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The Hilltop Boys on the River
The Hilltop Boys on the River

Chapter XIV · Chapter 14

Chapter 14 of The Hilltop Boys on the River is here in full — 93 sentences across 19 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Hilltop Boys on the River
Context Illustration Reading 1/18 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
BILLY'S NOCTURNAL ADVENTURE It was dark in the camp, but Billy, as he stole out of the tent, could distinguish a dark form moving swiftly down the camp street, and followed without making any noise, taking care to keep as much as possible in the shadow.
Unless the person he was following should happen to look around, there was very little danger of his being seen, but he took all the precautions he could to avoid being detected.
"It is not a thief," he said to himself, "and it isn't any one who has designs on one of the boats.
He left that tent, but who is he and what does he want?"
The silent figure, moving rapidly forward, presently left the line of tents, and made for the cottage occupied by the doctor.
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Speed 0.75x
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 Hilltop Boys on the River

Chapter XIV · Chapter 14

Chapter 14 of The Hilltop Boys on the River is here in full — 93 sentences across 19 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/18 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
BILLY'S NOCTURNAL ADVENTURE It was dark in the camp, but Billy, as he stole out of the tent, could distinguish a dark form moving swiftly down the camp street, and followed without making any noise, taking care to keep as much as possible in the shadow.
/ˈbɪliz nɑːkˈtɜːrnəl ædˈventʃər ɪt wɑːz dɑːrk ɪn ðə kæmp bʌt ˈbɪli æz hiː stoʊl aʊt ʌv ðə tent kʊd dɪˈstɪŋɡwɪʃ ə dɑːrk fɔːrm ˈmuːvɪŋ ˈswɪftli daʊn ðə kæmp striːt ənd ˈfɑːloʊd wɪˈθaʊt ˈmeɪkɪŋ ˈeni nɔɪz ˈteɪkɪŋ ker tuː kiːp æz mʌtʃ æz ˈpɑːsəbəl ɪn ðə ˈʃæd.oʊ/
Line 2
Unless the person he was following should happen to look around, there was very little danger of his being seen, but he took all the precautions he could to avoid being detected.
/ənˈles ðə ˈpɜːrsən hiː wɑːz ˈfɑːloʊɪŋ ʃʊd ˈhæpən tuː lʊk ərˈaʊnd ðer wɑːz ˈveri ˈlɪtəl ˈdeɪndʒər ʌv hɪz ˈbiːɪŋ siːn bʌt hiː tʊk ɔːl ðə priˈkɔːʃənz hiː kʊd tuː əˈvɔɪd ˈbiːɪŋ dɪˈtektəd/
Line 3
"It is not a thief," he said to himself, "and it isn't any one who has designs on one of the boats.
Line 4
He left that tent, but who is he and what does he want?"
/hiː left ðæt tent bʌt huː ɪz hiː ənd wʌt dʌz hiː wɑːnt/
Line 5
The silent figure, moving rapidly forward, presently left the line of tents, and made for the cottage occupied by the doctor.
/ðə ˈsaɪlənt ˈfɪɡjər ˈmuːvɪŋ ˈræpədli ˈfɔːrwərd ˈprezəntli left ðə laɪn ʌv tents ənd meɪd fɔːr ðə ˈkɑːtədʒ ˈɑːkjəpaɪd baɪ ðə ˈdɑːktər/

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.

billy's noun US /ˈbɪliz/

possessive form of “billy” — a short stout club used primarily by policemen

From this reading “BILLY'S NOCTURNAL ADVENTURE It was dark in the camp, but Billy, as he stole out of the tent, could distinguish a dark form moving swiftly down the camp street, and followed without making any noise, taking care to keep as much as possible in the shadow.”

designs noun US /dɪˈzaɪnz/

plural of “design” — the act of working out the form of something (as by making a sketch or outline or plan)

From this reading “"It is not a thief," he said to himself, "and it isn't any one who has designs on one of the boats.”

detected adjective US /dɪˈtektəd/

perceived or discerned

From this reading “Unless the person he was following should happen to look around, there was very little danger of his being seen, but he took all the precautions he could to avoid being detected.”

distinguish verb US /dɪˈstɪŋɡwɪʃ/

mark as different

From this reading “BILLY'S NOCTURNAL ADVENTURE It was dark in the camp, but Billy, as he stole out of the tent, could distinguish a dark form moving swiftly down the camp street, and followed without making any noise, taking care to keep as much as possible in the shadow.”

nocturnal adjective US /nɑːkˈtɜːrnəl/

belonging to or active during the night

From this reading “BILLY'S NOCTURNAL ADVENTURE It was dark in the camp, but Billy, as he stole out of the tent, could distinguish a dark form moving swiftly down the camp street, and followed without making any noise, taking care to keep as much as possible in the shadow.”

precautions noun US /priˈkɔːʃənz/

plural of “precaution” — a precautionary measure warding off impending danger or damage or injury etc.

From this reading “Unless the person he was following should happen to look around, there was very little danger of his being seen, but he took all the precautions he could to avoid being detected.”

tents noun US /tents/

plural of “tent” — a portable shelter (usually of canvas stretched over supporting poles and fastened to the ground with ropes and pegs)

From this reading “The silent figure, moving rapidly forward, presently left the line of tents, and made for the cottage occupied by the doctor.”

thief noun US /θiːf/

a criminal who takes property belonging to someone else with the intention of keeping it or selling it

From this reading “"It is not a thief," he said to himself, "and it isn't any one who has designs on one of the boats.”

All words in this reading · 87

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 BILLY'S NOCTURNAL ADVENTURE It was dark in the camp, but Billy, as he stole out of the tent, could distinguish a dark form moving swiftly down the camp street, and followed without making any noise, taking care to keep as much as possible in the shadow.

ADVENTUREverbUS /ædˈventʃər/

take a risk in the hope of a favorable outcome

From this reading BILLY'S NOCTURNAL ADVENTURE It was dark in the camp, but Billy, as he stole out of the tent, could distinguish a dark form moving swiftly down the camp street, and followed without making any noise, taking care to keep as much as possible in the shadow.

alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading Unless the person he was following should happen to look around, there was very little danger of his being seen, but he took all the precautions he could to avoid being detected.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading BILLY'S NOCTURNAL ADVENTURE It was dark in the camp, but Billy, as he stole out of the tent, could distinguish a dark form moving swiftly down the camp street, and followed without making any noise, taking care to keep as much as possible in the shadow.

anyadjectiveUS /ˈeni/

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading BILLY'S NOCTURNAL ADVENTURE It was dark in the camp, but Billy, as he stole out of the tent, could distinguish a dark form moving swiftly down the camp street, and followed without making any noise, taking care to keep as much as possible in the shadow.

aroundprepositionUS /ərˈaʊnd/

surrounding, or on every side of, something

From this reading Unless the person he was following should happen to look around, there was very little danger of his being seen, but he took all the precautions he could to avoid being detected.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading BILLY'S NOCTURNAL ADVENTURE It was dark in the camp, but Billy, as he stole out of the tent, could distinguish a dark form moving swiftly down the camp street, and followed without making any noise, taking care to keep as much as possible in the shadow.

avoidverbUS /əˈvɔɪd/

stay clear from; keep away from; keep out of the way of someone or something

From this reading Unless the person he was following should happen to look around, there was very little danger of his being seen, but he took all the precautions he could to avoid being detected.

beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading Unless the person he was following should happen to look around, there was very little danger of his being seen, but he took all the precautions he could to avoid being detected.

BillynounUS /ˈbɪli/

a short stout club used primarily by policemen

From this reading BILLY'S NOCTURNAL ADVENTURE It was dark in the camp, but Billy, as he stole out of the tent, could distinguish a dark form moving swiftly down the camp street, and followed without making any noise, taking care to keep as much as possible in the shadow.

BILLY'SnounUS /ˈbɪliz/

possessive form of “billy” — a short stout club used primarily by policemen

From this reading BILLY'S NOCTURNAL ADVENTURE It was dark in the camp, but Billy, as he stole out of the tent, could distinguish a dark form moving swiftly down the camp street, and followed without making any noise, taking care to keep as much as possible in the shadow.

boatsnounUS /boʊts/

plural of “boat” — a small vessel for travel on water

From this reading "It is not a thief," he said to himself, "and it isn't any one who has designs on one of the boats.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading BILLY'S NOCTURNAL ADVENTURE It was dark in the camp, but Billy, as he stole out of the tent, could distinguish a dark form moving swiftly down the camp street, and followed without making any noise, taking care to keep as much as possible in the shadow.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading The silent figure, moving rapidly forward, presently left the line of tents, and made for the cottage occupied by the doctor.

campnounUS /kæmp/

temporary living quarters specially built by the army for soldiers

From this reading BILLY'S NOCTURNAL ADVENTURE It was dark in the camp, but Billy, as he stole out of the tent, could distinguish a dark form moving swiftly down the camp street, and followed without making any noise, taking care to keep as much as possible in the shadow.

carenounUS /ker/

the work of providing treatment for or attending to someone or something

From this reading BILLY'S NOCTURNAL ADVENTURE It was dark in the camp, but Billy, as he stole out of the tent, could distinguish a dark form moving swiftly down the camp street, and followed without making any noise, taking care to keep as much as possible in the shadow.

cottagenounUS /ˈkɑːtədʒ/

a small house with a single story

From this reading The silent figure, moving rapidly forward, presently left the line of tents, and made for the cottage occupied by the doctor.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading BILLY'S NOCTURNAL ADVENTURE It was dark in the camp, but Billy, as he stole out of the tent, could distinguish a dark form moving swiftly down the camp street, and followed without making any noise, taking care to keep as much as possible in the shadow.

dangernounUS /ˈdeɪndʒər/

the condition of being susceptible to harm or injury

From this reading Unless the person he was following should happen to look around, there was very little danger of his being seen, but he took all the precautions he could to avoid being detected.

darknounUS /dɑːrk/

absence of light or illumination

From this reading BILLY'S NOCTURNAL ADVENTURE It was dark in the camp, but Billy, as he stole out of the tent, could distinguish a dark form moving swiftly down the camp street, and followed without making any noise, taking care to keep as much as possible in the shadow.

designsnounUS /dɪˈzaɪnz/

plural of “design” — the act of working out the form of something (as by making a sketch or outline or plan)

From this reading "It is not a thief," he said to himself, "and it isn't any one who has designs on one of the boats.

detectedadjectiveUS /dɪˈtektəd/

perceived or discerned

From this reading Unless the person he was following should happen to look around, there was very little danger of his being seen, but he took all the precautions he could to avoid being detected.

distinguishverbUS /dɪˈstɪŋɡwɪʃ/

mark as different

From this reading BILLY'S NOCTURNAL ADVENTURE It was dark in the camp, but Billy, as he stole out of the tent, could distinguish a dark form moving swiftly down the camp street, and followed without making any noise, taking care to keep as much as possible in the shadow.

doctornounUS /ˈdɑːktər/

a licensed medical practitioner

From this reading The silent figure, moving rapidly forward, presently left the line of tents, and made for the cottage occupied by the doctor.

doesauxiliary verbUS /dʌz/

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

From this reading He left that tent, but who is he and what does he want?"

downadjectiveUS /daʊn/

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading BILLY'S NOCTURNAL ADVENTURE It was dark in the camp, but Billy, as he stole out of the tent, could distinguish a dark form moving swiftly down the camp street, and followed without making any noise, taking care to keep as much as possible in the shadow.

figurenounUS /ˈfɪɡjər/

a diagram or picture illustrating textual material

From this reading The silent figure, moving rapidly forward, presently left the line of tents, and made for the cottage occupied by the doctor.

followedverbUS /ˈfɑːloʊd/

past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after

From this reading BILLY'S NOCTURNAL ADVENTURE It was dark in the camp, but Billy, as he stole out of the tent, could distinguish a dark form moving swiftly down the camp street, and followed without making any noise, taking care to keep as much as possible in the shadow.

followingadjectiveUS /ˈfɑːloʊɪŋ/

about to be mentioned or specified

From this reading Unless the person he was following should happen to look around, there was very little danger of his being seen, but he took all the precautions he could to avoid being detected.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading The silent figure, moving rapidly forward, presently left the line of tents, and made for the cottage occupied by the doctor.

formnounUS /fɔːrm/

the phonological or orthographic sound or appearance of a word that can be used to describe or identify something

From this reading BILLY'S NOCTURNAL ADVENTURE It was dark in the camp, but Billy, as he stole out of the tent, could distinguish a dark form moving swiftly down the camp street, and followed without making any noise, taking care to keep as much as possible in the shadow.

forwardadverbUS /ˈfɔːrwərd/

at or to or toward the front

From this reading The silent figure, moving rapidly forward, presently left the line of tents, and made for the cottage occupied by the doctor.

happenverbUS /ˈhæpən/

come to pass

From this reading Unless the person he was following should happen to look around, there was very little danger of his being seen, but he took all the precautions he could to avoid being detected.

hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

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

From this reading "It is not a thief," he said to himself, "and it isn't any one who has designs on one of the boats.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading BILLY'S NOCTURNAL ADVENTURE It was dark in the camp, but Billy, as he stole out of the tent, could distinguish a dark form moving swiftly down the camp street, and followed without making any noise, taking care to keep as much as possible in the shadow.

himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

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

From this reading "It is not a thief," he said to himself, "and it isn't any one who has designs on one of the boats.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Unless the person he was following should happen to look around, there was very little danger of his being seen, but he took all the precautions he could to avoid being detected.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading BILLY'S NOCTURNAL ADVENTURE It was dark in the camp, but Billy, as he stole out of the tent, could distinguish a dark form moving swiftly down the camp street, and followed without making any noise, taking care to keep as much as possible in the shadow.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading "It is not a thief," he said to himself, "and it isn't any one who has designs on one of the boats.

isn't

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

From this reading "It is not a thief," he said to himself, "and it isn't any one who has designs on one of the boats.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading BILLY'S NOCTURNAL ADVENTURE It was dark in the camp, but Billy, as he stole out of the tent, could distinguish a dark form moving swiftly down the camp street, and followed without making any noise, taking care to keep as much as possible in the shadow.

keepverbUS /kiːp/

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

From this reading BILLY'S NOCTURNAL ADVENTURE It was dark in the camp, but Billy, as he stole out of the tent, could distinguish a dark form moving swiftly down the camp street, and followed without making any noise, taking care to keep as much as possible in the shadow.

leftnounUS /left/

location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east

From this reading He left that tent, but who is he and what does he want?"

linenounUS /laɪn/

a formation of people or things one beside another

From this reading The silent figure, moving rapidly forward, presently left the line of tents, and made for the cottage occupied by the doctor.

littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading Unless the person he was following should happen to look around, there was very little danger of his being seen, but he took all the precautions he could to avoid being detected.

lookverbUS /lʊk/

perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards

From this reading Unless the person he was following should happen to look around, there was very little danger of his being seen, but he took all the precautions he could to avoid being detected.

madeadjectiveUS /meɪd/

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading The silent figure, moving rapidly forward, presently left the line of tents, and made for the cottage occupied by the doctor.

makingnounUS /ˈmeɪkɪŋ/

the act that results in something coming to be

From this reading BILLY'S NOCTURNAL ADVENTURE It was dark in the camp, but Billy, as he stole out of the tent, could distinguish a dark form moving swiftly down the camp street, and followed without making any noise, taking care to keep as much as possible in the shadow.

movingadjectiveUS /ˈmuːvɪŋ/

in motion

From this reading BILLY'S NOCTURNAL ADVENTURE It was dark in the camp, but Billy, as he stole out of the tent, could distinguish a dark form moving swiftly down the camp street, and followed without making any noise, taking care to keep as much as possible in the shadow.

muchadverbUS /mʌtʃ/

to a great degree or extent

From this reading BILLY'S NOCTURNAL ADVENTURE It was dark in the camp, but Billy, as he stole out of the tent, could distinguish a dark form moving swiftly down the camp street, and followed without making any noise, taking care to keep as much as possible in the shadow.

NOCTURNALadjectiveUS /nɑːkˈtɜːrnəl/

belonging to or active during the night

From this reading BILLY'S NOCTURNAL ADVENTURE It was dark in the camp, but Billy, as he stole out of the tent, could distinguish a dark form moving swiftly down the camp street, and followed without making any noise, taking care to keep as much as possible in the shadow.

noisenounUS /nɔɪz/

sound of any kind (especially unintelligible or dissonant sound)

From this reading BILLY'S NOCTURNAL ADVENTURE It was dark in the camp, but Billy, as he stole out of the tent, could distinguish a dark form moving swiftly down the camp street, and followed without making any noise, taking care to keep as much as possible in the shadow.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading "It is not a thief," he said to himself, "and it isn't any one who has designs on one of the boats.

occupiedadjectiveUS /ˈɑːkjəpaɪd/

held or filled or in use

From this reading The silent figure, moving rapidly forward, presently left the line of tents, and made for the cottage occupied by the doctor.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading BILLY'S NOCTURNAL ADVENTURE It was dark in the camp, but Billy, as he stole out of the tent, could distinguish a dark form moving swiftly down the camp street, and followed without making any noise, taking care to keep as much as possible in the shadow.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading "It is not a thief," he said to himself, "and it isn't any one who has designs on one of the boats.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading "It is not a thief," he said to himself, "and it isn't any one who has designs on one of the boats.

outadjectiveUS /aʊt/

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading BILLY'S NOCTURNAL ADVENTURE It was dark in the camp, but Billy, as he stole out of the tent, could distinguish a dark form moving swiftly down the camp street, and followed without making any noise, taking care to keep as much as possible in the shadow.

personnounUS /ˈpɜːrsən/

a human being

From this reading Unless the person he was following should happen to look around, there was very little danger of his being seen, but he took all the precautions he could to avoid being detected.

possibleadjectiveUS /ˈpɑːsəbəl/

capable of happening or existing

From this reading BILLY'S NOCTURNAL ADVENTURE It was dark in the camp, but Billy, as he stole out of the tent, could distinguish a dark form moving swiftly down the camp street, and followed without making any noise, taking care to keep as much as possible in the shadow.

precautionsnounUS /priˈkɔːʃənz/

plural of “precaution” — a precautionary measure warding off impending danger or damage or injury etc.

From this reading Unless the person he was following should happen to look around, there was very little danger of his being seen, but he took all the precautions he could to avoid being detected.

presentlyadverbUS /ˈprezəntli/

in the near future

From this reading The silent figure, moving rapidly forward, presently left the line of tents, and made for the cottage occupied by the doctor.

rapidlyadverbUS /ˈræpədli/

with speed

From this reading The silent figure, moving rapidly forward, presently left the line of tents, and made for the cottage occupied by the doctor.

saidadjectiveUS /sed/

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading "It is not a thief," he said to himself, "and it isn't any one who has designs on one of the boats.

seenverbUS /siːn/

inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading Unless the person he was following should happen to look around, there was very little danger of his being seen, but he took all the precautions he could to avoid being detected.

shadownounUS /ˈʃæd.oʊ/

A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.

From this reading BILLY'S NOCTURNAL ADVENTURE It was dark in the camp, but Billy, as he stole out of the tent, could distinguish a dark form moving swiftly down the camp street, and followed without making any noise, taking care to keep as much as possible in the shadow.

shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading Unless the person he was following should happen to look around, there was very little danger of his being seen, but he took all the precautions he could to avoid being detected.

silentadjectiveUS /ˈsaɪlənt/

marked by absence of sound

From this reading The silent figure, moving rapidly forward, presently left the line of tents, and made for the cottage occupied by the doctor.

stolenounUS /stoʊl/

a wide scarf worn about their shoulders by women

From this reading BILLY'S NOCTURNAL ADVENTURE It was dark in the camp, but Billy, as he stole out of the tent, could distinguish a dark form moving swiftly down the camp street, and followed without making any noise, taking care to keep as much as possible in the shadow.

streetnounUS /striːt/

a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings

From this reading BILLY'S NOCTURNAL ADVENTURE It was dark in the camp, but Billy, as he stole out of the tent, could distinguish a dark form moving swiftly down the camp street, and followed without making any noise, taking care to keep as much as possible in the shadow.

swiftlyadverbUS /ˈswɪftli/

in a swift manner

From this reading BILLY'S NOCTURNAL ADVENTURE It was dark in the camp, but Billy, as he stole out of the tent, could distinguish a dark form moving swiftly down the camp street, and followed without making any noise, taking care to keep as much as possible in the shadow.

takingnounUS /ˈteɪkɪŋ/

the act of someone who picks up or takes something

From this reading BILLY'S NOCTURNAL ADVENTURE It was dark in the camp, but Billy, as he stole out of the tent, could distinguish a dark form moving swiftly down the camp street, and followed without making any noise, taking care to keep as much as possible in the shadow.

tentnounUS /tent/

a portable shelter (usually of canvas stretched over supporting poles and fastened to the ground with ropes and pegs)

From this reading BILLY'S NOCTURNAL ADVENTURE It was dark in the camp, but Billy, as he stole out of the tent, could distinguish a dark form moving swiftly down the camp street, and followed without making any noise, taking care to keep as much as possible in the shadow.

tentsnounUS /tents/

plural of “tent” — a portable shelter (usually of canvas stretched over supporting poles and fastened to the ground with ropes and pegs)

From this reading The silent figure, moving rapidly forward, presently left the line of tents, and made for the cottage occupied by the doctor.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading He left that tent, but who is he and what does he want?"

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading BILLY'S NOCTURNAL ADVENTURE It was dark in the camp, but Billy, as he stole out of the tent, could distinguish a dark form moving swiftly down the camp street, and followed without making any noise, taking care to keep as much as possible in the shadow.

thereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading Unless the person he was following should happen to look around, there was very little danger of his being seen, but he took all the precautions he could to avoid being detected.

thiefnounUS /θiːf/

a criminal who takes property belonging to someone else with the intention of keeping it or selling it

From this reading "It is not a thief," he said to himself, "and it isn't any one who has designs on one of the boats.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading BILLY'S NOCTURNAL ADVENTURE It was dark in the camp, but Billy, as he stole out of the tent, could distinguish a dark form moving swiftly down the camp street, and followed without making any noise, taking care to keep as much as possible in the shadow.

tookverbUS /tʊk/

inflected form of “take” — carry out

From this reading Unless the person he was following should happen to look around, there was very little danger of his being seen, but he took all the precautions he could to avoid being detected.

UnlessconjunctionUS /ənˈles/

except if; if not

From this reading Unless the person he was following should happen to look around, there was very little danger of his being seen, but he took all the precautions he could to avoid being detected.

veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/

precisely as stated

From this reading Unless the person he was following should happen to look around, there was very little danger of his being seen, but he took all the precautions he could to avoid being detected.

wantverbUS /wɑːnt/

feel or have a desire for; want strongly

From this reading He left that tent, but who is he and what does he want?"

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading BILLY'S NOCTURNAL ADVENTURE It was dark in the camp, but Billy, as he stole out of the tent, could distinguish a dark form moving swiftly down the camp street, and followed without making any noise, taking care to keep as much as possible in the shadow.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading He left that tent, but who is he and what does he want?"

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading "It is not a thief," he said to himself, "and it isn't any one who has designs on one of the boats.

withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading BILLY'S NOCTURNAL ADVENTURE It was dark in the camp, but Billy, as he stole out of the tent, could distinguish a dark form moving swiftly down the camp street, and followed without making any noise, taking care to keep as much as possible in the shadow.

Chapter 14 of The Hilltop Boys on the River by Cyril Burleigh holds 93 sentences, grouped into 19 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 14 of The Hilltop Boys on the River contain?

Chapter 14 holds 93 sentences of The Hilltop Boys on the River, unabridged, divided into 19 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 14 of The Hilltop Boys on the River by Cyril Burleigh exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 93 sentences, grouped into 19 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 14 of The Hilltop Boys on the River?

Work through the 19 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 19 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 14 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 14 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 Hilltop Boys on the River

Common questions about reading The Hilltop Boys on the River by Cyril Burleigh on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Hilltop Boys on the River?

Yes. All 0 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #? are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Hilltop Boys on the River is used?

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

How long does The Hilltop Boys on the River take to read?

About 5 minutes of reading across 0 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Hilltop Boys on the River section by section

How to work through The Hilltop Boys on the River section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

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  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 Hilltop Boys on the River

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Hilltop Boys on the River, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Chapter 1
One of the 0 chapters of The Hilltop Boys on the River, divided into 5-sentence reading sections.
Chapter 2
One of the 0 chapters of The Hilltop Boys on the River, divided into 5-sentence reading sections.
Chapter 3
One of the 0 chapters of The Hilltop Boys on the River, divided into 5-sentence reading sections.