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The Clock Struck One
The Clock Struck One

Chapter I

Chapter 1 of The Clock Struck One is here in full — 167 sentences across 34 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Fergus Hume • Curated US English Learning Edition
Cover illustration for The Clock Struck One
Context Illustration Reading 1/33 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE CLOCK STRUCK ONE.
THE CLOCK STRUCK ONE.
BY FERGUS HUME, AUTHOR OF "THE MYSTERY OF A HANSOM CAB," "TRACKED BY A TATTOO," "THE CARBUNCLE CLUE," ETC., ETC.
Over the bridge which spans the railway two miles from Canterbury a girl was riding a bicycle.
She was perfect mistress of her machine--and nerves; for on the slope of the hill she let the wheels run freely, and did not trouble to use the brake.
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 Clock Struck One

Chapter I

Chapter 1 of The Clock Struck One is here in full — 167 sentences across 34 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/33 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE CLOCK STRUCK ONE.
/ðə klɑːk strʌk wʌn/
Line 2
THE CLOCK STRUCK ONE.
/ðə klɑːk strʌk wʌn/
Line 3
BY FERGUS HUME, AUTHOR OF "THE MYSTERY OF A HANSOM CAB," "TRACKED BY A TATTOO," "THE CARBUNCLE CLUE," ETC., ETC.
Line 4
Over the bridge which spans the railway two miles from Canterbury a girl was riding a bicycle.
/ˈoʊvər ðə brɪdʒ wɪtʃ spænz ðə ˈreɪlweɪ tuː maɪlz frʌm ˈkæntərberi ə ɡɜːrl wɑːz ˈraɪdɪŋ ə ˈbaɪsɪkəl/
Line 5
She was perfect mistress of her machine--and nerves; for on the slope of the hill she let the wheels run freely, and did not trouble to use the brake.

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.

bicycle noun US /ˈbaɪsɪkəl/

a wheeled vehicle that has two wheels and is moved by foot pedals

From this reading “Over the bridge which spans the railway two miles from Canterbury a girl was riding a bicycle.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
brake noun US /breɪk/

a restraint used to slow or stop a vehicle

From this reading “She was perfect mistress of her machine--and nerves; for on the slope of the hill she let the wheels run freely, and did not trouble to use the brake.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Canterbury noun US /ˈkæntərberi/

a town in Kent in southeastern England; site of the cathedral where Thomas a Becket was martyred in 1170; seat of the archbishop and primate of the Anglican Church

From this reading “Over the bridge which spans the railway two miles from Canterbury a girl was riding a bicycle.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
hansom noun US /ˈhænsəm/

a two-wheeled horse-drawn covered carriage with the driver's seat above and behind the passengers

From this reading “BY FERGUS HUME, AUTHOR OF "THE MYSTERY OF A HANSOM CAB," "TRACKED BY A TATTOO," "THE CARBUNCLE CLUE," ETC., ETC.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
hume noun US /hjuːm/

Scottish philosopher skeptical philosophy restricted human knowledge to that which can be perceived by the senses (1711-1776)

From this reading “BY FERGUS HUME, AUTHOR OF "THE MYSTERY OF A HANSOM CAB," "TRACKED BY A TATTOO," "THE CARBUNCLE CLUE," ETC., ETC.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
spans noun US /spænz/

plural of “span” — the complete duration of something

From this reading “Over the bridge which spans the railway two miles from Canterbury a girl was riding a bicycle.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
tattoo noun US /ˌtæˈtuː/

a drumbeat or bugle call that signals the military to return to their quarters

From this reading “BY FERGUS HUME, AUTHOR OF "THE MYSTERY OF A HANSOM CAB," "TRACKED BY A TATTOO," "THE CARBUNCLE CLUE," ETC., ETC.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
tracked adjective US /trækt/

having tracks

From this reading “BY FERGUS HUME, AUTHOR OF "THE MYSTERY OF A HANSOM CAB," "TRACKED BY A TATTOO," "THE CARBUNCLE CLUE," ETC., ETC.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1

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.

HANSOM CAB noun + noun

a two-wheeled horse-drawn covered carriage with the driver's seat above and behind the passengers

In this reading “BY FERGUS HUME, AUTHOR OF "THE MYSTERY OF A HANSOM CAB," "TRACKED BY A TATTOO," "THE CARBUNCLE CLUE," ETC., ETC.”

441 times in 426,211 chapters
two miles noun + noun counted as “two mile”

In this reading “Over the bridge which spans the railway two miles from Canterbury a girl was riding a bicycle.”

9,400 times in 426,211 chapters
Over the bridge preposition + article + noun counted as “over … bridge”

In this reading “Over the bridge which spans the railway two miles from Canterbury a girl was riding a bicycle.”

1,603 times in 426,211 chapters
on the slope preposition + article + noun counted as “on … slope”

In this reading “She was perfect mistress of her machine--and nerves; for on the slope of the hill she let the wheels run freely, and did not trouble to use the brake.”

2,550 times in 426,211 chapters

All words in this reading · 52

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.

AdeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading BY FERGUS HUME, AUTHOR OF "THE MYSTERY OF A HANSOM CAB," "TRACKED BY A TATTOO," "THE CARBUNCLE CLUE," ETC., ETC.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading She was perfect mistress of her machine--and nerves; for on the slope of the hill she let the wheels run freely, and did not trouble to use the brake.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
AUTHORnounUS /ˈɔːθər/

writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)

From this reading BY FERGUS HUME, AUTHOR OF "THE MYSTERY OF A HANSOM CAB," "TRACKED BY A TATTOO," "THE CARBUNCLE CLUE," ETC., ETC.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
bicyclenounUS /ˈbaɪsɪkəl/

a wheeled vehicle that has two wheels and is moved by foot pedals

From this reading Over the bridge which spans the railway two miles from Canterbury a girl was riding a bicycle.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
brakenounUS /breɪk/

a restraint used to slow or stop a vehicle

From this reading She was perfect mistress of her machine--and nerves; for on the slope of the hill she let the wheels run freely, and did not trouble to use the brake.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
bridgenounUS /brɪdʒ/

a structure that allows people or vehicles to cross an obstacle such as a river or canal or railway etc.

From this reading Over the bridge which spans the railway two miles from Canterbury a girl was riding a bicycle.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
BYprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading BY FERGUS HUME, AUTHOR OF "THE MYSTERY OF A HANSOM CAB," "TRACKED BY A TATTOO," "THE CARBUNCLE CLUE," ETC., ETC.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
CABnounUS /kæb/

a compartment at the front of a motor vehicle or locomotive where driver sits

From this reading BY FERGUS HUME, AUTHOR OF "THE MYSTERY OF A HANSOM CAB," "TRACKED BY A TATTOO," "THE CARBUNCLE CLUE," ETC., ETC.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
CanterburynounUS /ˈkæntərberi/

a town in Kent in southeastern England; site of the cathedral where Thomas a Becket was martyred in 1170; seat of the archbishop and primate of the Anglican Church

From this reading Over the bridge which spans the railway two miles from Canterbury a girl was riding a bicycle.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
CARBUNCLEnoun

deep-red cabochon garnet cut without facets

From this reading BY FERGUS HUME, AUTHOR OF "THE MYSTERY OF A HANSOM CAB," "TRACKED BY A TATTOO," "THE CARBUNCLE CLUE," ETC., ETC.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
CLOCKnounUS /klɑːk/

a timepiece that shows the time of day

From this reading THE CLOCK STRUCK ONE.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
CLUEnounUS /kluː/

a slight indication

From this reading BY FERGUS HUME, AUTHOR OF "THE MYSTERY OF A HANSOM CAB," "TRACKED BY A TATTOO," "THE CARBUNCLE CLUE," ETC., ETC.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading She was perfect mistress of her machine--and nerves; for on the slope of the hill she let the wheels run freely, and did not trouble to use the brake.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
ETC

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

From this reading BY FERGUS HUME, AUTHOR OF "THE MYSTERY OF A HANSOM CAB," "TRACKED BY A TATTOO," "THE CARBUNCLE CLUE," ETC., ETC.

Pending verification
FERGUS

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

From this reading BY FERGUS HUME, AUTHOR OF "THE MYSTERY OF A HANSOM CAB," "TRACKED BY A TATTOO," "THE CARBUNCLE CLUE," ETC., ETC.

Pending verification
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading She was perfect mistress of her machine--and nerves; for on the slope of the hill she let the wheels run freely, and did not trouble to use the brake.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
freelyadverbUS /ˈfriːli/

in a free manner

From this reading She was perfect mistress of her machine--and nerves; for on the slope of the hill she let the wheels run freely, and did not trouble to use the brake.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Over the bridge which spans the railway two miles from Canterbury a girl was riding a bicycle.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
girlnounUS /ɡɜːrl/

a young female

From this reading Over the bridge which spans the railway two miles from Canterbury a girl was riding a bicycle.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
HANSOMnounUS /ˈhænsəm/

a two-wheeled horse-drawn covered carriage with the driver's seat above and behind the passengers

From this reading BY FERGUS HUME, AUTHOR OF "THE MYSTERY OF A HANSOM CAB," "TRACKED BY A TATTOO," "THE CARBUNCLE CLUE," ETC., ETC.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading She was perfect mistress of her machine--and nerves; for on the slope of the hill she let the wheels run freely, and did not trouble to use the brake.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
hillnounUS /hɪl/

a local and well-defined elevation of the land

From this reading She was perfect mistress of her machine--and nerves; for on the slope of the hill she let the wheels run freely, and did not trouble to use the brake.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
HUMEnounUS /hjuːm/

Scottish philosopher skeptical philosophy restricted human knowledge to that which can be perceived by the senses (1711-1776)

From this reading BY FERGUS HUME, AUTHOR OF "THE MYSTERY OF A HANSOM CAB," "TRACKED BY A TATTOO," "THE CARBUNCLE CLUE," ETC., ETC.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
letauxiliary verbUS /let/

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading She was perfect mistress of her machine--and nerves; for on the slope of the hill she let the wheels run freely, and did not trouble to use the brake.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
machinenounUS /məˈʃiːn/

any mechanical or electrical device that transmits or modifies energy to perform or assist in the performance of human tasks

From this reading She was perfect mistress of her machine--and nerves; for on the slope of the hill she let the wheels run freely, and did not trouble to use the brake.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
milesnounUS /maɪlz/

plural of “mile” — a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters

From this reading Over the bridge which spans the railway two miles from Canterbury a girl was riding a bicycle.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
mistressnounUS /ˈmɪstrəs/

an adulterous woman; a woman who has an ongoing extramarital sexual relationship with a man

From this reading She was perfect mistress of her machine--and nerves; for on the slope of the hill she let the wheels run freely, and did not trouble to use the brake.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
MYSTERYnounUS /ˈmɪstəri/

something that baffles understanding and cannot be explained

From this reading BY FERGUS HUME, AUTHOR OF "THE MYSTERY OF A HANSOM CAB," "TRACKED BY A TATTOO," "THE CARBUNCLE CLUE," ETC., ETC.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
nervesnounUS /nɜːrvz/

an uneasy psychological state

From this reading She was perfect mistress of her machine--and nerves; for on the slope of the hill she let the wheels run freely, and did not trouble to use the brake.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading She was perfect mistress of her machine--and nerves; for on the slope of the hill she let the wheels run freely, and did not trouble to use the brake.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
OFprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading BY FERGUS HUME, AUTHOR OF "THE MYSTERY OF A HANSOM CAB," "TRACKED BY A TATTOO," "THE CARBUNCLE CLUE," ETC., ETC.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading She was perfect mistress of her machine--and nerves; for on the slope of the hill she let the wheels run freely, and did not trouble to use the brake.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
ONEpronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading THE CLOCK STRUCK ONE.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
OverprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading Over the bridge which spans the railway two miles from Canterbury a girl was riding a bicycle.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
perfectadjectiveUS /pərˈfekt/

being complete of its kind and without defect or blemish

From this reading She was perfect mistress of her machine--and nerves; for on the slope of the hill she let the wheels run freely, and did not trouble to use the brake.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
railwaynounUS /ˈreɪlweɪ/

line that is the commercial organization responsible for operating a system of transportation for trains that pull passengers or freight

From this reading Over the bridge which spans the railway two miles from Canterbury a girl was riding a bicycle.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ridingnounUS /ˈraɪdɪŋ/

the sport of sitting on the back of a horse while controlling its movements

From this reading Over the bridge which spans the railway two miles from Canterbury a girl was riding a bicycle.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
runverbUS /rʌn/

move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time

From this reading She was perfect mistress of her machine--and nerves; for on the slope of the hill she let the wheels run freely, and did not trouble to use the brake.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ShepronounUS /ʃiː/

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading She was perfect mistress of her machine--and nerves; for on the slope of the hill she let the wheels run freely, and did not trouble to use the brake.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
slopenounUS /sloʊp/

an elevated geological formation

From this reading She was perfect mistress of her machine--and nerves; for on the slope of the hill she let the wheels run freely, and did not trouble to use the brake.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
spansnounUS /spænz/

plural of “span” — the complete duration of something

From this reading Over the bridge which spans the railway two miles from Canterbury a girl was riding a bicycle.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
STRUCKadjectiveUS /strʌk/

(used in combination) affected by something overwhelming

From this reading THE CLOCK STRUCK ONE.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
TATTOOnounUS /ˌtæˈtuː/

a drumbeat or bugle call that signals the military to return to their quarters

From this reading BY FERGUS HUME, AUTHOR OF "THE MYSTERY OF A HANSOM CAB," "TRACKED BY A TATTOO," "THE CARBUNCLE CLUE," ETC., ETC.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE CLOCK STRUCK ONE.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading She was perfect mistress of her machine--and nerves; for on the slope of the hill she let the wheels run freely, and did not trouble to use the brake.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
TRACKEDadjectiveUS /trækt/

having tracks

From this reading BY FERGUS HUME, AUTHOR OF "THE MYSTERY OF A HANSOM CAB," "TRACKED BY A TATTOO," "THE CARBUNCLE CLUE," ETC., ETC.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
troublenounUS /ˈtrʌbəl/

a source of difficulty

From this reading She was perfect mistress of her machine--and nerves; for on the slope of the hill she let the wheels run freely, and did not trouble to use the brake.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
twonounUS /tuː/

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading Over the bridge which spans the railway two miles from Canterbury a girl was riding a bicycle.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
usenounUS /juːs/

the act of using

From this reading She was perfect mistress of her machine--and nerves; for on the slope of the hill she let the wheels run freely, and did not trouble to use the brake.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Over the bridge which spans the railway two miles from Canterbury a girl was riding a bicycle.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
wheelsnounUS /wiːlz/

plural of “wheel” — a simple machine consisting of a circular frame with spokes (or a solid disc) that can rotate on a shaft or axle (as in vehicles or other machines)

From this reading She was perfect mistress of her machine--and nerves; for on the slope of the hill she let the wheels run freely, and did not trouble to use the brake.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading Over the bridge which spans the railway two miles from Canterbury a girl was riding a bicycle.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary

Chapter 1 of The Clock Struck One by Fergus Hume holds 167 sentences, grouped into 34 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 1 of The Clock Struck One contain?

Chapter 1 holds 167 sentences of The Clock Struck One, unabridged, divided into 34 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of The Clock Struck One by Fergus Hume exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 167 sentences, grouped into 34 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 1 of The Clock Struck One?

Work through the 34 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 34 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 1 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 1 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 Clock Struck One

Common questions about reading The Clock Struck One by Fergus Hume on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Clock Struck One?

Yes. All 4275 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #55689 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Clock Struck One is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #55689, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Clock Struck One take to read?

About 356 minutes of reading across 855 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Clock Struck One section by section

How to work through The Clock Struck One section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 26 chapters of The Clock Struck One 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 Clock Struck One

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Clock Struck One, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Clock
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Clock Struck One; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Struck
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Clock Struck One; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Fergus
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Clock Struck One; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Author
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Clock Struck One; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.