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The Coming of the Law
The Coming of the Law

Chapter V · Chapter 5

Chapter 5 of The Coming of the Law is here in full — 211 sentences across 43 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

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Context Illustration Reading 1/42 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE GIRL OF DRY BOTTOM Hollis was not frightened, though he was in a position that might have aroused fear or apprehension in any man's mind.
He was alone, the man had him covered with the rifle, and assuredly this was one of Dunlavey's hirelings.
Hollis glanced swiftly around.
Certain signs--some shrubbery that he saw through the canyon, a bald butte or two rising in the distance--told him that he was near the river.
And Norton had told him to keep away from the river trail.
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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 Coming of the Law

Chapter V · Chapter 5

Chapter 5 of The Coming of the Law is here in full — 211 sentences across 43 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/42 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE GIRL OF DRY BOTTOM Hollis was not frightened, though he was in a position that might have aroused fear or apprehension in any man's mind.
Line 2
He was alone, the man had him covered with the rifle, and assuredly this was one of Dunlavey's hirelings.
Line 3
Hollis glanced swiftly around.
Line 4
Certain signs--some shrubbery that he saw through the canyon, a bald butte or two rising in the distance--told him that he was near the river.
Line 5
And Norton had told him to keep away from the river trail.

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.

apprehension noun US /ˌæprɪˈhenʃən/

fearful expectation or anticipation

From this reading “THE GIRL OF DRY BOTTOM Hollis was not frightened, though he was in a position that might have aroused fear or apprehension in any man's mind.”

aroused adjective US /ərˈaʊzd/

aroused to action

From this reading “THE GIRL OF DRY BOTTOM Hollis was not frightened, though he was in a position that might have aroused fear or apprehension in any man's mind.”

assuredly adverb US /əˈʃʊrədli/

without a doubt

From this reading “He was alone, the man had him covered with the rifle, and assuredly this was one of Dunlavey's hirelings.”

bald adjective US /bɔːld/

with no effort to conceal

From this reading “Certain signs--some shrubbery that he saw through the canyon, a bald butte or two rising in the distance--told him that he was near the river.”

butte noun US /bjuːt/

a hill that rises abruptly from the surrounding region; has a flat top and sloping sides

From this reading “Certain signs--some shrubbery that he saw through the canyon, a bald butte or two rising in the distance--told him that he was near the river.”

canyon noun US /ˈkænjən/

a ravine formed by a river in an area with little rainfall

From this reading “Certain signs--some shrubbery that he saw through the canyon, a bald butte or two rising in the distance--told him that he was near the river.”

rifle verb US /ˈraɪfəl/

steal goods; take as spoils

From this reading “He was alone, the man had him covered with the rifle, and assuredly this was one of Dunlavey's hirelings.”

shrubbery noun US /ˈʃrʌbəri/

an area where a number of shrubs are planted

From this reading “Certain signs--some shrubbery that he saw through the canyon, a bald butte or two rising in the distance--told him that he was near the river.”

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.

glanced swiftly verb + particle counted as “glance swiftly”

In this reading “Hollis glanced swiftly around.”

keep away verb + particle

prevent from coming close

In this reading “And Norton had told him to keep away from the river trail.”

any man's adjective + noun counted as “any man”

In this reading “THE GIRL OF DRY BOTTOM Hollis was not frightened, though he was in a position that might have aroused fear or apprehension in any man's mind.”

from the river preposition + article + noun counted as “from … river”

In this reading “And Norton had told him to keep away from the river trail.”

in a position preposition + article + noun counted as “in … position”

In this reading “THE GIRL OF DRY BOTTOM Hollis was not frightened, though he was in a position that might have aroused fear or apprehension in any man's mind.”

All words in this reading · 61

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 THE GIRL OF DRY BOTTOM Hollis was not frightened, though he was in a position that might have aroused fear or apprehension in any man's mind.

aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/

Having no one else present.

From this reading He was alone, the man had him covered with the rifle, and assuredly this was one of Dunlavey's hirelings.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading He was alone, the man had him covered with the rifle, and assuredly this was one of Dunlavey's hirelings.

anyadjectiveUS /ˈeni/

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading THE GIRL OF DRY BOTTOM Hollis was not frightened, though he was in a position that might have aroused fear or apprehension in any man's mind.

apprehensionnounUS /ˌæprɪˈhenʃən/

fearful expectation or anticipation

From this reading THE GIRL OF DRY BOTTOM Hollis was not frightened, though he was in a position that might have aroused fear or apprehension in any man's mind.

aroundprepositionUS /ərˈaʊnd/

surrounding, or on every side of, something

From this reading Hollis glanced swiftly around.

arousedadjectiveUS /ərˈaʊzd/

aroused to action

From this reading THE GIRL OF DRY BOTTOM Hollis was not frightened, though he was in a position that might have aroused fear or apprehension in any man's mind.

assuredlyadverbUS /əˈʃʊrədli/

without a doubt

From this reading He was alone, the man had him covered with the rifle, and assuredly this was one of Dunlavey's hirelings.

awayadverbUS /əˈweɪ/

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading And Norton had told him to keep away from the river trail.

baldadjectiveUS /bɔːld/

with no effort to conceal

From this reading Certain signs--some shrubbery that he saw through the canyon, a bald butte or two rising in the distance--told him that he was near the river.

BOTTOMnounUS /ˈbɑːtəm/

the lower side of anything

From this reading THE GIRL OF DRY BOTTOM Hollis was not frightened, though he was in a position that might have aroused fear or apprehension in any man's mind.

buttenounUS /bjuːt/

a hill that rises abruptly from the surrounding region; has a flat top and sloping sides

From this reading Certain signs--some shrubbery that he saw through the canyon, a bald butte or two rising in the distance--told him that he was near the river.

canyonnounUS /ˈkænjən/

a ravine formed by a river in an area with little rainfall

From this reading Certain signs--some shrubbery that he saw through the canyon, a bald butte or two rising in the distance--told him that he was near the river.

CertainadjectiveUS /ˈsɜːrtən/

definite but not specified or identified

From this reading Certain signs--some shrubbery that he saw through the canyon, a bald butte or two rising in the distance--told him that he was near the river.

coveredadjectiveUS /ˈkʌvərd/

overlaid or spread or topped with or enclosed within something; sometimes used as a combining form

From this reading He was alone, the man had him covered with the rifle, and assuredly this was one of Dunlavey's hirelings.

distancenounUS /ˈdɪstəns/

the property created by the space between two objects or points

From this reading Certain signs--some shrubbery that he saw through the canyon, a bald butte or two rising in the distance--told him that he was near the river.

DRYadjectiveUS /draɪ/

free from liquid or moisture; lacking natural or normal moisture or depleted of water; or no longer wet

From this reading THE GIRL OF DRY BOTTOM Hollis was not frightened, though he was in a position that might have aroused fear or apprehension in any man's mind.

Dunlavey's

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

From this reading He was alone, the man had him covered with the rifle, and assuredly this was one of Dunlavey's hirelings.

fearverbUS /fɪr/

be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event

From this reading THE GIRL OF DRY BOTTOM Hollis was not frightened, though he was in a position that might have aroused fear or apprehension in any man's mind.

frightenedadjectiveUS /ˈfraɪtənd/

made afraid

From this reading THE GIRL OF DRY BOTTOM Hollis was not frightened, though he was in a position that might have aroused fear or apprehension in any man's mind.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading And Norton had told him to keep away from the river trail.

GIRLnounUS /ɡɜːrl/

a young female

From this reading THE GIRL OF DRY BOTTOM Hollis was not frightened, though he was in a position that might have aroused fear or apprehension in any man's mind.

glancedverbUS /ɡlænst/

past form of “glance” — throw a glance at; take a brief look at

From this reading Hollis glanced swiftly around.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading He was alone, the man had him covered with the rifle, and assuredly this was one of Dunlavey's hirelings.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading THE GIRL OF DRY BOTTOM Hollis was not frightened, though he was in a position that might have aroused fear or apprehension in any man's mind.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading THE GIRL OF DRY BOTTOM Hollis was not frightened, though he was in a position that might have aroused fear or apprehension in any man's mind.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading He was alone, the man had him covered with the rifle, and assuredly this was one of Dunlavey's hirelings.

hirelings

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

From this reading He was alone, the man had him covered with the rifle, and assuredly this was one of Dunlavey's hirelings.

Hollis

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

From this reading THE GIRL OF DRY BOTTOM Hollis was not frightened, though he was in a position that might have aroused fear or apprehension in any man's mind.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading THE GIRL OF DRY BOTTOM Hollis was not frightened, though he was in a position that might have aroused fear or apprehension in any man's mind.

keepverbUS /kiːp/

cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”

From this reading And Norton had told him to keep away from the river trail.

mannounUS /mæn/

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading He was alone, the man had him covered with the rifle, and assuredly this was one of Dunlavey's hirelings.

man'snounUS /mænz/

possessive form of “man” — an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading THE GIRL OF DRY BOTTOM Hollis was not frightened, though he was in a position that might have aroused fear or apprehension in any man's mind.

mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading THE GIRL OF DRY BOTTOM Hollis was not frightened, though he was in a position that might have aroused fear or apprehension in any man's mind.

mindnounUS /maɪnd/

The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.

From this reading THE GIRL OF DRY BOTTOM Hollis was not frightened, though he was in a position that might have aroused fear or apprehension in any man's mind.

nearadverbUS /nɪr/

near in time or place or relationship

From this reading Certain signs--some shrubbery that he saw through the canyon, a bald butte or two rising in the distance--told him that he was near the river.

Norton

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

From this reading And Norton had told him to keep away from the river trail.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading THE GIRL OF DRY BOTTOM Hollis was not frightened, though he was in a position that might have aroused fear or apprehension in any man's mind.

OFprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading THE GIRL OF DRY BOTTOM Hollis was not frightened, though he was in a position that might have aroused fear or apprehension in any man's mind.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading He was alone, the man had him covered with the rifle, and assuredly this was one of Dunlavey's hirelings.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading THE GIRL OF DRY BOTTOM Hollis was not frightened, though he was in a position that might have aroused fear or apprehension in any man's mind.

positionnounUS /pəˈzɪʃən/

the particular portion of space occupied by something

From this reading THE GIRL OF DRY BOTTOM Hollis was not frightened, though he was in a position that might have aroused fear or apprehension in any man's mind.

rifleverbUS /ˈraɪfəl/

steal goods; take as spoils

From this reading He was alone, the man had him covered with the rifle, and assuredly this was one of Dunlavey's hirelings.

risingadjectiveUS /ˈraɪzɪŋ/

advancing or becoming higher or greater in degree or value or status

From this reading Certain signs--some shrubbery that he saw through the canyon, a bald butte or two rising in the distance--told him that he was near the river.

rivernounUS /ˈrɪvər/

a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)

From this reading Certain signs--some shrubbery that he saw through the canyon, a bald butte or two rising in the distance--told him that he was near the river.

sawverbUS /sɔː/

cut with a saw

From this reading Certain signs--some shrubbery that he saw through the canyon, a bald butte or two rising in the distance--told him that he was near the river.

shrubberynounUS /ˈʃrʌbəri/

an area where a number of shrubs are planted

From this reading Certain signs--some shrubbery that he saw through the canyon, a bald butte or two rising in the distance--told him that he was near the river.

signsnounUS /saɪnz/

plural of “sign” — a perceptible indication of something not immediately apparent (as a visible clue that something has happened)

From this reading Certain signs--some shrubbery that he saw through the canyon, a bald butte or two rising in the distance--told him that he was near the river.

someadjectiveUS /sʌm/

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading Certain signs--some shrubbery that he saw through the canyon, a bald butte or two rising in the distance--told him that he was near the river.

swiftlyadverbUS /ˈswɪftli/

in a swift manner

From this reading Hollis glanced swiftly around.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading THE GIRL OF DRY BOTTOM Hollis was not frightened, though he was in a position that might have aroused fear or apprehension in any man's mind.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE GIRL OF DRY BOTTOM Hollis was not frightened, though he was in a position that might have aroused fear or apprehension in any man's mind.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading He was alone, the man had him covered with the rifle, and assuredly this was one of Dunlavey's hirelings.

thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading THE GIRL OF DRY BOTTOM Hollis was not frightened, though he was in a position that might have aroused fear or apprehension in any man's mind.

throughprepositionUS /θruː/

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading Certain signs--some shrubbery that he saw through the canyon, a bald butte or two rising in the distance--told him that he was near the river.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading And Norton had told him to keep away from the river trail.

toldverbUS /toʊld/

inflected form of “tell” — express in words

From this reading Certain signs--some shrubbery that he saw through the canyon, a bald butte or two rising in the distance--told him that he was near the river.

trailnounUS /treɪl/

a track or mark left by something that has passed

From this reading And Norton had told him to keep away from the river trail.

twonounUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Certain signs--some shrubbery that he saw through the canyon, a bald butte or two rising in the distance--told him that he was near the river.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading THE GIRL OF DRY BOTTOM Hollis was not frightened, though he was in a position that might have aroused fear or apprehension in any man's mind.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading He was alone, the man had him covered with the rifle, and assuredly this was one of Dunlavey's hirelings.

Chapter 5 of The Coming of the Law by Charles Alden Seltzer holds 211 sentences, grouped into 43 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 5 of The Coming of the Law contain?

Chapter 5 holds 211 sentences of The Coming of the Law, unabridged, divided into 43 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 5 of The Coming of the Law by Charles Alden Seltzer exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 211 sentences, grouped into 43 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 Coming of the Law?

Work through the 43 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 43 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 Coming of the Law

Common questions about reading The Coming of the Law by Charles Alden Seltzer on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Coming of the Law?

Yes. All 4578 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #31512 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Coming of the Law is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #31512, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Coming of the Law take to read?

About 381 minutes of reading across 916 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Coming of the Law section by section

How to work through The Coming of the Law section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

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  2. Read one section

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  3. Listen and tap

    Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.

Vocabulary met early in The Coming of the Law

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Coming of the Law, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Author
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Coming of the Law; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Range
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Coming of the Law; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Riders
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Coming of the Law; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Two-gun
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Coming of the Law; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.