Chapter 14 of The Last Cruise of the Spitfire is here in full — 144 sentences across 29 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter XIV
Chapter 14 of The Last Cruise of the Spitfire is here in full — 144 sentences across 29 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
SOME PLAIN FACTS. My story took some time to tell. Once Lowell came near us, but he only heard Mr. Ranson say that the schooner was making first-class headway, and taking no interest in this he walked away. "You are sure of all this?" asked the lawyer, after I had finished my narrative. "Yes, sir; every word of it."
Chapter 14 of The Last Cruise of the Spitfire is here in full — 144 sentences across 29 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/28 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5
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.
plural of “fact” — a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading “SOME PLAIN FACTS.”
(of materials or goods) brought to the desired final state
From this reading “"You are sure of all this?" asked the lawyer, after I had finished my narrative.”
very good; of the highest quality
From this reading “Once Lowell came near us, but he only heard Mr. Ranson say that the schooner was making first-class headway, and taking no interest in this he walked away.”
vertical space available to allow easy passage under something
From this reading “Once Lowell came near us, but he only heard Mr. Ranson say that the schooner was making first-class headway, and taking no interest in this he walked away.”
a professional person authorized to practice law; conducts lawsuits or gives legal advice
From this reading “"You are sure of all this?" asked the lawyer, after I had finished my narrative.”
United States poet (1917-1977)
From this reading “Once Lowell came near us, but he only heard Mr. Ranson say that the schooner was making first-class headway, and taking no interest in this he walked away.”
a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading “"You are sure of all this?" asked the lawyer, after I had finished my narrative.”
a large beer glass
From this reading “Once Lowell came near us, but he only heard Mr. Ranson say that the schooner was making first-class headway, and taking no interest in this he walked away.”
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.
In this reading “My story took some time to tell.”
almost do or experience something
In this reading “Once Lowell came near us, but he only heard Mr. Ranson say that the schooner was making first-class headway, and taking no interest in this he walked away.”
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.
later than; following
From this reading "You are sure of all this?" asked the lawyer, after I had finished my narrative.
(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 "You are sure of all this?" asked the lawyer, after I had finished my narrative.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Once Lowell came near us, but he only heard Mr. Ranson say that the schooner was making first-class headway, and taking no interest in this he walked away.
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "You are sure of all this?" asked the lawyer, after I had finished my narrative.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading "You are sure of all this?" asked the lawyer, after I had finished my narrative.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Once Lowell came near us, but he only heard Mr. Ranson say that the schooner was making first-class headway, and taking no interest in this he walked away.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Once Lowell came near us, but he only heard Mr. Ranson say that the schooner was making first-class headway, and taking no interest in this he walked away.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Once Lowell came near us, but he only heard Mr. Ranson say that the schooner was making first-class headway, and taking no interest in this he walked away.
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading "Yes, sir; every word of it."
plural of “fact” — a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading SOME PLAIN FACTS.
(of materials or goods) brought to the desired final state
From this reading "You are sure of all this?" asked the lawyer, after I had finished my narrative.
very good; of the highest quality
From this reading Once Lowell came near us, but he only heard Mr. Ranson say that the schooner was making first-class headway, and taking no interest in this he walked away.
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading "You are sure of all this?" asked the lawyer, after I had finished my narrative.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Once Lowell came near us, but he only heard Mr. Ranson say that the schooner was making first-class headway, and taking no interest in this he walked away.
vertical space available to allow easy passage under something
From this reading Once Lowell came near us, but he only heard Mr. Ranson say that the schooner was making first-class headway, and taking no interest in this he walked away.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading Once Lowell came near us, but he only heard Mr. Ranson say that the schooner was making first-class headway, and taking no interest in this he walked away.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "You are sure of all this?" asked the lawyer, after I had finished my narrative.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Once Lowell came near us, but he only heard Mr. Ranson say that the schooner was making first-class headway, and taking no interest in this he walked away.
a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something
From this reading Once Lowell came near us, but he only heard Mr. Ranson say that the schooner was making first-class headway, and taking no interest in this he walked away.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "Yes, sir; every word of it."
a professional person authorized to practice law; conducts lawsuits or gives legal advice
From this reading "You are sure of all this?" asked the lawyer, after I had finished my narrative.
United States poet (1917-1977)
From this reading Once Lowell came near us, but he only heard Mr. Ranson say that the schooner was making first-class headway, and taking no interest in this he walked away.
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading Once Lowell came near us, but he only heard Mr. Ranson say that the schooner was making first-class headway, and taking no interest in this he walked away.
a form of address for a man
From this reading Once Lowell came near us, but he only heard Mr. Ranson say that the schooner was making first-class headway, and taking no interest in this he walked away.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading My story took some time to tell.
a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading "You are sure of all this?" asked the lawyer, after I had finished my narrative.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading Once Lowell came near us, but he only heard Mr. Ranson say that the schooner was making first-class headway, and taking no interest in this he walked away.
not any; not one
From this reading Once Lowell came near us, but he only heard Mr. Ranson say that the schooner was making first-class headway, and taking no interest in this he walked away.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "You are sure of all this?" asked the lawyer, after I had finished my narrative.
on one occasion
From this reading Once Lowell came near us, but he only heard Mr. Ranson say that the schooner was making first-class headway, and taking no interest in this he walked away.
and nothing more
From this reading Once Lowell came near us, but he only heard Mr. Ranson say that the schooner was making first-class headway, and taking no interest in this he walked away.
clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
From this reading SOME PLAIN FACTS.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once Lowell came near us, but he only heard Mr. Ranson say that the schooner was making first-class headway, and taking no interest in this he walked away.
express in words
From this reading Once Lowell came near us, but he only heard Mr. Ranson say that the schooner was making first-class headway, and taking no interest in this he walked away.
a large beer glass
From this reading Once Lowell came near us, but he only heard Mr. Ranson say that the schooner was making first-class headway, and taking no interest in this he walked away.
term of address for a man
From this reading "Yes, sir; every word of it."
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading SOME PLAIN FACTS.
a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading My story took some time to tell.
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading "You are sure of all this?" asked the lawyer, after I had finished my narrative.
the act of someone who picks up or takes something
From this reading Once Lowell came near us, but he only heard Mr. Ranson say that the schooner was making first-class headway, and taking no interest in this he walked away.
express in words
From this reading My story took some time to tell.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Once Lowell came near us, but he only heard Mr. Ranson say that the schooner was making first-class headway, and taking no interest in this he walked away.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Once Lowell came near us, but he only heard Mr. Ranson say that the schooner was making first-class headway, and taking no interest in this he walked away.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Once Lowell came near us, but he only heard Mr. Ranson say that the schooner was making first-class headway, and taking no interest in this he walked away.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading My story took some time to tell.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading My story took some time to tell.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading My story took some time to tell.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Once Lowell came near us, but he only heard Mr. Ranson say that the schooner was making first-class headway, and taking no interest in this he walked away.
past form of “walk” — use one's feet to advance; advance by steps
From this reading Once Lowell came near us, but he only heard Mr. Ranson say that the schooner was making first-class headway, and taking no interest in this he walked away.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Once Lowell came near us, but he only heard Mr. Ranson say that the schooner was making first-class headway, and taking no interest in this he walked away.
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading "Yes, sir; every word of it."
an affirmative
From this reading "Yes, sir; every word of it."
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "You are sure of all this?" asked the lawyer, after I had finished my narrative.
Chapter 14 of The Last Cruise of the Spitfire by Edward Stratemeyer holds 144 sentences, grouped into 29 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.
Chapter 14 holds 144 sentences of The Last Cruise of the Spitfire, unabridged, divided into 29 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 14 of The Last Cruise of the Spitfire by Edward Stratemeyer exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 144 sentences, grouped into 29 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.
Work through the 29 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 29 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.
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.
Common questions about reading The Last Cruise of the Spitfire by Edward Stratemeyer on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 3938 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #34367 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #34367, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 328 minutes of reading across 788 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through The Last Cruise of the Spitfire section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 31 chapters of The Last Cruise of the Spitfire to begin.
Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.
Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.
Words and structures a reader meets early in The Last Cruise of the Spitfire, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
