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The River of Darkness
The River of Darkness

Chapter VIII · Chapter 8

Chapter 8 of The River of Darkness is here in full — 74 sentences across 15 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The River of Darkness
Context Illustration Reading 1/14 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
SOLD INTO SLAVERY.
The party were taken to a rear apartment of the residency and placed under strong guard.
During the remainder of that night no one slept, of course, nor did they hold much conversation, for all instinctively avoided a subject which could only add to their wretchedness.
Slavery among the Somalis was a fate worse than death.
It was a living death indeed, for hope of escape there was none.
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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 River of Darkness

Chapter VIII · Chapter 8

Chapter 8 of The River of Darkness is here in full — 74 sentences across 15 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/14 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
SOLD INTO SLAVERY.
/soʊld ˈɪntuː ˈsleɪvəri/
Line 2
The party were taken to a rear apartment of the residency and placed under strong guard.
/ðə ˈpɑːrti wɜːr ˈteɪkən tuː ə rɪr əˈpɑːrtmənt ʌv ðə ˈrezɪdənsi ənd pleɪst ˈʌndər strɔːŋ ɡɑːrd/
Line 3
During the remainder of that night no one slept, of course, nor did they hold much conversation, for all instinctively avoided a subject which could only add to their wretchedness.
Line 4
Slavery among the Somalis was a fate worse than death.
/ˈsleɪvəri əˈmʌŋ ðə səˈmɑːliz wɑːz ə feɪt wɜːrs ðæn deθ/
Line 5
It was a living death indeed, for hope of escape there was none.
/ɪt wɑːz ə ˈlɪvɪŋ deθ ˌɪnˈdiːd fɔːr hoʊp ʌv ɪˈskeɪp ðer wɑːz nʌn/

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.

apartment noun US /əˈpɑːrtmənt/

a suite of rooms usually on one floor of an apartment house

From this reading “The party were taken to a rear apartment of the residency and placed under strong guard.”

avoided verb US /əˈvɔɪdɪd/

past form of “avoid” — stay clear from; keep away from; keep out of the way of someone or something

From this reading “During the remainder of that night no one slept, of course, nor did they hold much conversation, for all instinctively avoided a subject which could only add to their wretchedness.”

instinctively adverb US /ˌɪnˈstɪŋktɪvliː/

as a matter of instinct

From this reading “During the remainder of that night no one slept, of course, nor did they hold much conversation, for all instinctively avoided a subject which could only add to their wretchedness.”

rear noun US /rɪr/

the back of a military formation or procession

From this reading “The party were taken to a rear apartment of the residency and placed under strong guard.”

remainder noun US /rɪˈmeɪndər/

something left after other parts have been taken away

From this reading “During the remainder of that night no one slept, of course, nor did they hold much conversation, for all instinctively avoided a subject which could only add to their wretchedness.”

residency noun US /ˈrezɪdənsi/

the act of dwelling in a place

From this reading “The party were taken to a rear apartment of the residency and placed under strong guard.”

slavery noun US /ˈsleɪvəri/

the state of being under the control of another person

From this reading “SOLD INTO SLAVERY.”

Somalis noun US /səˈmɑːliz/

plural of “somali” — a member of a tall dark (mostly Muslim) people inhabiting Somalia

From this reading “Slavery among the Somalis was a fate worse than death.”

All words in this reading · 57

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 The party were taken to a rear apartment of the residency and placed under strong guard.

addverbUS /æd/

make an addition (to); join or combine or unite with others; increase the quality, quantity, size or scope of

From this reading During the remainder of that night no one slept, of course, nor did they hold much conversation, for all instinctively avoided a subject which could only add to their wretchedness.

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 During the remainder of that night no one slept, of course, nor did they hold much conversation, for all instinctively avoided a subject which could only add to their wretchedness.

amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/

surrounded by; in the middle of a group

From this reading Slavery among the Somalis was a fate worse than death.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading The party were taken to a rear apartment of the residency and placed under strong guard.

apartmentnounUS /əˈpɑːrtmənt/

a suite of rooms usually on one floor of an apartment house

From this reading The party were taken to a rear apartment of the residency and placed under strong guard.

avoidedverbUS /əˈvɔɪdɪd/

past form of “avoid” — stay clear from; keep away from; keep out of the way of someone or something

From this reading During the remainder of that night no one slept, of course, nor did they hold much conversation, for all instinctively avoided a subject which could only add to their wretchedness.

conversationnounUS /ˌkɑːnvərˈseɪʃən/

the use of speech for informal exchange of views or ideas or information etc.

From this reading During the remainder of that night no one slept, of course, nor did they hold much conversation, for all instinctively avoided a subject which could only add to their wretchedness.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading During the remainder of that night no one slept, of course, nor did they hold much conversation, for all instinctively avoided a subject which could only add to their wretchedness.

coursenounUS /kɔːrs/

education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings

From this reading During the remainder of that night no one slept, of course, nor did they hold much conversation, for all instinctively avoided a subject which could only add to their wretchedness.

deathnounUS /deθ/

the event of dying or departure from life

From this reading Slavery among the Somalis was a fate worse than death.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading During the remainder of that night no one slept, of course, nor did they hold much conversation, for all instinctively avoided a subject which could only add to their wretchedness.

DuringprepositionUS /ˈdʊrɪŋ/

all through a period, or at some point within it

From this reading During the remainder of that night no one slept, of course, nor did they hold much conversation, for all instinctively avoided a subject which could only add to their wretchedness.

escapenounUS /ɪˈskeɪp/

the act of escaping physically

From this reading It was a living death indeed, for hope of escape there was none.

fatenounUS /feɪt/

an event (or a course of events) that will inevitably happen in the future

From this reading Slavery among the Somalis was a fate worse than death.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading During the remainder of that night no one slept, of course, nor did they hold much conversation, for all instinctively avoided a subject which could only add to their wretchedness.

guardnounUS /ɡɑːrd/

a person who keeps watch over something or someone

From this reading The party were taken to a rear apartment of the residency and placed under strong guard.

holdverbUS /hoʊld/

cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”

From this reading During the remainder of that night no one slept, of course, nor did they hold much conversation, for all instinctively avoided a subject which could only add to their wretchedness.

hopenounUS /hoʊp/

a specific instance of feeling hopeful

From this reading It was a living death indeed, for hope of escape there was none.

indeedadverbUS /ˌɪnˈdiːd/

in truth (often tends to intensify)

From this reading It was a living death indeed, for hope of escape there was none.

instinctivelyadverbUS /ˌɪnˈstɪŋktɪvliː/

as a matter of instinct

From this reading During the remainder of that night no one slept, of course, nor did they hold much conversation, for all instinctively avoided a subject which could only add to their wretchedness.

INTOprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading SOLD INTO SLAVERY.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was a living death indeed, for hope of escape there was none.

livingnounUS /ˈlɪvɪŋ/

the experience of being alive; the course of human events and activities

From this reading It was a living death indeed, for hope of escape there was none.

muchadverbUS /mʌtʃ/

to a great degree or extent

From this reading During the remainder of that night no one slept, of course, nor did they hold much conversation, for all instinctively avoided a subject which could only add to their wretchedness.

nightnounUS /naɪt/

the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside

From this reading During the remainder of that night no one slept, of course, nor did they hold much conversation, for all instinctively avoided a subject which could only add to their wretchedness.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading During the remainder of that night no one slept, of course, nor did they hold much conversation, for all instinctively avoided a subject which could only add to their wretchedness.

nonepronounUS /nʌn/

not one, and not any

From this reading It was a living death indeed, for hope of escape there was none.

norconjunctionUS /nɔːr/

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

From this reading During the remainder of that night no one slept, of course, nor did they hold much conversation, for all instinctively avoided a subject which could only add to their wretchedness.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The party were taken to a rear apartment of the residency and placed under strong guard.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading During the remainder of that night no one slept, of course, nor did they hold much conversation, for all instinctively avoided a subject which could only add to their wretchedness.

onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/

and nothing more

From this reading During the remainder of that night no one slept, of course, nor did they hold much conversation, for all instinctively avoided a subject which could only add to their wretchedness.

partynounUS /ˈpɑːrti/

an organization to gain political power

From this reading The party were taken to a rear apartment of the residency and placed under strong guard.

placedadjectiveUS /pleɪst/

situated in a particular spot or position

From this reading The party were taken to a rear apartment of the residency and placed under strong guard.

rearnounUS /rɪr/

the back of a military formation or procession

From this reading The party were taken to a rear apartment of the residency and placed under strong guard.

remaindernounUS /rɪˈmeɪndər/

something left after other parts have been taken away

From this reading During the remainder of that night no one slept, of course, nor did they hold much conversation, for all instinctively avoided a subject which could only add to their wretchedness.

residencynounUS /ˈrezɪdənsi/

the act of dwelling in a place

From this reading The party were taken to a rear apartment of the residency and placed under strong guard.

SLAVERYnounUS /ˈsleɪvəri/

the state of being under the control of another person

From this reading SOLD INTO SLAVERY.

sleptverbUS /slept/

inflected form of “sleep” — be asleep

From this reading During the remainder of that night no one slept, of course, nor did they hold much conversation, for all instinctively avoided a subject which could only add to their wretchedness.

SOLDadjectiveUS /soʊld/

disposed of to a purchaser

From this reading SOLD INTO SLAVERY.

SomalisnounUS /səˈmɑːliz/

plural of “somali” — a member of a tall dark (mostly Muslim) people inhabiting Somalia

From this reading Slavery among the Somalis was a fate worse than death.

strongadjectiveUS /strɔːŋ/

having strength or power greater than average or expected

From this reading The party were taken to a rear apartment of the residency and placed under strong guard.

subjectnounUS /səbˈdʒekt/

the subject matter of a conversation or discussion

From this reading During the remainder of that night no one slept, of course, nor did they hold much conversation, for all instinctively avoided a subject which could only add to their wretchedness.

takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/

understood in a certain way; made sense of

From this reading The party were taken to a rear apartment of the residency and placed under strong guard.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading Slavery among the Somalis was a fate worse than death.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading During the remainder of that night no one slept, of course, nor did they hold much conversation, for all instinctively avoided a subject which could only add to their wretchedness.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The party were taken to a rear apartment of the residency and placed under strong guard.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading During the remainder of that night no one slept, of course, nor did they hold much conversation, for all instinctively avoided a subject which could only add to their wretchedness.

thereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading It was a living death indeed, for hope of escape there was none.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading During the remainder of that night no one slept, of course, nor did they hold much conversation, for all instinctively avoided a subject which could only add to their wretchedness.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading The party were taken to a rear apartment of the residency and placed under strong guard.

underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading The party were taken to a rear apartment of the residency and placed under strong guard.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Slavery among the Somalis was a fate worse than death.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading The party were taken to a rear apartment of the residency and placed under strong guard.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading During the remainder of that night no one slept, of course, nor did they hold much conversation, for all instinctively avoided a subject which could only add to their wretchedness.

worseadjectiveUS /wɜːrs/

(comparative of “bad”) inferior to another in quality or condition or desirability

From this reading Slavery among the Somalis was a fate worse than death.

wretchednessnoun

a state of ill-being due to affliction or misfortune

From this reading During the remainder of that night no one slept, of course, nor did they hold much conversation, for all instinctively avoided a subject which could only add to their wretchedness.

Chapter 8 of The River of Darkness by William Murray Graydon holds 74 sentences, grouped into 15 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 8 of The River of Darkness contain?

Chapter 8 holds 74 sentences of The River of Darkness, unabridged, divided into 15 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 8 of The River of Darkness by William Murray Graydon exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 74 sentences, grouped into 15 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 8 of The River of Darkness?

Work through the 15 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 15 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 8 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 8 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 River of Darkness

Common questions about reading The River of Darkness by William Murray Graydon on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The River of Darkness?

Yes. All 3841 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #24297 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The River of Darkness is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #24297, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The River of Darkness take to read?

About 320 minutes of reading across 769 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The River of Darkness section by section

How to work through The River of Darkness section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 40 chapters of The River of Darkness to begin.

  2. Read one section

    Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.

  3. Listen and tap

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

Vocabulary met early in The River of Darkness

Words and structures a reader meets early in The River of Darkness, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

River
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The River of Darkness; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Darkness
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The River of Darkness; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Under
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The River of Darkness; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Africa
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The River of Darkness; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.