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The Owl Taxi
The Owl Taxi

Chapter XVII

Chapter 17 of The Owl Taxi is here in full — 289 sentences across 58 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Hulbert Footner • Curated US English Learning Edition
Cover illustration for The Owl Taxi
Context Illustration Reading 1/57 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE YOUNG MAN WITH THE LITTLE BLACK MUSTACHE As Greg proceeded along the street to rejoin Hickey, he measured with his eye the distance from the porch floors to the window overhead.
All the houses were of the same design.
"Twelve feet," he said to himself; "a ten-foot ladder will do."
"Let's go home," he said to Hickey.
"We've got to lay plans for an attack after midnight."
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 Owl Taxi

Chapter XVII

Chapter 17 of The Owl Taxi is here in full — 289 sentences across 58 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/57 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE YOUNG MAN WITH THE LITTLE BLACK MUSTACHE As Greg proceeded along the street to rejoin Hickey, he measured with his eye the distance from the porch floors to the window overhead.
Line 2
All the houses were of the same design.
/ɔːl ðə ˈhaʊsəz wɜːr ʌv ðə seɪm dɪˈzaɪn/
Line 3
"Twelve feet," he said to himself; "a ten-foot ladder will do."
Line 4
"Let's go home," he said to Hickey.
Line 5
"We've got to lay plans for an attack after midnight."

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.

design noun US /dɪˈzaɪn/

the act of working out the form of something (as by making a sketch or outline or plan)

From this reading “All the houses were of the same design.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
floors noun US /flɔːrz/

plural of “floor” — the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)

From this reading “THE YOUNG MAN WITH THE LITTLE BLACK MUSTACHE As Greg proceeded along the street to rejoin Hickey, he measured with his eye the distance from the porch floors to the window overhead.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Hickey noun US /ˈhɪki/

a small inflamed elevation of the skin; a pustule or papule; common symptom in acne

From this reading “THE YOUNG MAN WITH THE LITTLE BLACK MUSTACHE As Greg proceeded along the street to rejoin Hickey, he measured with his eye the distance from the porch floors to the window overhead.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ladder noun US /ˈlædər/

steps consisting of two parallel members connected by rungs; for climbing up or down

From this reading “"Twelve feet," he said to himself; "a ten-foot ladder will do."”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
measured adjective US /ˈmeʒərd/

having notes of fixed rhythmic value

From this reading “THE YOUNG MAN WITH THE LITTLE BLACK MUSTACHE As Greg proceeded along the street to rejoin Hickey, he measured with his eye the distance from the porch floors to the window overhead.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
mustache noun US /ˈmʌstæʃ/

an unshaved growth of hair on the upper lip

From this reading “THE YOUNG MAN WITH THE LITTLE BLACK MUSTACHE As Greg proceeded along the street to rejoin Hickey, he measured with his eye the distance from the porch floors to the window overhead.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
overhead adverb US /ˈoʊvərˈhed/

above your head; in the sky

From this reading “THE YOUNG MAN WITH THE LITTLE BLACK MUSTACHE As Greg proceeded along the street to rejoin Hickey, he measured with his eye the distance from the porch floors to the window overhead.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
rejoin verb US /riˈdʒɔɪn/

join again

From this reading “THE YOUNG MAN WITH THE LITTLE BLACK MUSTACHE As Greg proceeded along the street to rejoin Hickey, he measured with his eye the distance from the porch floors to the window overhead.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1

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.

BLACK MUSTACHE adjective + noun

In this reading “THE YOUNG MAN WITH THE LITTLE BLACK MUSTACHE As Greg proceeded along the street to rejoin Hickey, he measured with his eye the distance from the porch floors to the window overhead.”

447 times in 426,211 chapters
YOUNG MAN adjective + noun

a teenager or a young adult male

In this reading “THE YOUNG MAN WITH THE LITTLE BLACK MUSTACHE As Greg proceeded along the street to rejoin Hickey, he measured with his eye the distance from the porch floors to the window overhead.”

130,774 times in 426,211 chapters
Twelve feet noun + noun counted as “twelve foot”

In this reading “"Twelve feet," he said to himself; "a ten-foot ladder will do."”

2,126 times in 426,211 chapters
after midnight preposition + noun

In this reading “"We've got to lay plans for an attack after midnight."”

3,163 times in 426,211 chapters
along the street preposition + article + noun counted as “along … street”

In this reading “THE YOUNG MAN WITH THE LITTLE BLACK MUSTACHE As Greg proceeded along the street to rejoin Hickey, he measured with his eye the distance from the porch floors to the window overhead.”

3,721 times in 426,211 chapters
go home verb + noun

return home

In this reading “"Let's go home," he said to Hickey.”

37,600 times in 426,211 chapters
proceeded along verb + particle counted as “proceed along”

In this reading “THE YOUNG MAN WITH THE LITTLE BLACK MUSTACHE As Greg proceeded along the street to rejoin Hickey, he measured with his eye the distance from the porch floors to the window overhead.”

601 times in 426,211 chapters
plans for verb + particle counted as “plan for”

In this reading “"We've got to lay plans for an attack after midnight."”

10,839 times in 426,211 chapters

All words in this reading · 52

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 "Twelve feet," he said to himself; "a ten-foot ladder will do."

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading "We've got to lay plans for an attack after midnight."

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
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 All the houses were of the same design.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/

following the length of something from one end toward the other

From this reading THE YOUNG MAN WITH THE LITTLE BLACK MUSTACHE As Greg proceeded along the street to rejoin Hickey, he measured with his eye the distance from the porch floors to the window overhead.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading "We've got to lay plans for an attack after midnight."

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
AsconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading THE YOUNG MAN WITH THE LITTLE BLACK MUSTACHE As Greg proceeded along the street to rejoin Hickey, he measured with his eye the distance from the porch floors to the window overhead.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
attacknounUS /əˈtæk/

(military) an offensive against an enemy (using weapons)

From this reading "We've got to lay plans for an attack after midnight."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
BLACKadjectiveUS /blæk/

being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light

From this reading THE YOUNG MAN WITH THE LITTLE BLACK MUSTACHE As Greg proceeded along the street to rejoin Hickey, he measured with his eye the distance from the porch floors to the window overhead.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
designnounUS /dɪˈzaɪn/

the act of working out the form of something (as by making a sketch or outline or plan)

From this reading All the houses were of the same design.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
distancenounUS /ˈdɪstəns/

the property created by the space between two objects or points

From this reading THE YOUNG MAN WITH THE LITTLE BLACK MUSTACHE As Greg proceeded along the street to rejoin Hickey, he measured with his eye the distance from the porch floors to the window overhead.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading "Twelve feet," he said to himself; "a ten-foot ladder will do."

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
eyenounUS /aɪ/

the organ of sight

From this reading THE YOUNG MAN WITH THE LITTLE BLACK MUSTACHE As Greg proceeded along the street to rejoin Hickey, he measured with his eye the distance from the porch floors to the window overhead.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
feetnounUS /fiːt/

plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint

From this reading "Twelve feet," he said to himself; "a ten-foot ladder will do."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
floorsnounUS /flɔːrz/

plural of “floor” — the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)

From this reading THE YOUNG MAN WITH THE LITTLE BLACK MUSTACHE As Greg proceeded along the street to rejoin Hickey, he measured with his eye the distance from the porch floors to the window overhead.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading "We've got to lay plans for an attack after midnight."

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading THE YOUNG MAN WITH THE LITTLE BLACK MUSTACHE As Greg proceeded along the street to rejoin Hickey, he measured with his eye the distance from the porch floors to the window overhead.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
goverbUS /ɡoʊ/

change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading "Let's go home," he said to Hickey.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
gotverbUS /ɡɑːt/

inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading "We've got to lay plans for an attack after midnight."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Greg

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

From this reading THE YOUNG MAN WITH THE LITTLE BLACK MUSTACHE As Greg proceeded along the street to rejoin Hickey, he measured with his eye the distance from the porch floors to the window overhead.

Pending verification
hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading THE YOUNG MAN WITH THE LITTLE BLACK MUSTACHE As Greg proceeded along the street to rejoin Hickey, he measured with his eye the distance from the porch floors to the window overhead.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
HickeynounUS /ˈhɪki/

a small inflamed elevation of the skin; a pustule or papule; common symptom in acne

From this reading THE YOUNG MAN WITH THE LITTLE BLACK MUSTACHE As Greg proceeded along the street to rejoin Hickey, he measured with his eye the distance from the porch floors to the window overhead.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

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

From this reading "Twelve feet," he said to himself; "a ten-foot ladder will do."

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading THE YOUNG MAN WITH THE LITTLE BLACK MUSTACHE As Greg proceeded along the street to rejoin Hickey, he measured with his eye the distance from the porch floors to the window overhead.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
homenounUS /hoʊm/

where you live at a particular time

From this reading "Let's go home," he said to Hickey.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
housesnounUS /ˈhaʊsəz/

plural of “house” — a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading All the houses were of the same design.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
laddernounUS /ˈlædər/

steps consisting of two parallel members connected by rungs; for climbing up or down

From this reading "Twelve feet," he said to himself; "a ten-foot ladder will do."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
layverbUS /leɪ/

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading "We've got to lay plans for an attack after midnight."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Let's

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

From this reading "Let's go home," he said to Hickey.

Pending verification
LITTLEadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/

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

From this reading THE YOUNG MAN WITH THE LITTLE BLACK MUSTACHE As Greg proceeded along the street to rejoin Hickey, he measured with his eye the distance from the porch floors to the window overhead.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
MANnounUS /mæn/

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading THE YOUNG MAN WITH THE LITTLE BLACK MUSTACHE As Greg proceeded along the street to rejoin Hickey, he measured with his eye the distance from the porch floors to the window overhead.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
measuredadjectiveUS /ˈmeʒərd/

having notes of fixed rhythmic value

From this reading THE YOUNG MAN WITH THE LITTLE BLACK MUSTACHE As Greg proceeded along the street to rejoin Hickey, he measured with his eye the distance from the porch floors to the window overhead.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
midnightnounUS /ˈmɪdnaɪt/

12 o'clock at night; the middle of the night

From this reading "We've got to lay plans for an attack after midnight."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
MUSTACHEnounUS /ˈmʌstæʃ/

an unshaved growth of hair on the upper lip

From this reading THE YOUNG MAN WITH THE LITTLE BLACK MUSTACHE As Greg proceeded along the street to rejoin Hickey, he measured with his eye the distance from the porch floors to the window overhead.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading All the houses were of the same design.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
overheadadverbUS /ˈoʊvərˈhed/

above your head; in the sky

From this reading THE YOUNG MAN WITH THE LITTLE BLACK MUSTACHE As Greg proceeded along the street to rejoin Hickey, he measured with his eye the distance from the porch floors to the window overhead.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
plansnounUS /plænz/

plural of “plan” — a series of steps to be carried out or goals to be accomplished

From this reading "We've got to lay plans for an attack after midnight."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
porchnounUS /pɔːrtʃ/

a structure attached to the exterior of a building often forming a covered entrance

From this reading THE YOUNG MAN WITH THE LITTLE BLACK MUSTACHE As Greg proceeded along the street to rejoin Hickey, he measured with his eye the distance from the porch floors to the window overhead.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
proceededverbUS /prəˈsiːdɪd/

past form of “proceed” — continue talking

From this reading THE YOUNG MAN WITH THE LITTLE BLACK MUSTACHE As Greg proceeded along the street to rejoin Hickey, he measured with his eye the distance from the porch floors to the window overhead.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
rejoinverbUS /riˈdʒɔɪn/

join again

From this reading THE YOUNG MAN WITH THE LITTLE BLACK MUSTACHE As Greg proceeded along the street to rejoin Hickey, he measured with his eye the distance from the porch floors to the window overhead.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
saidadjectiveUS /sed/

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading "Twelve feet," he said to himself; "a ten-foot ladder will do."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
sameadjectiveUS /seɪm/

Identical; not different.

From this reading All the houses were of the same design.

Velmora curated lexicon
streetnounUS /striːt/

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

From this reading THE YOUNG MAN WITH THE LITTLE BLACK MUSTACHE As Greg proceeded along the street to rejoin Hickey, he measured with his eye the distance from the porch floors to the window overhead.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ten-foot

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

From this reading "Twelve feet," he said to himself; "a ten-foot ladder will do."

Pending verification
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE YOUNG MAN WITH THE LITTLE BLACK MUSTACHE As Greg proceeded along the street to rejoin Hickey, he measured with his eye the distance from the porch floors to the window overhead.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading THE YOUNG MAN WITH THE LITTLE BLACK MUSTACHE As Greg proceeded along the street to rejoin Hickey, he measured with his eye the distance from the porch floors to the window overhead.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
TwelvenounUS /twelv/

the cardinal number that is the sum of eleven and one

From this reading "Twelve feet," he said to himself; "a ten-foot ladder will do."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
We've

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

From this reading "We've got to lay plans for an attack after midnight."

Pending verification
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading All the houses were of the same design.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading "Twelve feet," he said to himself; "a ten-foot ladder will do."

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
windownounUS /ˈwɪndoʊ/

a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air

From this reading THE YOUNG MAN WITH THE LITTLE BLACK MUSTACHE As Greg proceeded along the street to rejoin Hickey, he measured with his eye the distance from the porch floors to the window overhead.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
WITHprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading THE YOUNG MAN WITH THE LITTLE BLACK MUSTACHE As Greg proceeded along the street to rejoin Hickey, he measured with his eye the distance from the porch floors to the window overhead.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
YOUNGadjectiveUS /jʌŋ/

(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth

From this reading THE YOUNG MAN WITH THE LITTLE BLACK MUSTACHE As Greg proceeded along the street to rejoin Hickey, he measured with his eye the distance from the porch floors to the window overhead.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1

Chapter 17 of The Owl Taxi by Hulbert Footner holds 289 sentences, grouped into 58 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 17 of The Owl Taxi contain?

Chapter 17 holds 289 sentences of The Owl Taxi, unabridged, divided into 58 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 17 of The Owl Taxi by Hulbert Footner exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 289 sentences, grouped into 58 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 17 of The Owl Taxi?

Work through the 58 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 58 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 17 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 17 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 Owl Taxi

Common questions about reading The Owl Taxi by Hulbert Footner on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Owl Taxi?

Yes. All 6509 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #57088 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Owl Taxi is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #57088, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Owl Taxi take to read?

About 542 minutes of reading across 1302 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

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How to work through The Owl Taxi section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

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  3. Listen and tap

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Vocabulary met early in The Owl Taxi

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

Author
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Owl Taxi; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Deaves
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Owl Taxi; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Affair
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Owl Taxi; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Substitute
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Owl Taxi; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.