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The Forest of Swords
The Forest of Swords

Chapter II · Chapter 2

Chapter 2 of The Forest of Swords is here in full — 377 sentences across 76 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

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Context Illustration Reading 1/75 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
IN THE FRENCH CAMP John rushed forward and grasped his comrade.
The sympathetic hands of others seized him also, and they raised him to his feet, while an officer gave him stimulant out of a flask, John meanwhile telling who his comrade was.
Lannes' eyes opened and he flushed through the tan of his face.
"Pardon," he said, "it was a momentary weakness.
I am ashamed of myself, but I shall not faint again."
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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 Forest of Swords

Chapter II · Chapter 2

Chapter 2 of The Forest of Swords is here in full — 377 sentences across 76 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/75 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
IN THE FRENCH CAMP John rushed forward and grasped his comrade.
/ɪn ðə frentʃ kæmp dʒɑːn rʌʃt ˈfɔːrwərd ənd ɡræspt hɪz ˈkɑːmræd/
Line 2
The sympathetic hands of others seized him also, and they raised him to his feet, while an officer gave him stimulant out of a flask, John meanwhile telling who his comrade was.
Line 3
Lannes' eyes opened and he flushed through the tan of his face.
Line 4
"Pardon," he said, "it was a momentary weakness.
/ˈpɑːrdən hiː sed ɪt wɑːz ə ˈmoʊmənteri ˈwiːknəs/
Line 5
I am ashamed of myself, but I shall not faint again."
/aɪ æm əˈʃeɪmd ʌv ˌmaɪˈself bʌt aɪ ʃæl nɑːt feɪnt əˈɡen/

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.

comrade noun US /ˈkɑːmræd/

a friend who is frequently in the company of another

From this reading “IN THE FRENCH CAMP John rushed forward and grasped his comrade.”

flask noun US /flæsk/

bottle that has a narrow neck

From this reading “The sympathetic hands of others seized him also, and they raised him to his feet, while an officer gave him stimulant out of a flask, John meanwhile telling who his comrade was.”

flushed adjective US /flʌʃt/

having the pinkish flush of health

From this reading “Lannes' eyes opened and he flushed through the tan of his face.”

grasped verb US /ɡræspt/

past form of “grasp” — hold firmly

From this reading “IN THE FRENCH CAMP John rushed forward and grasped his comrade.”

momentary adjective US /ˈmoʊmənteri/

lasting for a markedly brief time

From this reading “"Pardon," he said, "it was a momentary weakness.”

stimulant noun US /ˈstɪmjələnt/

any stimulating information or event; acts to arouse action

From this reading “The sympathetic hands of others seized him also, and they raised him to his feet, while an officer gave him stimulant out of a flask, John meanwhile telling who his comrade was.”

sympathetic adjective US /ˌsɪmpəˈθetɪk/

of or relating to the sympathetic nervous system

From this reading “The sympathetic hands of others seized him also, and they raised him to his feet, while an officer gave him stimulant out of a flask, John meanwhile telling who his comrade was.”

tan noun US /tæn/

a browning of the skin resulting from exposure to the rays of the sun

From this reading “Lannes' eyes opened and he flushed through the tan of his face.”

All words in this reading · 56

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 sympathetic hands of others seized him also, and they raised him to his feet, while an officer gave him stimulant out of a flask, John meanwhile telling who his comrade was.

againadverbUS /əˈɡen/

anew

From this reading I am ashamed of myself, but I shall not faint again."

alsoadverbUS /ˈɔːlsoʊ/

in addition

From this reading The sympathetic hands of others seized him also, and they raised him to his feet, while an officer gave him stimulant out of a flask, John meanwhile telling who his comrade was.

amauxiliary verbUS /æm/

the form of “be” used with “I”

From this reading I am ashamed of myself, but I shall not faint again."

andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading The sympathetic hands of others seized him also, and they raised him to his feet, while an officer gave him stimulant out of a flask, John meanwhile telling who his comrade was.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading IN THE FRENCH CAMP John rushed forward and grasped his comrade.

ashamedadjectiveUS /əˈʃeɪmd/

feeling shame or guilt or embarrassment or remorse

From this reading I am ashamed of myself, but I shall not faint again."

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading I am ashamed of myself, but I shall not faint again."

CAMPnounUS /kæmp/

temporary living quarters specially built by the army for soldiers

From this reading IN THE FRENCH CAMP John rushed forward and grasped his comrade.

comradenounUS /ˈkɑːmræd/

a friend who is frequently in the company of another

From this reading IN THE FRENCH CAMP John rushed forward and grasped his comrade.

eyesnounUS /aɪz/

opinion or judgment

From this reading Lannes' eyes opened and he flushed through the tan of his face.

facenounUS /feɪs/

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

From this reading Lannes' eyes opened and he flushed through the tan of his face.

faintadjectiveUS /feɪnt/

deficient in magnitude; barely perceptible; lacking clarity or brightness or loudness etc

From this reading I am ashamed of myself, but I shall not faint again."

feetnounUS /fiːt/

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

From this reading The sympathetic hands of others seized him also, and they raised him to his feet, while an officer gave him stimulant out of a flask, John meanwhile telling who his comrade was.

flasknounUS /flæsk/

bottle that has a narrow neck

From this reading The sympathetic hands of others seized him also, and they raised him to his feet, while an officer gave him stimulant out of a flask, John meanwhile telling who his comrade was.

flushedadjectiveUS /flʌʃt/

having the pinkish flush of health

From this reading Lannes' eyes opened and he flushed through the tan of his face.

forwardadverbUS /ˈfɔːrwərd/

at or to or toward the front

From this reading IN THE FRENCH CAMP John rushed forward and grasped his comrade.

FRENCHnounUS /frentʃ/

the Romance language spoken in France and in countries colonized by France

From this reading IN THE FRENCH CAMP John rushed forward and grasped his comrade.

gaveverbUS /ɡeɪv/

inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense

From this reading The sympathetic hands of others seized him also, and they raised him to his feet, while an officer gave him stimulant out of a flask, John meanwhile telling who his comrade was.

graspedverbUS /ɡræspt/

past form of “grasp” — hold firmly

From this reading IN THE FRENCH CAMP John rushed forward and grasped his comrade.

handsnounUS /hændz/

(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child

From this reading The sympathetic hands of others seized him also, and they raised him to his feet, while an officer gave him stimulant out of a flask, John meanwhile telling who his comrade was.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading Lannes' eyes opened and he flushed through the tan of his face.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading The sympathetic hands of others seized him also, and they raised him to his feet, while an officer gave him stimulant out of a flask, John meanwhile telling who his comrade was.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading IN THE FRENCH CAMP John rushed forward and grasped his comrade.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading I am ashamed of myself, but I shall not faint again."

INprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading IN THE FRENCH CAMP John rushed forward and grasped his comrade.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading "Pardon," he said, "it was a momentary weakness.

JohnnounUS /dʒɑːn/

a room or building equipped with one or more toilets

From this reading IN THE FRENCH CAMP John rushed forward and grasped his comrade.

Lannes

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

From this reading Lannes' eyes opened and he flushed through the tan of his face.

meanwhileadverbUS /ˈmiːnwaɪl/

at the same time but in another place

From this reading The sympathetic hands of others seized him also, and they raised him to his feet, while an officer gave him stimulant out of a flask, John meanwhile telling who his comrade was.

momentaryadjectiveUS /ˈmoʊmənteri/

lasting for a markedly brief time

From this reading "Pardon," he said, "it was a momentary weakness.

myselfpronounUS /ˌmaɪˈself/

used when the speaker is also the object of the action

From this reading I am ashamed of myself, but I shall not faint again."

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading I am ashamed of myself, but I shall not faint again."

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The sympathetic hands of others seized him also, and they raised him to his feet, while an officer gave him stimulant out of a flask, John meanwhile telling who his comrade was.

officernounUS /ˈɔːfəsər/

any person in the armed services who holds a position of authority or command

From this reading The sympathetic hands of others seized him also, and they raised him to his feet, while an officer gave him stimulant out of a flask, John meanwhile telling who his comrade was.

openedadjectiveUS /ˈoʊpənd/

used of mouth or eyes

From this reading Lannes' eyes opened and he flushed through the tan of his face.

others

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

From this reading The sympathetic hands of others seized him also, and they raised him to his feet, while an officer gave him stimulant out of a flask, John meanwhile telling who his comrade was.

outadjectiveUS /aʊt/

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading The sympathetic hands of others seized him also, and they raised him to his feet, while an officer gave him stimulant out of a flask, John meanwhile telling who his comrade was.

PardonverbUS /ˈpɑːrdən/

accept an excuse for

From this reading "Pardon," he said, "it was a momentary weakness.

raisedadjectiveUS /reɪzd/

located or moved above the surround or above the normal position

From this reading The sympathetic hands of others seized him also, and they raised him to his feet, while an officer gave him stimulant out of a flask, John meanwhile telling who his comrade was.

rushedadjectiveUS /rʌʃt/

done under pressure

From this reading IN THE FRENCH CAMP John rushed forward and grasped his comrade.

saidadjectiveUS /sed/

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading "Pardon," he said, "it was a momentary weakness.

seizedverbUS /siːzd/

past form of “seize” — take hold of; grab

From this reading The sympathetic hands of others seized him also, and they raised him to his feet, while an officer gave him stimulant out of a flask, John meanwhile telling who his comrade was.

shallmodal verbUS /ʃæl/

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

From this reading I am ashamed of myself, but I shall not faint again."

stimulantnounUS /ˈstɪmjələnt/

any stimulating information or event; acts to arouse action

From this reading The sympathetic hands of others seized him also, and they raised him to his feet, while an officer gave him stimulant out of a flask, John meanwhile telling who his comrade was.

sympatheticadjectiveUS /ˌsɪmpəˈθetɪk/

of or relating to the sympathetic nervous system

From this reading The sympathetic hands of others seized him also, and they raised him to his feet, while an officer gave him stimulant out of a flask, John meanwhile telling who his comrade was.

tannounUS /tæn/

a browning of the skin resulting from exposure to the rays of the sun

From this reading Lannes' eyes opened and he flushed through the tan of his face.

tellingadjectiveUS /ˈtelɪŋ/

disclosing unintentionally something concealed

From this reading The sympathetic hands of others seized him also, and they raised him to his feet, while an officer gave him stimulant out of a flask, John meanwhile telling who his comrade was.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading IN THE FRENCH CAMP John rushed forward and grasped his comrade.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading The sympathetic hands of others seized him also, and they raised him to his feet, while an officer gave him stimulant out of a flask, John meanwhile telling who his comrade was.

throughprepositionUS /θruː/

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading Lannes' eyes opened and he flushed through the tan of his face.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading The sympathetic hands of others seized him also, and they raised him to his feet, while an officer gave him stimulant out of a flask, John meanwhile telling who his comrade was.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading The sympathetic hands of others seized him also, and they raised him to his feet, while an officer gave him stimulant out of a flask, John meanwhile telling who his comrade was.

weaknessnounUS /ˈwiːknəs/

a flaw or weak point

From this reading "Pardon," he said, "it was a momentary weakness.

whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading The sympathetic hands of others seized him also, and they raised him to his feet, while an officer gave him stimulant out of a flask, John meanwhile telling who his comrade was.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading The sympathetic hands of others seized him also, and they raised him to his feet, while an officer gave him stimulant out of a flask, John meanwhile telling who his comrade was.

Chapter 2 of The Forest of Swords by Joseph A. (Joseph Alexander) Altsheler holds 377 sentences, grouped into 76 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 2 of The Forest of Swords contain?

Chapter 2 holds 377 sentences of The Forest of Swords, unabridged, divided into 76 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 2 of The Forest of Swords by Joseph A. (Joseph Alexander) Altsheler exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 377 sentences, grouped into 76 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 2 of The Forest of Swords?

Work through the 76 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 76 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 2 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 2 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 Forest of Swords

Common questions about reading The Forest of Swords by Joseph A. (Joseph Alexander) Altsheler on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Forest of Swords?

Yes. All 4839 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #15760 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Forest of Swords is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #15760, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Forest of Swords take to read?

About 403 minutes of reading across 968 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Forest of Swords section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 14 chapters of The Forest of Swords 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 Forest of Swords

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Forest of Swords, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Little
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Forest of Swords; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Dignified
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Forest of Swords; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Quiet
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Forest of Swords; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Lannes
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Forest of Swords; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.