The Firebug

Chapter XXV · The Human Spider

Chapter XXV of The Firebug, “The Human Spider,” is here in full — 67 sentences across 14 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Roy J. (Roy Judson) Snell • Curated US English Learning Edition

English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5

Strangely enough, as Johnny crept over the railing that hung out over one hundred and fifty feet of empty air, he chanced to think of the black bag beneath the bed in his room.

“What a numbskull I was to throw it there and not tell anyone about it,” he thought to himself.

“I shall probably not get out of this alive.

The bag may stay there for weeks.

Then it is likely to be found by the wrong person.

Narrator

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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.

Chapter XXV Reading 1/13

The Firebug

Chapter XXV · The Human Spider

Chapter XXV of The Firebug, “The Human Spider,” is here in full — 67 sentences across 14 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/13 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1

Strangely enough, as Johnny crept over the railing that hung out over one hundred and fifty feet of empty air, he chanced to think of the black bag beneath the bed in his room.

/ˈstreɪndʒli ɪˈnʌf æz ˈdʒɑːni krept ˈoʊvər ðə ˈreɪlɪŋ ðæt hʌŋ aʊt ˈoʊvər wʌn ˈhʌndrəd ənd ˈfɪfti fiːt ʌv ˈempti er hiː tʃænst tuː θɪŋk ʌv ðə blæk bæɡ bɪˈniːθ ðə bed ɪn hɪz ruːm/

Line 2

“What a numbskull I was to throw it there and not tell anyone about it,” he thought to himself.

Line 3

“I shall probably not get out of this alive.

/aɪ ʃæl ˈprɑːbəbliː nɑːt ɡet aʊt ʌv ðɪs əˈlaɪv/

Line 4

The bag may stay there for weeks.

/ðə bæɡ meɪ steɪ ðer fɔːr wiːks/

Line 5

Then it is likely to be found by the wrong person.

/ðen ɪt ɪz ˈlaɪkli tuː biː faʊnd baɪ ðə rɔːŋ ˈpɜːrsən/

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.

anyone pronoun US /ˈeniwʌn/

any person at all

From this reading ““What a numbskull I was to throw it there and not tell anyone about it,” he thought to himself.”

bag noun US /bæɡ/

a flexible container with a single opening

From this reading “Strangely enough, as Johnny crept over the railing that hung out over one hundred and fifty feet of empty air, he chanced to think of the black bag beneath the bed in his room.”

chanced verb US /tʃænst/

past form of “chance” — be the case by chance

crept verb US /krept/

inflected form of “creep” — move slowly; in the case of people or animals with the body near the ground

Johnny noun US /ˈdʒɑːni/

“Johnny” was applied as a nickname for Confederate soldiers by the Federal soldiers in the American Civil War; “greyback” derived from their grey Confederate uniforms

railing noun US /ˈreɪlɪŋ/

a barrier consisting of a horizontal bar and supports

Strangely adverb US /ˈstreɪndʒli/

in a strange manner

throw verb US /θroʊ/

propel through the air

From this reading ““What a numbskull I was to throw it there and not tell anyone about it,” he thought to himself.”

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.

fifty feet noun + noun counted as “fifty foot”

In this reading “Strangely enough, as Johnny crept over the railing that hung out over one hundred and fifty feet of empty air, he chanced to think of the black bag beneath the bed in his room.”

over the railing preposition + article + noun counted as “over … railing”

In this reading “Strangely enough, as Johnny crept over the railing that hung out over one hundred and fifty feet of empty air, he chanced to think of the black bag beneath the bed in his room.”

crept over verb + particle counted as “creep over”

In this reading “Strangely enough, as Johnny crept over the railing that hung out over one hundred and fifty feet of empty air, he chanced to think of the black bag beneath the bed in his room.”

empty air verb + noun

In this reading “Strangely enough, as Johnny crept over the railing that hung out over one hundred and fifty feet of empty air, he chanced to think of the black bag beneath the bed in his room.”

black bag adjective + noun

In this reading “Strangely enough, as Johnny crept over the railing that hung out over one hundred and fifty feet of empty air, he chanced to think of the black bag beneath the bed in his room.”

get out verb + adjective

move out of or depart from

In this reading ““I shall probably not get out of this alive.”

stay there verb + particle

In this reading “The bag may stay there for weeks.”

hung out verb + adjective counted as “hang out”

spend time in a certain location or with certain people

In this reading “Strangely enough, as Johnny crept over the railing that hung out over one hundred and fifty feet of empty air, he chanced to think of the black bag beneath the bed in his room.”

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 “What a numbskull I was to throw it there and not tell anyone about it,” he thought to himself.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading “What a numbskull I was to throw it there and not tell anyone about it,” he thought to himself.

airnounUS /er/

a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of

From this reading Strangely enough, as Johnny crept over the railing that hung out over one hundred and fifty feet of empty air, he chanced to think of the black bag beneath the bed in his room.

aliveadjectiveUS /əˈlaɪv/

possessing life

From this reading “I shall probably not get out of this alive.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Strangely enough, as Johnny crept over the railing that hung out over one hundred and fifty feet of empty air, he chanced to think of the black bag beneath the bed in his room.

anyonepronounUS /ˈeniwʌn/

any person at all

From this reading “What a numbskull I was to throw it there and not tell anyone about it,” he thought to himself.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading Strangely enough, as Johnny crept over the railing that hung out over one hundred and fifty feet of empty air, he chanced to think of the black bag beneath the bed in his room.

bagnounUS /bæɡ/

a flexible container with a single opening

From this reading Strangely enough, as Johnny crept over the railing that hung out over one hundred and fifty feet of empty air, he chanced to think of the black bag beneath the bed in his room.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading Then it is likely to be found by the wrong person.

bednounUS /bed/

a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep

From this reading Strangely enough, as Johnny crept over the railing that hung out over one hundred and fifty feet of empty air, he chanced to think of the black bag beneath the bed in his room.

beneathprepositionUS /bɪˈniːθ/

Directly under; in or to a lower position than.

From this reading Strangely enough, as Johnny crept over the railing that hung out over one hundred and fifty feet of empty air, he chanced to think of the black bag beneath the bed in his room.

blackadjectiveUS /blæk/

being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light

From this reading Strangely enough, as Johnny crept over the railing that hung out over one hundred and fifty feet of empty air, he chanced to think of the black bag beneath the bed in his room.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Then it is likely to be found by the wrong person.

chancedverbUS /tʃænst/

past form of “chance” — be the case by chance

From this reading Strangely enough, as Johnny crept over the railing that hung out over one hundred and fifty feet of empty air, he chanced to think of the black bag beneath the bed in his room.

creptverbUS /krept/

inflected form of “creep” — move slowly; in the case of people or animals with the body near the ground

From this reading Strangely enough, as Johnny crept over the railing that hung out over one hundred and fifty feet of empty air, he chanced to think of the black bag beneath the bed in his room.

emptyverbUS /ˈempti/

make void or empty of contents

From this reading Strangely enough, as Johnny crept over the railing that hung out over one hundred and fifty feet of empty air, he chanced to think of the black bag beneath the bed in his room.

enoughnounUS /ɪˈnʌf/

an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose

From this reading Strangely enough, as Johnny crept over the railing that hung out over one hundred and fifty feet of empty air, he chanced to think of the black bag beneath the bed in his room.

feetnounUS /fiːt/

plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint

From this reading Strangely enough, as Johnny crept over the railing that hung out over one hundred and fifty feet of empty air, he chanced to think of the black bag beneath the bed in his room.

fiftynounUS /ˈfɪfti/

the cardinal number that is the product of ten and five

From this reading Strangely enough, as Johnny crept over the railing that hung out over one hundred and fifty feet of empty air, he chanced to think of the black bag beneath the bed in his room.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading The bag may stay there for weeks.

foundverbUS /faʊnd/

set up or found

From this reading Then it is likely to be found by the wrong person.

getverbUS /ɡet/

come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading “I shall probably not get out of this alive.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading Strangely enough, as Johnny crept over the railing that hung out over one hundred and fifty feet of empty air, he chanced to think of the black bag beneath the bed in his room.

himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading “What a numbskull I was to throw it there and not tell anyone about it,” he thought to himself.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Strangely enough, as Johnny crept over the railing that hung out over one hundred and fifty feet of empty air, he chanced to think of the black bag beneath the bed in his room.

hundrednounUS /ˈhʌndrəd/

ten 10s

From this reading Strangely enough, as Johnny crept over the railing that hung out over one hundred and fifty feet of empty air, he chanced to think of the black bag beneath the bed in his room.

hungverbUS /hʌŋ/

inflected form of “hang” — be suspended or hanging

From this reading Strangely enough, as Johnny crept over the railing that hung out over one hundred and fifty feet of empty air, he chanced to think of the black bag beneath the bed in his room.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading “What a numbskull I was to throw it there and not tell anyone about it,” he thought to himself.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Strangely enough, as Johnny crept over the railing that hung out over one hundred and fifty feet of empty air, he chanced to think of the black bag beneath the bed in his room.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading Then it is likely to be found by the wrong person.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading “What a numbskull I was to throw it there and not tell anyone about it,” he thought to himself.

JohnnynounUS /ˈdʒɑːni/

“Johnny” was applied as a nickname for Confederate soldiers by the Federal soldiers in the American Civil War; “greyback” derived from their grey Confederate uniforms

From this reading Strangely enough, as Johnny crept over the railing that hung out over one hundred and fifty feet of empty air, he chanced to think of the black bag beneath the bed in his room.

likelyadjectiveUS /ˈlaɪkli/

has a good chance of being the case or of coming about

From this reading Then it is likely to be found by the wrong person.

maymodal verbUS /meɪ/

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading The bag may stay there for weeks.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading “What a numbskull I was to throw it there and not tell anyone about it,” he thought to himself.

numbskull

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

From this reading “What a numbskull I was to throw it there and not tell anyone about it,” he thought to himself.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Strangely enough, as Johnny crept over the railing that hung out over one hundred and fifty feet of empty air, he chanced to think of the black bag beneath the bed in his room.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Strangely enough, as Johnny crept over the railing that hung out over one hundred and fifty feet of empty air, he chanced to think of the black bag beneath the bed in his room.

outadjectiveUS /aʊt/

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading Strangely enough, as Johnny crept over the railing that hung out over one hundred and fifty feet of empty air, he chanced to think of the black bag beneath the bed in his room.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading Strangely enough, as Johnny crept over the railing that hung out over one hundred and fifty feet of empty air, he chanced to think of the black bag beneath the bed in his room.

personnounUS /ˈpɜːrsən/

a human being

From this reading Then it is likely to be found by the wrong person.

probablyadverbUS /ˈprɑːbəbliː/

with considerable certainty; without much doubt

From this reading “I shall probably not get out of this alive.

railingnounUS /ˈreɪlɪŋ/

a barrier consisting of a horizontal bar and supports

From this reading Strangely enough, as Johnny crept over the railing that hung out over one hundred and fifty feet of empty air, he chanced to think of the black bag beneath the bed in his room.

roomnounUS /ruːm/

an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling

From this reading Strangely enough, as Johnny crept over the railing that hung out over one hundred and fifty feet of empty air, he chanced to think of the black bag beneath the bed in his room.

shallmodal verbUS /ʃæl/

used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest

From this reading “I shall probably not get out of this alive.

stayverbUS /steɪ/

stay the same; remain in a certain state

From this reading The bag may stay there for weeks.

StrangelyadverbUS /ˈstreɪndʒli/

in a strange manner

From this reading Strangely enough, as Johnny crept over the railing that hung out over one hundred and fifty feet of empty air, he chanced to think of the black bag beneath the bed in his room.

tellverbUS /tel/

express in words

From this reading “What a numbskull I was to throw it there and not tell anyone about it,” he thought to himself.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Strangely enough, as Johnny crept over the railing that hung out over one hundred and fifty feet of empty air, he chanced to think of the black bag beneath the bed in his room.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Strangely enough, as Johnny crept over the railing that hung out over one hundred and fifty feet of empty air, he chanced to think of the black bag beneath the bed in his room.

ThenadverbUS /ðen/

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading Then it is likely to be found by the wrong person.

thereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading “What a numbskull I was to throw it there and not tell anyone about it,” he thought to himself.

thinkverbUS /θɪŋk/

judge or regard; look upon; judge

From this reading Strangely enough, as Johnny crept over the railing that hung out over one hundred and fifty feet of empty air, he chanced to think of the black bag beneath the bed in his room.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading “I shall probably not get out of this alive.

thoughtnounUS /θɔːt/

the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading “What a numbskull I was to throw it there and not tell anyone about it,” he thought to himself.

throwverbUS /θroʊ/

propel through the air

From this reading “What a numbskull I was to throw it there and not tell anyone about it,” he thought to himself.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Strangely enough, as Johnny crept over the railing that hung out over one hundred and fifty feet of empty air, he chanced to think of the black bag beneath the bed in his room.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading “What a numbskull I was to throw it there and not tell anyone about it,” he thought to himself.

weeksnounUS /wiːks/

plural of “week” — any period of seven consecutive days

From this reading The bag may stay there for weeks.

WhatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading “What a numbskull I was to throw it there and not tell anyone about it,” he thought to himself.

wrongadjectiveUS /rɔːŋ/

not correct; not in conformity with fact or truth

From this reading Then it is likely to be found by the wrong person.

Chapter 25 of The Firebug by Roy J. (Roy Judson) Snell holds 67 sentences, grouped into 14 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 25 of The Firebug contain?

Chapter 25 holds 67 sentences of The Firebug, unabridged, divided into 14 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 25 of The Firebug by Roy J. (Roy Judson) Snell exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 67 sentences, grouped into 14 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 25 of The Firebug?

Work through the 14 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 14 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 25 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 25 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.

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Yes. All 3370 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #42755 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

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Project Gutenberg eBook #42755, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

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About 280 minutes of reading across 674 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

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Vocabulary met early in The Firebug

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Chapter XXV · The Human Spider

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