Chapter 26 of The Mysterious Island is here in full — 292 sentences across 59 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter XXVI
Chapter 26 of The Mysterious Island is here in full — 292 sentences across 59 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
“Poor man!” said Herbert, who had rushed to the door, but returned, having seen Ayrton slide down the rope on the lift and disappear in the darkness. “He will come back,” said Cyrus Harding. “Come, now, captain,” exclaimed Pencroft, “what does that mean? What! wasn’t it Ayrton who threw that bottle into the sea? Who was it then?”
Chapter 26 of The Mysterious Island is here in full — 292 sentences across 59 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/58 · 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.
a glass or plastic vessel used for storing drinks or other liquids; typically cylindrical without handles and with a narrow neck that can be plugged or capped
From this reading “What! wasn’t it Ayrton who threw that bottle into the sea?”
Persian prince who was defeated in battle by his brother Artaxerxes II (424-401 BC)
From this reading ““He will come back,” said Cyrus Harding.”
get lost, as without warning or explanation
From this reading ““Poor man!” said Herbert, who had rushed to the door, but returned, having seen Ayrton slide down the rope on the lift and disappear in the darkness.”
29th President of the United States; two of his appointees were involved in the Teapot Dome scandal (1865-1823)
From this reading ““He will come back,” said Cyrus Harding.”
United States musician and composer and conductor noted for his comic operas (1859-1924)
From this reading ““Poor man!” said Herbert, who had rushed to the door, but returned, having seen Ayrton slide down the rope on the lift and disappear in the darkness.”
raise from a lower to a higher position
From this reading ““Poor man!” said Herbert, who had rushed to the door, but returned, having seen Ayrton slide down the rope on the lift and disappear in the darkness.”
a strong line
From this reading ““Poor man!” said Herbert, who had rushed to the door, but returned, having seen Ayrton slide down the rope on the lift and disappear in the darkness.”
a small flat rectangular piece of glass on which specimens can be mounted for microscopic study
From this reading ““Poor man!” said Herbert, who had rushed to the door, but returned, having seen Ayrton slide down the rope on the lift and disappear in the darkness.”
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.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “Poor man!” said Herbert, who had rushed to the door, but returned, having seen Ayrton slide down the rope on the lift and disappear in the darkness.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Poor man!” said Herbert, who had rushed to the door, but returned, having seen Ayrton slide down the rope on the lift and disappear in the darkness.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading “He will come back,” said Cyrus Harding.
a glass or plastic vessel used for storing drinks or other liquids; typically cylindrical without handles and with a narrow neck that can be plugged or capped
From this reading What! wasn’t it Ayrton who threw that bottle into the sea?
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading “Poor man!” said Herbert, who had rushed to the door, but returned, having seen Ayrton slide down the rope on the lift and disappear in the darkness.
an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading “Come, now, captain,” exclaimed Pencroft, “what does that mean?
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading “He will come back,” said Cyrus Harding.
Persian prince who was defeated in battle by his brother Artaxerxes II (424-401 BC)
From this reading “He will come back,” said Cyrus Harding.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading “Poor man!” said Herbert, who had rushed to the door, but returned, having seen Ayrton slide down the rope on the lift and disappear in the darkness.
get lost, as without warning or explanation
From this reading “Poor man!” said Herbert, who had rushed to the door, but returned, having seen Ayrton slide down the rope on the lift and disappear in the darkness.
the form of “do” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “Come, now, captain,” exclaimed Pencroft, “what does that mean?
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading “Poor man!” said Herbert, who had rushed to the door, but returned, having seen Ayrton slide down the rope on the lift and disappear in the darkness.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading “Poor man!” said Herbert, who had rushed to the door, but returned, having seen Ayrton slide down the rope on the lift and disappear in the darkness.
past form of “exclaim” — utter aloud; often with surprise, horror, or joy
From this reading “Come, now, captain,” exclaimed Pencroft, “what does that mean?
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading “Poor man!” said Herbert, who had rushed to the door, but returned, having seen Ayrton slide down the rope on the lift and disappear in the darkness.
29th President of the United States; two of his appointees were involved in the Teapot Dome scandal (1865-1823)
From this reading “He will come back,” said Cyrus Harding.
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading “Poor man!” said Herbert, who had rushed to the door, but returned, having seen Ayrton slide down the rope on the lift and disappear in the darkness.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “He will come back,” said Cyrus Harding.
United States musician and composer and conductor noted for his comic operas (1859-1924)
From this reading “Poor man!” said Herbert, who had rushed to the door, but returned, having seen Ayrton slide down the rope on the lift and disappear in the darkness.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading “Poor man!” said Herbert, who had rushed to the door, but returned, having seen Ayrton slide down the rope on the lift and disappear in the darkness.
moving to the inside of something
From this reading What! wasn’t it Ayrton who threw that bottle into the sea?
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading What! wasn’t it Ayrton who threw that bottle into the sea?
raise from a lower to a higher position
From this reading “Poor man!” said Herbert, who had rushed to the door, but returned, having seen Ayrton slide down the rope on the lift and disappear in the darkness.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading “Poor man!” said Herbert, who had rushed to the door, but returned, having seen Ayrton slide down the rope on the lift and disappear in the darkness.
mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading “Come, now, captain,” exclaimed Pencroft, “what does that mean?
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading “Come, now, captain,” exclaimed Pencroft, “what does that mean?
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading “Poor man!” said Herbert, who had rushed to the door, but returned, having seen Ayrton slide down the rope on the lift and disappear in the darkness.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Come, now, captain,” exclaimed Pencroft, “what does that mean?
deserving or inciting pity
From this reading “Poor man!” said Herbert, who had rushed to the door, but returned, having seen Ayrton slide down the rope on the lift and disappear in the darkness.
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading “Poor man!” said Herbert, who had rushed to the door, but returned, having seen Ayrton slide down the rope on the lift and disappear in the darkness.
a strong line
From this reading “Poor man!” said Herbert, who had rushed to the door, but returned, having seen Ayrton slide down the rope on the lift and disappear in the darkness.
done under pressure
From this reading “Poor man!” said Herbert, who had rushed to the door, but returned, having seen Ayrton slide down the rope on the lift and disappear in the darkness.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “Poor man!” said Herbert, who had rushed to the door, but returned, having seen Ayrton slide down the rope on the lift and disappear in the darkness.
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading What! wasn’t it Ayrton who threw that bottle into the sea?
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading “Poor man!” said Herbert, who had rushed to the door, but returned, having seen Ayrton slide down the rope on the lift and disappear in the darkness.
a small flat rectangular piece of glass on which specimens can be mounted for microscopic study
From this reading “Poor man!” said Herbert, who had rushed to the door, but returned, having seen Ayrton slide down the rope on the lift and disappear in the darkness.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “Come, now, captain,” exclaimed Pencroft, “what does that mean?
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “Poor man!” said Herbert, who had rushed to the door, but returned, having seen Ayrton slide down the rope on the lift and disappear in the darkness.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Who was it then?”
inflected form of “throw” — propel through the air
From this reading What! wasn’t it Ayrton who threw that bottle into the sea?
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “Poor man!” said Herbert, who had rushed to the door, but returned, having seen Ayrton slide down the rope on the lift and disappear in the darkness.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Who was it then?”
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What! wasn’t it Ayrton who threw that bottle into the sea?
used to ask for information about something
From this reading “Come, now, captain,” exclaimed Pencroft, “what does that mean?
which person or people
From this reading “Poor man!” said Herbert, who had rushed to the door, but returned, having seen Ayrton slide down the rope on the lift and disappear in the darkness.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading “He will come back,” said Cyrus Harding.
Chapter 26 of The Mysterious Island by Jules Verne holds 292 sentences, grouped into 59 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 26 holds 292 sentences of The Mysterious Island, unabridged, divided into 59 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 26 of The Mysterious Island by Jules Verne exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 292 sentences, grouped into 59 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 59 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 59 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 26 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 Mysterious Island by Jules Verne on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 10051 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #1268 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #1268, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 600 minutes of reading across 2011 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through The Mysterious Island section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 40 chapters of The Mysterious Island 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 Mysterious Island, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
