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The Flockmaster of Poison Creek
The Flockmaster of Poison Creek

Chapter IX

Chapter 9 of The Flockmaster of Poison Creek is here in full — 131 sentences across 27 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Flockmaster of Poison Creek
Context Illustration Reading 1/26 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
A TWO-GUN MAN "You know, John, if a man's goin' to be a sheepman, John, he's got to keep awake day and night.
He ain't goin' to set gabbin' and let a grizzly come right up under his nose and kill his sheep.
It's the difference between the man that wouldn't do it and the man that would that makes the difference between a master and a man.
That's the difference that stands against Dad Frazer.
He'd never work up to partnership in a band of sheep if he lived seven hundred years."
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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 Flockmaster of Poison Creek

Chapter IX

Chapter 9 of The Flockmaster of Poison Creek is here in full — 131 sentences across 27 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/26 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
A TWO-GUN MAN "You know, John, if a man's goin' to be a sheepman, John, he's got to keep awake day and night.
Line 2
He ain't goin' to set gabbin' and let a grizzly come right up under his nose and kill his sheep.
Line 3
It's the difference between the man that wouldn't do it and the man that would that makes the difference between a master and a man.
Line 4
That's the difference that stands against Dad Frazer.
Line 5
He'd never work up to partnership in a band of sheep if he lived seven hundred years."

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.

awake adjective US /əˈweɪk/

not in a state of sleep; completely conscious

From this reading “A TWO-GUN MAN "You know, John, if a man's goin' to be a sheepman, John, he's got to keep awake day and night.”

band noun US /bænd/

an unofficial association of people or groups

From this reading “He'd never work up to partnership in a band of sheep if he lived seven hundred years."”

Dad noun US /dæd/

an informal term for a father; probably derived from baby talk

From this reading “That's the difference that stands against Dad Frazer.”

Frazer noun US /ˈfreɪzər/

English social anthropologist noted for studies of primitive religion and magic (1854-1941)

From this reading “That's the difference that stands against Dad Frazer.”

grizzly noun US /ˈɡrɪzli/

powerful brownish-yellow bear of the uplands of western North America

From this reading “He ain't goin' to set gabbin' and let a grizzly come right up under his nose and kill his sheep.”

partnership noun US /ˈpɑːrtnərʃɪp/

the members of a business venture created by contract

From this reading “He'd never work up to partnership in a band of sheep if he lived seven hundred years."”

sheep noun US /ʃiːp/

woolly usually horned ruminant mammal related to the goat

From this reading “He ain't goin' to set gabbin' and let a grizzly come right up under his nose and kill his sheep.”

stands noun US /stændz/

plural of “stand” — a support or foundation

From this reading “That's the difference that stands against Dad Frazer.”

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.

seven hundred noun + noun

In this reading “He'd never work up to partnership in a band of sheep if he lived seven hundred years."”

hundred years noun + noun

In this reading “He'd never work up to partnership in a band of sheep if he lived seven hundred years."”

keep awake verb + adjective

In this reading “A TWO-GUN MAN "You know, John, if a man's goin' to be a sheepman, John, he's got to keep awake day and night.”

makes the difference verb + article + noun counted as “make … difference”

In this reading “It's the difference between the man that wouldn't do it and the man that would that makes the difference between a master and a man.”

stands against verb + particle counted as “stand against”

In this reading “That's the difference that stands against Dad Frazer.”

All words in this reading · 60

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 A TWO-GUN MAN "You know, John, if a man's goin' to be a sheepman, John, he's got to keep awake day and night.

againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading That's the difference that stands against Dad Frazer.

ain't

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

From this reading He ain't goin' to set gabbin' and let a grizzly come right up under his nose and kill his sheep.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading A TWO-GUN MAN "You know, John, if a man's goin' to be a sheepman, John, he's got to keep awake day and night.

awakeadjectiveUS /əˈweɪk/

not in a state of sleep; completely conscious

From this reading A TWO-GUN MAN "You know, John, if a man's goin' to be a sheepman, John, he's got to keep awake day and night.

bandnounUS /bænd/

an unofficial association of people or groups

From this reading He'd never work up to partnership in a band of sheep if he lived seven hundred years."

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading A TWO-GUN MAN "You know, John, if a man's goin' to be a sheepman, John, he's got to keep awake day and night.

betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading It's the difference between the man that wouldn't do it and the man that would that makes the difference between a master and a man.

comeverbUS /kʌm/

move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading He ain't goin' to set gabbin' and let a grizzly come right up under his nose and kill his sheep.

DadnounUS /dæd/

an informal term for a father; probably derived from baby talk

From this reading That's the difference that stands against Dad Frazer.

daynounUS /deɪ/

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading A TWO-GUN MAN "You know, John, if a man's goin' to be a sheepman, John, he's got to keep awake day and night.

differencenounUS /ˈdɪfərəns/

the quality of being unlike or dissimilar

From this reading It's the difference between the man that wouldn't do it and the man that would that makes the difference between a master and a man.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading It's the difference between the man that wouldn't do it and the man that would that makes the difference between a master and a man.

FrazernounUS /ˈfreɪzər/

English social anthropologist noted for studies of primitive religion and magic (1854-1941)

From this reading That's the difference that stands against Dad Frazer.

gabbin

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

From this reading He ain't goin' to set gabbin' and let a grizzly come right up under his nose and kill his sheep.

goin

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

From this reading A TWO-GUN MAN "You know, John, if a man's goin' to be a sheepman, John, he's got to keep awake day and night.

gotverbUS /ɡɑːt/

inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading A TWO-GUN MAN "You know, John, if a man's goin' to be a sheepman, John, he's got to keep awake day and night.

grizzlynounUS /ˈɡrɪzli/

powerful brownish-yellow bear of the uplands of western North America

From this reading He ain't goin' to set gabbin' and let a grizzly come right up under his nose and kill his sheep.

HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading He ain't goin' to set gabbin' and let a grizzly come right up under his nose and kill his sheep.

He'd

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

From this reading He'd never work up to partnership in a band of sheep if he lived seven hundred years."

he's

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

From this reading A TWO-GUN MAN "You know, John, if a man's goin' to be a sheepman, John, he's got to keep awake day and night.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading He ain't goin' to set gabbin' and let a grizzly come right up under his nose and kill his sheep.

hundrednounUS /ˈhʌndrəd/

ten 10s

From this reading He'd never work up to partnership in a band of sheep if he lived seven hundred years."

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading A TWO-GUN MAN "You know, John, if a man's goin' to be a sheepman, John, he's got to keep awake day and night.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading He'd never work up to partnership in a band of sheep if he lived seven hundred years."

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It's the difference between the man that wouldn't do it and the man that would that makes the difference between a master and a man.

It's

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

From this reading It's the difference between the man that wouldn't do it and the man that would that makes the difference between a master and a man.

JohnnounUS /dʒɑːn/

a room or building equipped with one or more toilets

From this reading A TWO-GUN MAN "You know, John, if a man's goin' to be a sheepman, John, he's got to keep awake day and night.

keepverbUS /kiːp/

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

From this reading A TWO-GUN MAN "You know, John, if a man's goin' to be a sheepman, John, he's got to keep awake day and night.

killverbUS /kɪl/

cause to die; put to death, usually intentionally or knowingly

From this reading He ain't goin' to set gabbin' and let a grizzly come right up under his nose and kill his sheep.

knowverbUS /noʊ/

be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading A TWO-GUN MAN "You know, John, if a man's goin' to be a sheepman, John, he's got to keep awake day and night.

letauxiliary verbUS /let/

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading He ain't goin' to set gabbin' and let a grizzly come right up under his nose and kill his sheep.

livedverbUS /lɪvd/

past form of “live” — be an inhabitant of or reside in

From this reading He'd never work up to partnership in a band of sheep if he lived seven hundred years."

makesnounUS /meɪks/

plural of “make” — a recognizable kind

From this reading It's the difference between the man that wouldn't do it and the man that would that makes the difference between a master and a man.

MANnounUS /mæn/

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

From this reading A TWO-GUN MAN "You know, John, if a man's goin' to be a sheepman, John, he's got to keep awake day and night.

man'snounUS /mænz/

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

From this reading A TWO-GUN MAN "You know, John, if a man's goin' to be a sheepman, John, he's got to keep awake day and night.

masternounUS /ˈmæstər/

an artist of consummate skill

From this reading It's the difference between the man that wouldn't do it and the man that would that makes the difference between a master and a man.

neveradverbUS /ˈnevər/

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading He'd never work up to partnership in a band of sheep if he lived seven hundred years."

nightnounUS /naɪt/

the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside

From this reading A TWO-GUN MAN "You know, John, if a man's goin' to be a sheepman, John, he's got to keep awake day and night.

nosenounUS /noʊz/

the organ of smell and entrance to the respiratory tract; the prominent part of the face of man or other mammals

From this reading He ain't goin' to set gabbin' and let a grizzly come right up under his nose and kill his sheep.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading He'd never work up to partnership in a band of sheep if he lived seven hundred years."

partnershipnounUS /ˈpɑːrtnərʃɪp/

the members of a business venture created by contract

From this reading He'd never work up to partnership in a band of sheep if he lived seven hundred years."

rightadverbUS /raɪt/

precisely, exactly

From this reading He ain't goin' to set gabbin' and let a grizzly come right up under his nose and kill his sheep.

setverbUS /set/

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading He ain't goin' to set gabbin' and let a grizzly come right up under his nose and kill his sheep.

sevennounUS /ˈsevən/

the cardinal number that is the sum of six and one

From this reading He'd never work up to partnership in a band of sheep if he lived seven hundred years."

sheepnounUS /ʃiːp/

woolly usually horned ruminant mammal related to the goat

From this reading He ain't goin' to set gabbin' and let a grizzly come right up under his nose and kill his sheep.

sheepmannoun

a man who raises (or tends) sheep

From this reading A TWO-GUN MAN "You know, John, if a man's goin' to be a sheepman, John, he's got to keep awake day and night.

standsnounUS /stændz/

plural of “stand” — a support or foundation

From this reading That's the difference that stands against Dad Frazer.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading It's the difference between the man that wouldn't do it and the man that would that makes the difference between a master and a man.

That's

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

From this reading That's the difference that stands against Dad Frazer.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading It's the difference between the man that wouldn't do it and the man that would that makes the difference between a master and a man.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading A TWO-GUN MAN "You know, John, if a man's goin' to be a sheepman, John, he's got to keep awake day and night.

TWO-GUN

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

From this reading A TWO-GUN MAN "You know, John, if a man's goin' to be a sheepman, John, he's got to keep awake day and night.

underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading He ain't goin' to set gabbin' and let a grizzly come right up under his nose and kill his sheep.

upadjectiveUS /ʌp/

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading He ain't goin' to set gabbin' and let a grizzly come right up under his nose and kill his sheep.

workverbUS /wɜːrk/

exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity

From this reading He'd never work up to partnership in a band of sheep if he lived seven hundred years."

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading It's the difference between the man that wouldn't do it and the man that would that makes the difference between a master and a man.

wouldn't

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

From this reading It's the difference between the man that wouldn't do it and the man that would that makes the difference between a master and a man.

yearsnounUS /jɪrz/

a late time of life

From this reading He'd never work up to partnership in a band of sheep if he lived seven hundred years."

YoupronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading A TWO-GUN MAN "You know, John, if a man's goin' to be a sheepman, John, he's got to keep awake day and night.

Chapter 9 of The Flockmaster of Poison Creek by George W. (George Washington) Ogden holds 131 sentences, grouped into 27 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 9 of The Flockmaster of Poison Creek contain?

Chapter 9 holds 131 sentences of The Flockmaster of Poison Creek, unabridged, divided into 27 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 9 of The Flockmaster of Poison Creek by George W. (George Washington) Ogden exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 131 sentences, grouped into 27 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 9 of The Flockmaster of Poison Creek?

Work through the 27 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 27 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 9 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 9 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 Flockmaster of Poison Creek

Common questions about reading The Flockmaster of Poison Creek by George W. (George Washington) Ogden on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Flockmaster of Poison Creek?

Yes. All 4612 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #29668 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Flockmaster of Poison Creek is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #29668, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Flockmaster of Poison Creek take to read?

About 384 minutes of reading across 923 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Flockmaster of Poison Creek section by section

How to work through The Flockmaster of Poison Creek section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 29 chapters of The Flockmaster of Poison Creek 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 Flockmaster of Poison Creek

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Flockmaster of Poison Creek, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Chimney
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Flockmaster of Poison Creek; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Butte
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Flockmaster of Poison Creek; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Chance
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Flockmaster of Poison Creek; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
United
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Flockmaster of Poison Creek; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.