continent is here in full — 189 sentences across 38 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/37 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
HIS FIRST BAREBACK LESSON "Where's that boy?"
Line 2
"He'll catch it if he ever dares show his face in this dressing tent again."
Line 3
This and other expressions marked the disapproval of the performers of the manner in which their enclosure had been entered and disrupted.
/ðɪs ənd ˈʌðər ɪkˈspreʃənz mɑːrkt ðə dɪsəˈpruːvəl ʌv ðə pərˈfɔːrmərz ʌv ðə ˈmænər ɪn wɪtʃ ðer enˈkloʊʒər hæd bɪn ˈentərd ənd dɪsˈrʌptɪd/
Line 4
"Don't blame him; blame the mule," advised Mr. Miaco, the head clown.
Line 5
"Yes; Teddy wasn't to blame," declared Phil, who had entered at that moment.

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.

clown noun US /klaʊn/

a rude or vulgar fool

From this reading “"Don't blame him; blame the mule," advised Mr. Miaco, the head clown.”

dares noun US /derz/

plural of “dare” — a challenge to do something dangerous or foolhardy

From this reading “"He'll catch it if he ever dares show his face in this dressing tent again."”

disapproval noun US /dɪsəˈpruːvəl/

a feeling of disliking something or what someone is doing

From this reading “This and other expressions marked the disapproval of the performers of the manner in which their enclosure had been entered and disrupted.”

disrupted adjective US /dɪsˈrʌptɪd/

marked by breaks or gaps

From this reading “This and other expressions marked the disapproval of the performers of the manner in which their enclosure had been entered and disrupted.”

enclosure noun US /enˈkloʊʒər/

a structure consisting of an area that has been enclosed for some purpose

From this reading “This and other expressions marked the disapproval of the performers of the manner in which their enclosure had been entered and disrupted.”

mule noun US /mjuːl/

hybrid offspring of a male donkey and a female horse; usually sterile

From this reading “"Don't blame him; blame the mule," advised Mr. Miaco, the head clown.”

performers noun US /pərˈfɔːrmərz/

plural of “performer” — an entertainer who performs a dramatic or musical work for an audience

From this reading “This and other expressions marked the disapproval of the performers of the manner in which their enclosure had been entered and disrupted.”

Teddy noun US /ˈtedi/

plaything consisting of a child's toy bear (usually plush and stuffed with soft materials)

From this reading “"Yes; Teddy wasn't to blame," declared Phil, who had entered at that moment.”

All words in this reading · 55

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.

advisedadjectiveUS /ædˈvaɪzd/

having the benefit of careful prior consideration or counsel

From this reading "Don't blame him; blame the mule," advised Mr. Miaco, the head clown.

againadverbUS /əˈɡen/

anew

From this reading "He'll catch it if he ever dares show his face in this dressing tent again."

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading This and other expressions marked the disapproval of the performers of the manner in which their enclosure had been entered and disrupted.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading "Yes; Teddy wasn't to blame," declared Phil, who had entered at that moment.

BAREBACKadjective

riding without a saddle

From this reading HIS FIRST BAREBACK LESSON "Where's that boy?"

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading This and other expressions marked the disapproval of the performers of the manner in which their enclosure had been entered and disrupted.

blameverbUS /bleɪm/

put or pin the blame on

From this reading "Don't blame him; blame the mule," advised Mr. Miaco, the head clown.

boynounUS /bɔɪ/

a youthful male person

From this reading HIS FIRST BAREBACK LESSON "Where's that boy?"

catchverbUS /kætʃ/

discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state

From this reading "He'll catch it if he ever dares show his face in this dressing tent again."

clownnounUS /klaʊn/

a rude or vulgar fool

From this reading "Don't blame him; blame the mule," advised Mr. Miaco, the head clown.

daresnounUS /derz/

plural of “dare” — a challenge to do something dangerous or foolhardy

From this reading "He'll catch it if he ever dares show his face in this dressing tent again."

declaredadjectiveUS /dɪˈklerd/

made known or openly avowed

From this reading "Yes; Teddy wasn't to blame," declared Phil, who had entered at that moment.

disapprovalnounUS /dɪsəˈpruːvəl/

a feeling of disliking something or what someone is doing

From this reading This and other expressions marked the disapproval of the performers of the manner in which their enclosure had been entered and disrupted.

disruptedadjectiveUS /dɪsˈrʌptɪd/

marked by breaks or gaps

From this reading This and other expressions marked the disapproval of the performers of the manner in which their enclosure had been entered and disrupted.

Don't

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

From this reading "Don't blame him; blame the mule," advised Mr. Miaco, the head clown.

dressingnounUS /ˈdresɪŋ/

savory dressings for salads; basically of two kinds: either the thin French or vinaigrette type or the creamy mayonnaise type

From this reading "He'll catch it if he ever dares show his face in this dressing tent again."

enclosurenounUS /enˈkloʊʒər/

a structure consisting of an area that has been enclosed for some purpose

From this reading This and other expressions marked the disapproval of the performers of the manner in which their enclosure had been entered and disrupted.

enteredverbUS /ˈentərd/

past form of “enter” — to come or go into

From this reading This and other expressions marked the disapproval of the performers of the manner in which their enclosure had been entered and disrupted.

everadverbUS /ˈevər/

at any time

From this reading "He'll catch it if he ever dares show his face in this dressing tent again."

expressionsnounUS /ɪkˈspreʃənz/

plural of “expression” — the feelings expressed on a person's face

From this reading This and other expressions marked the disapproval of the performers of the manner in which their enclosure had been entered and disrupted.

facenounUS /feɪs/

the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear

From this reading "He'll catch it if he ever dares show his face in this dressing tent again."

FIRSTadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading HIS FIRST BAREBACK LESSON "Where's that boy?"

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading This and other expressions marked the disapproval of the performers of the manner in which their enclosure had been entered and disrupted.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading "He'll catch it if he ever dares show his face in this dressing tent again."

He'll

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

From this reading "He'll catch it if he ever dares show his face in this dressing tent again."

headnounUS /hed/

the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains

From this reading "Don't blame him; blame the mule," advised Mr. Miaco, the head clown.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading "Don't blame him; blame the mule," advised Mr. Miaco, the head clown.

HISdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading HIS FIRST BAREBACK LESSON "Where's that boy?"

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading "He'll catch it if he ever dares show his face in this dressing tent again."

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading "He'll catch it if he ever dares show his face in this dressing tent again."

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading "He'll catch it if he ever dares show his face in this dressing tent again."

LESSONnounUS /ˈlesən/

a unit of instruction

From this reading HIS FIRST BAREBACK LESSON "Where's that boy?"

mannernounUS /ˈmænər/

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading This and other expressions marked the disapproval of the performers of the manner in which their enclosure had been entered and disrupted.

markedadjectiveUS /mɑːrkt/

strongly marked; easily noticeable

From this reading This and other expressions marked the disapproval of the performers of the manner in which their enclosure had been entered and disrupted.

Miaco

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

From this reading "Don't blame him; blame the mule," advised Mr. Miaco, the head clown.

momentnounUS /ˈmoʊmənt/

a particular point in time

From this reading "Yes; Teddy wasn't to blame," declared Phil, who had entered at that moment.

MrnounUS /ˈmɪstər/

a form of address for a man

From this reading "Don't blame him; blame the mule," advised Mr. Miaco, the head clown.

mulenounUS /mjuːl/

hybrid offspring of a male donkey and a female horse; usually sterile

From this reading "Don't blame him; blame the mule," advised Mr. Miaco, the head clown.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading This and other expressions marked the disapproval of the performers of the manner in which their enclosure had been entered and disrupted.

otheradjectiveUS /ˈʌðər/

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading This and other expressions marked the disapproval of the performers of the manner in which their enclosure had been entered and disrupted.

performersnounUS /pərˈfɔːrmərz/

plural of “performer” — an entertainer who performs a dramatic or musical work for an audience

From this reading This and other expressions marked the disapproval of the performers of the manner in which their enclosure had been entered and disrupted.

Phil

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

From this reading "Yes; Teddy wasn't to blame," declared Phil, who had entered at that moment.

showverbUS /ʃoʊ/

give an exhibition of to an interested audience

From this reading "He'll catch it if he ever dares show his face in this dressing tent again."

TeddynounUS /ˈtedi/

plaything consisting of a child's toy bear (usually plush and stuffed with soft materials)

From this reading "Yes; Teddy wasn't to blame," declared Phil, who had entered at that moment.

tentnounUS /tent/

a portable shelter (usually of canvas stretched over supporting poles and fastened to the ground with ropes and pegs)

From this reading "He'll catch it if he ever dares show his face in this dressing tent again."

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading HIS FIRST BAREBACK LESSON "Where's that boy?"

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading This and other expressions marked the disapproval of the performers of the manner in which their enclosure had been entered and disrupted.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading This and other expressions marked the disapproval of the performers of the manner in which their enclosure had been entered and disrupted.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading "He'll catch it if he ever dares show his face in this dressing tent again."

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading "Yes; Teddy wasn't to blame," declared Phil, who had entered at that moment.

wasn't

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

From this reading "Yes; Teddy wasn't to blame," declared Phil, who had entered at that moment.

Where's

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

From this reading HIS FIRST BAREBACK LESSON "Where's that boy?"

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading This and other expressions marked the disapproval of the performers of the manner in which their enclosure had been entered and disrupted.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading "Yes; Teddy wasn't to blame," declared Phil, who had entered at that moment.

YesnounUS /jes/

an affirmative

From this reading "Yes; Teddy wasn't to blame," declared Phil, who had entered at that moment.

Chapter 10 of The Circus Boys Across the Continent by Edgar B. P. Darlington holds 189 sentences, grouped into 38 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 10 of The Circus Boys Across the Continent contain?

Chapter 10 holds 189 sentences of The Circus Boys Across the Continent, unabridged, divided into 38 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 10 of The Circus Boys Across the Continent by Edgar B. P. Darlington exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 189 sentences, grouped into 38 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 10 of The Circus Boys Across the Continent?

Work through the 38 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 38 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 10 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 10 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 Circus Boys Across the Continent

Common questions about reading The Circus Boys Across the Continent by Edgar B. P. Darlington on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Circus Boys Across the Continent?

Yes. All 3829 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #2475 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Circus Boys Across the Continent is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #2475, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Circus Boys Across the Continent take to read?

About 319 minutes of reading across 766 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Circus Boys Across the Continent section by section

How to work through The Circus Boys Across the Continent section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 24 chapters of The Circus Boys Across the Continent 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 Circus Boys Across the Continent

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Circus Boys Across the Continent, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Never
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Circus Boys Across the Continent; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Guess
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Circus Boys Across the Continent; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
It--you
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Circus Boys Across the Continent; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Teddy
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Circus Boys Across the Continent; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.