The Living Mummy

Chapter XXIII

Chapter 23 of The Living Mummy is here in full — 89 sentences across 18 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Ambrose Pratt • Curated US English Learning Edition

English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5

I Set Out for the East It was the hand of a mummy.

It had been half snapped, half torn from the forearm, just above the wrist.

Thus the edges of the stock were ragged and the tendons were drawn out and torn; the bone, however, had fractured clearly, just as glass breaks, leaving a hard, smooth edge.

But the hand was not an ordinary mummy's hand.

The bones were covered with mummified flesh truly, but, although dry, it was neither stiff nor brittle.

Narrator

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.

Chapter XXIII Reading 1/17

The Living Mummy

Chapter XXIII

Chapter 23 of The Living Mummy is here in full — 89 sentences across 18 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/17 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1

I Set Out for the East It was the hand of a mummy.

/aɪ set aʊt fɔːr ðə iːst ɪt wɑːz ðə hænd ʌv ə ˈmʌmi/

Line 2

It had been half snapped, half torn from the forearm, just above the wrist.

/ɪt hæd bɪn hæf snæpt hæf tɔːrn frʌm ðə fɔːˈrɑːrm dʒʌst əˈbʌv ðə rɪst/

Line 3

Thus the edges of the stock were ragged and the tendons were drawn out and torn; the bone, however, had fractured clearly, just as glass breaks, leaving a hard, smooth edge.

/ðʌs ðə ˈedʒəz ʌv ðə stɑːk wɜːr ˈræɡəd ənd ðə ˈtendənz wɜːr drɔːn aʊt ənd tɔːrn ðə boʊn ˌhaʊˈevər hæd ˈfræktʃərd ˈklɪrli dʒʌst æz ɡlæs breɪks ˈliːvɪŋ ə hɑːrd smuːð edʒ/

Line 4

But the hand was not an ordinary mummy's hand.

/bʌt ðə hænd wɑːz nɑːt æn ˈɔːrdəneri ˈmʌmiz hænd/

Line 5

The bones were covered with mummified flesh truly, but, although dry, it was neither stiff nor brittle.

/ðə boʊnz wɜːr ˈkʌvərd wɪð ˈmʌmɪfaɪd fleʃ ˈtruːli bʌt ˌɔːlˈðoʊ draɪ ɪt wɑːz ˈniːðər stɪf nɔːr ˈbrɪtəl/

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.

breaks noun US /breɪks/

plural of “break” — some abrupt occurrence that interrupts an ongoing activity

From this reading “Thus the edges of the stock were ragged and the tendons were drawn out and torn; the bone, however, had fractured clearly, just as glass breaks, leaving a hard, smooth edge.”

brittle adjective US /ˈbrɪtəl/

having little elasticity; hence easily cracked or fractured or snapped

From this reading “The bones were covered with mummified flesh truly, but, although dry, it was neither stiff nor brittle.”

forearm noun US /fɔːˈrɑːrm/

the part of the superior limb between the elbow and the wrist

From this reading “It had been half snapped, half torn from the forearm, just above the wrist.”

fractured verb US /ˈfræktʃərd/

past form of “fracture” — violate or abuse

From this reading “Thus the edges of the stock were ragged and the tendons were drawn out and torn; the bone, however, had fractured clearly, just as glass breaks, leaving a hard, smooth edge.”

mummified verb US /ˈmʌmɪfaɪd/

inflected form of “mummify” — preserve while making lifeless

From this reading “The bones were covered with mummified flesh truly, but, although dry, it was neither stiff nor brittle.”

mummy noun US /ˈmʌmi/

informal terms for a mother

From this reading “I Set Out for the East It was the hand of a mummy.”

mummy's noun US /ˈmʌmiz/

possessive form of “mummy” — informal terms for a mother

From this reading “But the hand was not an ordinary mummy's hand.”

tendons noun US /ˈtendənz/

plural of “tendon” — a cord or band of inelastic tissue connecting a muscle with its bony attachment

From this reading “Thus the edges of the stock were ragged and the tendons were drawn out and torn; the bone, however, had fractured clearly, just as glass breaks, leaving a hard, smooth edge.”

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.

Set Out verb + adjective

take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

In this reading “I Set Out for the East It was the hand of a mummy.”

All words in this reading · 58

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 I Set Out for the East It was the hand of a mummy.

aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/

higher than, or over, something

From this reading It had been half snapped, half torn from the forearm, just above the wrist.

althoughconjunctionUS /ˌɔːlˈðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading The bones were covered with mummified flesh truly, but, although dry, it was neither stiff nor brittle.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading But the hand was not an ordinary mummy's hand.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Thus the edges of the stock were ragged and the tendons were drawn out and torn; the bone, however, had fractured clearly, just as glass breaks, leaving a hard, smooth edge.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading Thus the edges of the stock were ragged and the tendons were drawn out and torn; the bone, however, had fractured clearly, just as glass breaks, leaving a hard, smooth edge.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading It had been half snapped, half torn from the forearm, just above the wrist.

bonenounUS /boʊn/

rigid connective tissue that makes up the skeleton of vertebrates

From this reading Thus the edges of the stock were ragged and the tendons were drawn out and torn; the bone, however, had fractured clearly, just as glass breaks, leaving a hard, smooth edge.

bonesnounUS /boʊnz/

(used in the plural) a percussion instrument consisting of a pair of hollow pieces of wood or bone (usually held between the thumb and fingers) that are made to click together (as by Spanish dancers) in rhythm with the dance

From this reading The bones were covered with mummified flesh truly, but, although dry, it was neither stiff nor brittle.

breaksnounUS /breɪks/

plural of “break” — some abrupt occurrence that interrupts an ongoing activity

From this reading Thus the edges of the stock were ragged and the tendons were drawn out and torn; the bone, however, had fractured clearly, just as glass breaks, leaving a hard, smooth edge.

brittleadjectiveUS /ˈbrɪtəl/

having little elasticity; hence easily cracked or fractured or snapped

From this reading The bones were covered with mummified flesh truly, but, although dry, it was neither stiff nor brittle.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But the hand was not an ordinary mummy's hand.

clearlyadverbUS /ˈklɪrli/

without doubt or question

From this reading Thus the edges of the stock were ragged and the tendons were drawn out and torn; the bone, however, had fractured clearly, just as glass breaks, leaving a hard, smooth edge.

coveredadjectiveUS /ˈkʌvərd/

overlaid or spread or topped with or enclosed within something; sometimes used as a combining form

From this reading The bones were covered with mummified flesh truly, but, although dry, it was neither stiff nor brittle.

drawnadjectiveUS /drɔːn/

showing the wearing effects of overwork or care or suffering

From this reading Thus the edges of the stock were ragged and the tendons were drawn out and torn; the bone, however, had fractured clearly, just as glass breaks, leaving a hard, smooth edge.

dryadjectiveUS /draɪ/

free from liquid or moisture; lacking natural or normal moisture or depleted of water; or no longer wet

From this reading The bones were covered with mummified flesh truly, but, although dry, it was neither stiff nor brittle.

EastnounUS /iːst/

the cardinal compass point that is at 90 degrees

From this reading I Set Out for the East It was the hand of a mummy.

edgenounUS /edʒ/

the boundary of a surface

From this reading Thus the edges of the stock were ragged and the tendons were drawn out and torn; the bone, however, had fractured clearly, just as glass breaks, leaving a hard, smooth edge.

edgesnounUS /ˈedʒəz/

plural of “edge” — the boundary of a surface

From this reading Thus the edges of the stock were ragged and the tendons were drawn out and torn; the bone, however, had fractured clearly, just as glass breaks, leaving a hard, smooth edge.

fleshnounUS /fleʃ/

the soft tissue of the body of a vertebrate: mainly muscle tissue and fat

From this reading The bones were covered with mummified flesh truly, but, although dry, it was neither stiff nor brittle.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading I Set Out for the East It was the hand of a mummy.

forearmnounUS /fɔːˈrɑːrm/

the part of the superior limb between the elbow and the wrist

From this reading It had been half snapped, half torn from the forearm, just above the wrist.

fracturedverbUS /ˈfræktʃərd/

past form of “fracture” — violate or abuse

From this reading Thus the edges of the stock were ragged and the tendons were drawn out and torn; the bone, however, had fractured clearly, just as glass breaks, leaving a hard, smooth edge.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading It had been half snapped, half torn from the forearm, just above the wrist.

glassnounUS /ɡlæs/

a brittle transparent solid with irregular atomic structure

From this reading Thus the edges of the stock were ragged and the tendons were drawn out and torn; the bone, however, had fractured clearly, just as glass breaks, leaving a hard, smooth edge.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading It had been half snapped, half torn from the forearm, just above the wrist.

halfadjectiveUS /hæf/

consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity

From this reading It had been half snapped, half torn from the forearm, just above the wrist.

handnounUS /hænd/

the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb

From this reading I Set Out for the East It was the hand of a mummy.

hardadjectiveUS /hɑːrd/

not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure

From this reading Thus the edges of the stock were ragged and the tendons were drawn out and torn; the bone, however, had fractured clearly, just as glass breaks, leaving a hard, smooth edge.

howeveradverbUS /ˌhaʊˈevər/

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading Thus the edges of the stock were ragged and the tendons were drawn out and torn; the bone, however, had fractured clearly, just as glass breaks, leaving a hard, smooth edge.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading I Set Out for the East It was the hand of a mummy.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading I Set Out for the East It was the hand of a mummy.

justadverbUS /dʒʌst/

and nothing more

From this reading It had been half snapped, half torn from the forearm, just above the wrist.

leavingnounUS /ˈliːvɪŋ/

the act of departing

From this reading Thus the edges of the stock were ragged and the tendons were drawn out and torn; the bone, however, had fractured clearly, just as glass breaks, leaving a hard, smooth edge.

mummifiedverbUS /ˈmʌmɪfaɪd/

inflected form of “mummify” — preserve while making lifeless

From this reading The bones were covered with mummified flesh truly, but, although dry, it was neither stiff nor brittle.

mummynounUS /ˈmʌmi/

informal terms for a mother

From this reading I Set Out for the East It was the hand of a mummy.

mummy'snounUS /ˈmʌmiz/

possessive form of “mummy” — informal terms for a mother

From this reading But the hand was not an ordinary mummy's hand.

neitherdeterminerUS /ˈniːðər/

not one and not the other of two

From this reading The bones were covered with mummified flesh truly, but, although dry, it was neither stiff nor brittle.

norconjunctionUS /nɔːr/

and not; used after a negative to add a second negative

From this reading The bones were covered with mummified flesh truly, but, although dry, it was neither stiff nor brittle.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading But the hand was not an ordinary mummy's hand.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading I Set Out for the East It was the hand of a mummy.

ordinarynounUS /ˈɔːrdəneri/

a judge of a probate court

From this reading But the hand was not an ordinary mummy's hand.

OutadjectiveUS /aʊt/

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading I Set Out for the East It was the hand of a mummy.

raggedadjectiveUS /ˈræɡəd/

being or dressed in clothes that are worn or torn

From this reading Thus the edges of the stock were ragged and the tendons were drawn out and torn; the bone, however, had fractured clearly, just as glass breaks, leaving a hard, smooth edge.

SetverbUS /set/

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading I Set Out for the East It was the hand of a mummy.

smoothadjectiveUS /smuːð/

having a surface free from roughness or bumps or ridges or irregularities

From this reading Thus the edges of the stock were ragged and the tendons were drawn out and torn; the bone, however, had fractured clearly, just as glass breaks, leaving a hard, smooth edge.

snappedverbUS /snæpt/

inflected form of “snap” — utter in an angry, sharp, or abrupt tone

From this reading It had been half snapped, half torn from the forearm, just above the wrist.

stiffadjectiveUS /stɪf/

not moving or operating freely

From this reading The bones were covered with mummified flesh truly, but, although dry, it was neither stiff nor brittle.

stocknounUS /stɑːk/

the capital raised by a corporation through the issue of shares entitling holders to an ownership interest

From this reading Thus the edges of the stock were ragged and the tendons were drawn out and torn; the bone, however, had fractured clearly, just as glass breaks, leaving a hard, smooth edge.

tendonsnounUS /ˈtendənz/

plural of “tendon” — a cord or band of inelastic tissue connecting a muscle with its bony attachment

From this reading Thus the edges of the stock were ragged and the tendons were drawn out and torn; the bone, however, had fractured clearly, just as glass breaks, leaving a hard, smooth edge.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading I Set Out for the East It was the hand of a mummy.

ThusadverbUS /ðʌs/

(used to introduce a logical conclusion) from that fact or reason or as a result

From this reading Thus the edges of the stock were ragged and the tendons were drawn out and torn; the bone, however, had fractured clearly, just as glass breaks, leaving a hard, smooth edge.

tornadjectiveUS /tɔːrn/

having edges that are jagged from injury

From this reading It had been half snapped, half torn from the forearm, just above the wrist.

trulyadverbUS /ˈtruːli/

in accordance with truth or fact or reality

From this reading The bones were covered with mummified flesh truly, but, although dry, it was neither stiff nor brittle.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading I Set Out for the East It was the hand of a mummy.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading Thus the edges of the stock were ragged and the tendons were drawn out and torn; the bone, however, had fractured clearly, just as glass breaks, leaving a hard, smooth edge.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading The bones were covered with mummified flesh truly, but, although dry, it was neither stiff nor brittle.

wristnounUS /rɪst/

a joint between the distal end of the radius and the proximal row of carpal bones

From this reading It had been half snapped, half torn from the forearm, just above the wrist.

Chapter 23 of The Living Mummy by Ambrose Pratt holds 89 sentences, grouped into 18 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 23 of The Living Mummy contain?

Chapter 23 holds 89 sentences of The Living Mummy, unabridged, divided into 18 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 23 of The Living Mummy by Ambrose Pratt exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 89 sentences, grouped into 18 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 23 of The Living Mummy?

Work through the 18 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 18 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 23 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 23 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 Living Mummy

Common questions about reading The Living Mummy by Ambrose Pratt on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Living Mummy?

Yes. All 6357 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #58944 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Living Mummy is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #58944, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Living Mummy take to read?

About 529 minutes of reading across 1272 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

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Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.

Vocabulary met early in The Living Mummy

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Living Mummy, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Illustrations: A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Living Mummy; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
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Chapter XXIII

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