Chapter 12 of The Scouts of Seal Island is here in full — 137 sentences across 28 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter XII
Chapter 12 of The Scouts of Seal Island is here in full — 137 sentences across 28 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
FLIGHT "WHAT!" exclaimed Sir Silas and Mr Buckley, simultaneously. "A make-up? Explain yourself, Atherton." "That I think is fairly simple, sir," said the Scout. "The marks on the window-frame show that a jemmy has been used, but unless the sash-frame on that side were prised out the window could not be opened by those means.
Chapter 12 of The Scouts of Seal Island is here in full — 137 sentences across 28 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/27 · 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.
make plain and comprehensible
From this reading “Explain yourself, Atherton."”
to certain extent or degree
From this reading “"That I think is fairly simple, sir," said the Scout.”
a formation of aircraft in flight
From this reading “FLIGHT "WHAT!" exclaimed Sir Silas and Mr Buckley, simultaneously.”
an event that is substituted for a previously cancelled event
From this reading “"A make-up?”
English businessman who created a retail chain (1888-1964)
From this reading “"The marks on the window-frame show that a jemmy has been used, but unless the sash-frame on that side were prised out the window could not be opened by those means.”
a person employed to keep watch for some anticipated event
From this reading “"That I think is fairly simple, sir," said the Scout.”
at the same instant
From this reading “FLIGHT "WHAT!" exclaimed Sir Silas and Mr Buckley, simultaneously.”
except if; if not
From this reading “"The marks on the window-frame show that a jemmy has been used, but unless the sash-frame on that side were prised out the window could not be opened by those means.”
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.
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 before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "A make-up?
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading FLIGHT "WHAT!" exclaimed Sir Silas and Mr Buckley, simultaneously.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Explain yourself, Atherton."
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "The marks on the window-frame show that a jemmy has been used, but unless the sash-frame on that side were prised out the window could not be opened by those means.
the past participle of “be”
From this reading "The marks on the window-frame show that a jemmy has been used, but unless the sash-frame on that side were prised out the window could not be opened by those means.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading FLIGHT "WHAT!" exclaimed Sir Silas and Mr Buckley, simultaneously.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "The marks on the window-frame show that a jemmy has been used, but unless the sash-frame on that side were prised out the window could not be opened by those means.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading "The marks on the window-frame show that a jemmy has been used, but unless the sash-frame on that side were prised out the window could not be opened by those means.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading "The marks on the window-frame show that a jemmy has been used, but unless the sash-frame on that side were prised out the window could not be opened by those means.
past form of “exclaim” — utter aloud; often with surprise, horror, or joy
From this reading FLIGHT "WHAT!" exclaimed Sir Silas and Mr Buckley, simultaneously.
make plain and comprehensible
From this reading Explain yourself, Atherton."
to certain extent or degree
From this reading "That I think is fairly simple, sir," said the Scout.
a formation of aircraft in flight
From this reading FLIGHT "WHAT!" exclaimed Sir Silas and Mr Buckley, simultaneously.
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "The marks on the window-frame show that a jemmy has been used, but unless the sash-frame on that side were prised out the window could not be opened by those means.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "That I think is fairly simple, sir," said the Scout.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "That I think is fairly simple, sir," said the Scout.
a short crowbar
From this reading "The marks on the window-frame show that a jemmy has been used, but unless the sash-frame on that side were prised out the window could not be opened by those means.
an event that is substituted for a previously cancelled event
From this reading "A make-up?
English businessman who created a retail chain (1888-1964)
From this reading "The marks on the window-frame show that a jemmy has been used, but unless the sash-frame on that side were prised out the window could not be opened by those means.
thing or person that acts to produce a particular effect or achieve an end
From this reading "The marks on the window-frame show that a jemmy has been used, but unless the sash-frame on that side were prised out the window could not be opened by those means.
a form of address for a man
From this reading FLIGHT "WHAT!" exclaimed Sir Silas and Mr Buckley, simultaneously.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading "The marks on the window-frame show that a jemmy has been used, but unless the sash-frame on that side were prised out the window could not be opened by those means.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading "The marks on the window-frame show that a jemmy has been used, but unless the sash-frame on that side were prised out the window could not be opened by those means.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading "The marks on the window-frame show that a jemmy has been used, but unless the sash-frame on that side were prised out the window could not be opened by those means.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading "The marks on the window-frame show that a jemmy has been used, but unless the sash-frame on that side were prised out the window could not be opened by those means.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "The marks on the window-frame show that a jemmy has been used, but unless the sash-frame on that side were prised out the window could not be opened by those means.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "That I think is fairly simple, sir," said the Scout.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "The marks on the window-frame show that a jemmy has been used, but unless the sash-frame on that side were prised out the window could not be opened by those means.
a person employed to keep watch for some anticipated event
From this reading "That I think is fairly simple, sir," said the Scout.
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading "The marks on the window-frame show that a jemmy has been used, but unless the sash-frame on that side were prised out the window could not be opened by those means.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading "The marks on the window-frame show that a jemmy has been used, but unless the sash-frame on that side were prised out the window could not be opened by those means.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading FLIGHT "WHAT!" exclaimed Sir Silas and Mr Buckley, simultaneously.
having few parts; not complex or complicated or involved
From this reading "That I think is fairly simple, sir," said the Scout.
at the same instant
From this reading FLIGHT "WHAT!" exclaimed Sir Silas and Mr Buckley, simultaneously.
term of address for a man
From this reading FLIGHT "WHAT!" exclaimed Sir Silas and Mr Buckley, simultaneously.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "That I think is fairly simple, sir," said the Scout.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "That I think is fairly simple, sir," said the Scout.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading "That I think is fairly simple, sir," said the Scout.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading "The marks on the window-frame show that a jemmy has been used, but unless the sash-frame on that side were prised out the window could not be opened by those means.
except if; if not
From this reading "The marks on the window-frame show that a jemmy has been used, but unless the sash-frame on that side were prised out the window could not be opened by those means.
employed in accomplishing something
From this reading "The marks on the window-frame show that a jemmy has been used, but unless the sash-frame on that side were prised out the window could not be opened by those means.
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "The marks on the window-frame show that a jemmy has been used, but unless the sash-frame on that side were prised out the window could not be opened by those means.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading FLIGHT "WHAT!" exclaimed Sir Silas and Mr Buckley, simultaneously.
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 marks on the window-frame show that a jemmy has been used, but unless the sash-frame on that side were prised out the window could not be opened by those means.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "The marks on the window-frame show that a jemmy has been used, but unless the sash-frame on that side were prised out the window could not be opened by those means.
used when the person spoken to is also the object of the action
From this reading Explain yourself, Atherton."
Chapter 12 of The Scouts of Seal Island by Percy F. (Percy Francis) Westerman holds 137 sentences, grouped into 28 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 12 holds 137 sentences of The Scouts of Seal Island, unabridged, divided into 28 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 12 of The Scouts of Seal Island by Percy F. (Percy Francis) Westerman exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 137 sentences, grouped into 28 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 28 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 28 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 12 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 Scouts of Seal Island by Percy F. (Percy Francis) Westerman on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 3374 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #49496 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #49496, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 281 minutes of reading across 675 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through The Scouts of Seal Island section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 18 chapters of The Scouts of Seal 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 Scouts of Seal Island, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
