Complete classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
The man-killers
The man-killers

Chapter X

Cover illustration for The man-killers
Context Illustration Reading 1/12 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE SHEEP-WAR If Grimes had thought to win a bloodless victory and take over Maverick Basin for his sheep he was brought back to earth by that first rifle-shot, which had struck down his boldest _caporal_.
And the fusillade which followed, killing his sheep by the hundreds and scattering them across the plain, showed the presence of an enemy as ruthless as himself and as determined to play a bold hand.
No, it was too rich a prize to be given up lightly and the Scarboroughs were fighting to win.
For an hour, while Grimes raged about in the distance and cursed his cowering herders, the rifle-shots continued and the sorely harried sheep went down until there were no more to kill.
It was a slaughter of the innocents, but each sheep that went down sent a pang through Grimes' hard heart.
0:00 / 0:00
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 man-killers

Chapter X

Reading 1/12 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE SHEEP-WAR If Grimes had thought to win a bloodless victory and take over Maverick Basin for his sheep he was brought back to earth by that first rifle-shot, which had struck down his boldest _caporal_.
Line 2
And the fusillade which followed, killing his sheep by the hundreds and scattering them across the plain, showed the presence of an enemy as ruthless as himself and as determined to play a bold hand.
Line 3
No, it was too rich a prize to be given up lightly and the Scarboroughs were fighting to win.
Line 4
For an hour, while Grimes raged about in the distance and cursed his cowering herders, the rifle-shots continued and the sorely harried sheep went down until there were no more to kill.
Line 5
It was a slaughter of the innocents, but each sheep that went down sent a pang through Grimes' hard heart.

Learner Dictionary

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.

About preposition US /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading “For an hour, while Grimes raged about in the distance and cursed his cowering herders, the rifle-shots continued and the sorely harried sheep went down until there were no more to kill.”

Across preposition US /əˈkrɔːs/

from one side of something to the other

From this reading “And the fusillade which followed, killing his sheep by the hundreds and scattering them across the plain, showed the presence of an enemy as ruthless as himself and as determined to play a bold hand.”

Brought noun US /ˈbrought/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading “THE SHEEP-WAR If Grimes had thought to win a bloodless victory and take over Maverick Basin for his sheep he was brought back to earth by that first rifle-shot, which had struck down his boldest _caporal_.”

Continued noun US /ˈcontinued/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading “For an hour, while Grimes raged about in the distance and cursed his cowering herders, the rifle-shots continued and the sorely harried sheep went down until there were no more to kill.”

Determined adjective US /dɪˈtɜrmɪnd/

having firmly decided to do something

From this reading “And the fusillade which followed, killing his sheep by the hundreds and scattering them across the plain, showed the presence of an enemy as ruthless as himself and as determined to play a bold hand.”

First noun US /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “THE SHEEP-WAR If Grimes had thought to win a bloodless victory and take over Maverick Basin for his sheep he was brought back to earth by that first rifle-shot, which had struck down his boldest _caporal_.”

Hand noun US /hand/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “And the fusillade which followed, killing his sheep by the hundreds and scattering them across the plain, showed the presence of an enemy as ruthless as himself and as determined to play a bold hand.”

Himself pronoun US /hɪmˈself/

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

From this reading “And the fusillade which followed, killing his sheep by the hundreds and scattering them across the plain, showed the presence of an enemy as ruthless as himself and as determined to play a bold hand.”

Over preposition US /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading “THE SHEEP-WAR If Grimes had thought to win a bloodless victory and take over Maverick Basin for his sheep he was brought back to earth by that first rifle-shot, which had struck down his boldest _caporal_.”

Struck noun US /struck/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “THE SHEEP-WAR If Grimes had thought to win a bloodless victory and take over Maverick Basin for his sheep he was brought back to earth by that first rifle-shot, which had struck down his boldest _caporal_.”

Take noun US /take/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “THE SHEEP-WAR If Grimes had thought to win a bloodless victory and take over Maverick Basin for his sheep he was brought back to earth by that first rifle-shot, which had struck down his boldest _caporal_.”

Thought noun US /thought/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “THE SHEEP-WAR If Grimes had thought to win a bloodless victory and take over Maverick Basin for his sheep he was brought back to earth by that first rifle-shot, which had struck down his boldest _caporal_.”

Through noun US /ˈthrough/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading “It was a slaughter of the innocents, but each sheep that went down sent a pang through Grimes' hard heart.”

Until preposition US /ənˈtɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading “For an hour, while Grimes raged about in the distance and cursed his cowering herders, the rifle-shots continued and the sorely harried sheep went down until there were no more to kill.”

Went noun US /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “For an hour, while Grimes raged about in the distance and cursed his cowering herders, the rifle-shots continued and the sorely harried sheep went down until there were no more to kill.”

While conjunction US /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading “For an hour, while Grimes raged about in the distance and cursed his cowering herders, the rifle-shots continued and the sorely harried sheep went down until there were no more to kill.”

All words in this reading · 92

Every word is available to listen to. 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 SHEEP-WAR If Grimes had thought to win a bloodless victory and take over Maverick Basin for his sheep he was brought back to earth by that first rifle-shot, which had struck down his boldest _caporal_.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading For an hour, while Grimes raged about in the distance and cursed his cowering herders, the rifle-shots continued and the sorely harried sheep went down until there were no more to kill.

acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/

from one side of something to the other

From this reading And the fusillade which followed, killing his sheep by the hundreds and scattering them across the plain, showed the presence of an enemy as ruthless as himself and as determined to play a bold hand.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading And the fusillade which followed, killing his sheep by the hundreds and scattering them across the plain, showed the presence of an enemy as ruthless as himself and as determined to play a bold hand.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading THE SHEEP-WAR If Grimes had thought to win a bloodless victory and take over Maverick Basin for his sheep he was brought back to earth by that first rifle-shot, which had struck down his boldest _caporal_.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading And the fusillade which followed, killing his sheep by the hundreds and scattering them across the plain, showed the presence of an enemy as ruthless as himself and as determined to play a bold hand.

back

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

From this reading THE SHEEP-WAR If Grimes had thought to win a bloodless victory and take over Maverick Basin for his sheep he was brought back to earth by that first rifle-shot, which had struck down his boldest _caporal_.

Basin

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

From this reading THE SHEEP-WAR If Grimes had thought to win a bloodless victory and take over Maverick Basin for his sheep he was brought back to earth by that first rifle-shot, which had struck down his boldest _caporal_.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading No, it was too rich a prize to be given up lightly and the Scarboroughs were fighting to win.

bloodless

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

From this reading THE SHEEP-WAR If Grimes had thought to win a bloodless victory and take over Maverick Basin for his sheep he was brought back to earth by that first rifle-shot, which had struck down his boldest _caporal_.

bold

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

From this reading And the fusillade which followed, killing his sheep by the hundreds and scattering them across the plain, showed the presence of an enemy as ruthless as himself and as determined to play a bold hand.

boldest

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

From this reading THE SHEEP-WAR If Grimes had thought to win a bloodless victory and take over Maverick Basin for his sheep he was brought back to earth by that first rifle-shot, which had struck down his boldest _caporal_.

broughtnounUS /ˈbrought/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading THE SHEEP-WAR If Grimes had thought to win a bloodless victory and take over Maverick Basin for his sheep he was brought back to earth by that first rifle-shot, which had struck down his boldest _caporal_.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading It was a slaughter of the innocents, but each sheep that went down sent a pang through Grimes' hard heart.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading THE SHEEP-WAR If Grimes had thought to win a bloodless victory and take over Maverick Basin for his sheep he was brought back to earth by that first rifle-shot, which had struck down his boldest _caporal_.

caporal

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

From this reading THE SHEEP-WAR If Grimes had thought to win a bloodless victory and take over Maverick Basin for his sheep he was brought back to earth by that first rifle-shot, which had struck down his boldest _caporal_.

continuednounUS /ˈcontinued/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading For an hour, while Grimes raged about in the distance and cursed his cowering herders, the rifle-shots continued and the sorely harried sheep went down until there were no more to kill.

cowering

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

From this reading For an hour, while Grimes raged about in the distance and cursed his cowering herders, the rifle-shots continued and the sorely harried sheep went down until there were no more to kill.

cursed

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

From this reading For an hour, while Grimes raged about in the distance and cursed his cowering herders, the rifle-shots continued and the sorely harried sheep went down until there were no more to kill.

determinedadjectiveUS /dɪˈtɜrmɪnd/

having firmly decided to do something

From this reading And the fusillade which followed, killing his sheep by the hundreds and scattering them across the plain, showed the presence of an enemy as ruthless as himself and as determined to play a bold hand.

distance

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

From this reading For an hour, while Grimes raged about in the distance and cursed his cowering herders, the rifle-shots continued and the sorely harried sheep went down until there were no more to kill.

down

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

From this reading THE SHEEP-WAR If Grimes had thought to win a bloodless victory and take over Maverick Basin for his sheep he was brought back to earth by that first rifle-shot, which had struck down his boldest _caporal_.

eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/

every one of two or more people or things, taken separately

From this reading It was a slaughter of the innocents, but each sheep that went down sent a pang through Grimes' hard heart.

earth

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

From this reading THE SHEEP-WAR If Grimes had thought to win a bloodless victory and take over Maverick Basin for his sheep he was brought back to earth by that first rifle-shot, which had struck down his boldest _caporal_.

enemy

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

From this reading And the fusillade which followed, killing his sheep by the hundreds and scattering them across the plain, showed the presence of an enemy as ruthless as himself and as determined to play a bold hand.

fighting

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

From this reading No, it was too rich a prize to be given up lightly and the Scarboroughs were fighting to win.

firstnounUS /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading THE SHEEP-WAR If Grimes had thought to win a bloodless victory and take over Maverick Basin for his sheep he was brought back to earth by that first rifle-shot, which had struck down his boldest _caporal_.

followed

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

From this reading And the fusillade which followed, killing his sheep by the hundreds and scattering them across the plain, showed the presence of an enemy as ruthless as himself and as determined to play a bold hand.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading THE SHEEP-WAR If Grimes had thought to win a bloodless victory and take over Maverick Basin for his sheep he was brought back to earth by that first rifle-shot, which had struck down his boldest _caporal_.

fusillade

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

From this reading And the fusillade which followed, killing his sheep by the hundreds and scattering them across the plain, showed the presence of an enemy as ruthless as himself and as determined to play a bold hand.

given

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

From this reading No, it was too rich a prize to be given up lightly and the Scarboroughs were fighting to win.

Grimes

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

From this reading THE SHEEP-WAR If Grimes had thought to win a bloodless victory and take over Maverick Basin for his sheep he was brought back to earth by that first rifle-shot, which had struck down his boldest _caporal_.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading THE SHEEP-WAR If Grimes had thought to win a bloodless victory and take over Maverick Basin for his sheep he was brought back to earth by that first rifle-shot, which had struck down his boldest _caporal_.

hand

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

From this reading And the fusillade which followed, killing his sheep by the hundreds and scattering them across the plain, showed the presence of an enemy as ruthless as himself and as determined to play a bold hand.

hard

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

From this reading It was a slaughter of the innocents, but each sheep that went down sent a pang through Grimes' hard heart.

harried

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

From this reading For an hour, while Grimes raged about in the distance and cursed his cowering herders, the rifle-shots continued and the sorely harried sheep went down until there were no more to kill.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading THE SHEEP-WAR If Grimes had thought to win a bloodless victory and take over Maverick Basin for his sheep he was brought back to earth by that first rifle-shot, which had struck down his boldest _caporal_.

heart

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

From this reading It was a slaughter of the innocents, but each sheep that went down sent a pang through Grimes' hard heart.

herders

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

From this reading For an hour, while Grimes raged about in the distance and cursed his cowering herders, the rifle-shots continued and the sorely harried sheep went down until there were no more to kill.

himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

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

From this reading And the fusillade which followed, killing his sheep by the hundreds and scattering them across the plain, showed the presence of an enemy as ruthless as himself and as determined to play a bold hand.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading THE SHEEP-WAR If Grimes had thought to win a bloodless victory and take over Maverick Basin for his sheep he was brought back to earth by that first rifle-shot, which had struck down his boldest _caporal_.

hour

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

From this reading For an hour, while Grimes raged about in the distance and cursed his cowering herders, the rifle-shots continued and the sorely harried sheep went down until there were no more to kill.

hundreds

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

From this reading And the fusillade which followed, killing his sheep by the hundreds and scattering them across the plain, showed the presence of an enemy as ruthless as himself and as determined to play a bold hand.

IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading THE SHEEP-WAR If Grimes had thought to win a bloodless victory and take over Maverick Basin for his sheep he was brought back to earth by that first rifle-shot, which had struck down his boldest _caporal_.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading For an hour, while Grimes raged about in the distance and cursed his cowering herders, the rifle-shots continued and the sorely harried sheep went down until there were no more to kill.

innocents

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

From this reading It was a slaughter of the innocents, but each sheep that went down sent a pang through Grimes' hard heart.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading No, it was too rich a prize to be given up lightly and the Scarboroughs were fighting to win.

kill

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

From this reading For an hour, while Grimes raged about in the distance and cursed his cowering herders, the rifle-shots continued and the sorely harried sheep went down until there were no more to kill.

killing

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

From this reading And the fusillade which followed, killing his sheep by the hundreds and scattering them across the plain, showed the presence of an enemy as ruthless as himself and as determined to play a bold hand.

lightly

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

From this reading No, it was too rich a prize to be given up lightly and the Scarboroughs were fighting to win.

Maverick

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

From this reading THE SHEEP-WAR If Grimes had thought to win a bloodless victory and take over Maverick Basin for his sheep he was brought back to earth by that first rifle-shot, which had struck down his boldest _caporal_.

more

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

From this reading For an hour, while Grimes raged about in the distance and cursed his cowering herders, the rifle-shots continued and the sorely harried sheep went down until there were no more to kill.

NodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading No, it was too rich a prize to be given up lightly and the Scarboroughs were fighting to win.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading And the fusillade which followed, killing his sheep by the hundreds and scattering them across the plain, showed the presence of an enemy as ruthless as himself and as determined to play a bold hand.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading THE SHEEP-WAR If Grimes had thought to win a bloodless victory and take over Maverick Basin for his sheep he was brought back to earth by that first rifle-shot, which had struck down his boldest _caporal_.

pang

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

From this reading It was a slaughter of the innocents, but each sheep that went down sent a pang through Grimes' hard heart.

plain

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

From this reading And the fusillade which followed, killing his sheep by the hundreds and scattering them across the plain, showed the presence of an enemy as ruthless as himself and as determined to play a bold hand.

play

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

From this reading And the fusillade which followed, killing his sheep by the hundreds and scattering them across the plain, showed the presence of an enemy as ruthless as himself and as determined to play a bold hand.

presence

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

From this reading And the fusillade which followed, killing his sheep by the hundreds and scattering them across the plain, showed the presence of an enemy as ruthless as himself and as determined to play a bold hand.

prize

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

From this reading No, it was too rich a prize to be given up lightly and the Scarboroughs were fighting to win.

raged

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

From this reading For an hour, while Grimes raged about in the distance and cursed his cowering herders, the rifle-shots continued and the sorely harried sheep went down until there were no more to kill.

rich

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

From this reading No, it was too rich a prize to be given up lightly and the Scarboroughs were fighting to win.

rifle-shot

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

From this reading THE SHEEP-WAR If Grimes had thought to win a bloodless victory and take over Maverick Basin for his sheep he was brought back to earth by that first rifle-shot, which had struck down his boldest _caporal_.

rifle-shots

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

From this reading For an hour, while Grimes raged about in the distance and cursed his cowering herders, the rifle-shots continued and the sorely harried sheep went down until there were no more to kill.

ruthless

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

From this reading And the fusillade which followed, killing his sheep by the hundreds and scattering them across the plain, showed the presence of an enemy as ruthless as himself and as determined to play a bold hand.

Scarboroughs

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

From this reading No, it was too rich a prize to be given up lightly and the Scarboroughs were fighting to win.

scattering

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

From this reading And the fusillade which followed, killing his sheep by the hundreds and scattering them across the plain, showed the presence of an enemy as ruthless as himself and as determined to play a bold hand.

sent

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

From this reading It was a slaughter of the innocents, but each sheep that went down sent a pang through Grimes' hard heart.

sheep

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

From this reading THE SHEEP-WAR If Grimes had thought to win a bloodless victory and take over Maverick Basin for his sheep he was brought back to earth by that first rifle-shot, which had struck down his boldest _caporal_.

SHEEP-WAR

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

From this reading THE SHEEP-WAR If Grimes had thought to win a bloodless victory and take over Maverick Basin for his sheep he was brought back to earth by that first rifle-shot, which had struck down his boldest _caporal_.

showed

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

From this reading And the fusillade which followed, killing his sheep by the hundreds and scattering them across the plain, showed the presence of an enemy as ruthless as himself and as determined to play a bold hand.

slaughter

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

From this reading It was a slaughter of the innocents, but each sheep that went down sent a pang through Grimes' hard heart.

sorely

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

From this reading For an hour, while Grimes raged about in the distance and cursed his cowering herders, the rifle-shots continued and the sorely harried sheep went down until there were no more to kill.

strucknounUS /struck/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading THE SHEEP-WAR If Grimes had thought to win a bloodless victory and take over Maverick Basin for his sheep he was brought back to earth by that first rifle-shot, which had struck down his boldest _caporal_.

takenounUS /take/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading THE SHEEP-WAR If Grimes had thought to win a bloodless victory and take over Maverick Basin for his sheep he was brought back to earth by that first rifle-shot, which had struck down his boldest _caporal_.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading THE SHEEP-WAR If Grimes had thought to win a bloodless victory and take over Maverick Basin for his sheep he was brought back to earth by that first rifle-shot, which had struck down his boldest _caporal_.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE SHEEP-WAR If Grimes had thought to win a bloodless victory and take over Maverick Basin for his sheep he was brought back to earth by that first rifle-shot, which had struck down his boldest _caporal_.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading And the fusillade which followed, killing his sheep by the hundreds and scattering them across the plain, showed the presence of an enemy as ruthless as himself and as determined to play a bold hand.

there

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

From this reading For an hour, while Grimes raged about in the distance and cursed his cowering herders, the rifle-shots continued and the sorely harried sheep went down until there were no more to kill.

thoughtnounUS /thought/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading THE SHEEP-WAR If Grimes had thought to win a bloodless victory and take over Maverick Basin for his sheep he was brought back to earth by that first rifle-shot, which had struck down his boldest _caporal_.

throughnounUS /ˈthrough/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading It was a slaughter of the innocents, but each sheep that went down sent a pang through Grimes' hard heart.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading THE SHEEP-WAR If Grimes had thought to win a bloodless victory and take over Maverick Basin for his sheep he was brought back to earth by that first rifle-shot, which had struck down his boldest _caporal_.

too

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

From this reading No, it was too rich a prize to be given up lightly and the Scarboroughs were fighting to win.

untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading For an hour, while Grimes raged about in the distance and cursed his cowering herders, the rifle-shots continued and the sorely harried sheep went down until there were no more to kill.

up

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

From this reading No, it was too rich a prize to be given up lightly and the Scarboroughs were fighting to win.

victory

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

From this reading THE SHEEP-WAR If Grimes had thought to win a bloodless victory and take over Maverick Basin for his sheep he was brought back to earth by that first rifle-shot, which had struck down his boldest _caporal_.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading THE SHEEP-WAR If Grimes had thought to win a bloodless victory and take over Maverick Basin for his sheep he was brought back to earth by that first rifle-shot, which had struck down his boldest _caporal_.

wentnounUS /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading For an hour, while Grimes raged about in the distance and cursed his cowering herders, the rifle-shots continued and the sorely harried sheep went down until there were no more to kill.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading No, it was too rich a prize to be given up lightly and the Scarboroughs were fighting to win.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading THE SHEEP-WAR If Grimes had thought to win a bloodless victory and take over Maverick Basin for his sheep he was brought back to earth by that first rifle-shot, which had struck down his boldest _caporal_.

whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading For an hour, while Grimes raged about in the distance and cursed his cowering herders, the rifle-shots continued and the sorely harried sheep went down until there were no more to kill.

win

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

From this reading THE SHEEP-WAR If Grimes had thought to win a bloodless victory and take over Maverick Basin for his sheep he was brought back to earth by that first rifle-shot, which had struck down his boldest _caporal_.