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The Talking Leaves: An Indian Story
The Talking Leaves: An Indian Story

Chapter VIII · Chapter 8

Chapter 8 of The Talking Leaves: An Indian Story is here in full — 178 sentences across 36 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Talking Leaves: An Indian Story
Context Illustration Reading 1/35 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
There had been a very good reason why neither Steve Harrison nor Murray came back with the Lipan braves who were sent to bring home the game.
They had been preparing to do so when they were summoned into the presence of To-la-go-to-de.
"No Tongue is a great hunter," said the dark-browed leader, as they came forward.
"Cougar, big-horn, deer, all good.
Apache heap better."
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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 Talking Leaves: An Indian Story

Chapter VIII · Chapter 8

Chapter 8 of The Talking Leaves: An Indian Story is here in full — 178 sentences across 36 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/35 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
There had been a very good reason why neither Steve Harrison nor Murray came back with the Lipan braves who were sent to bring home the game.
Line 2
They had been preparing to do so when they were summoned into the presence of To-la-go-to-de.
Line 3
"No Tongue is a great hunter," said the dark-browed leader, as they came forward.
Line 4
"Cougar, big-horn, deer, all good.
Line 5
Apache heap better."
/əˈpætʃi hiːp ˈbetər/

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.

Apache noun US /əˈpætʃi/

any member of Athapaskan tribes that migrated to the southwestern desert (from Arizona to Texas and south into Mexico); fought a losing battle from 1861 to 1886 with the United States and were resettled in Oklahoma

From this reading “Apache heap better."”

braves noun US /breɪvz/

plural of “brave” — a North American Indian warrior

From this reading “There had been a very good reason why neither Steve Harrison nor Murray came back with the Lipan braves who were sent to bring home the game.”

Cougar noun US /ˈkuːɡər/

large American feline resembling a lion

From this reading “"Cougar, big-horn, deer, all good.”

deer noun US /dɪr/

distinguished from Bovidae by the male's having solid deciduous antlers

From this reading “"Cougar, big-horn, deer, all good.”

Harrison noun US /ˈherɪsən/

English actor on stage and in films (1908-1990)

From this reading “There had been a very good reason why neither Steve Harrison nor Murray came back with the Lipan braves who were sent to bring home the game.”

hunter noun US /ˈhʌntər/

someone who hunts game

From this reading “"No Tongue is a great hunter," said the dark-browed leader, as they came forward.”

Murray noun US /ˈmɜːri/

British classical scholar (born in Australia) who advocated the League of Nations and the United Nations (1866-1957)

From this reading “There had been a very good reason why neither Steve Harrison nor Murray came back with the Lipan braves who were sent to bring home the game.”

preparing verb US /priˈperɪŋ/

-ing form of “prepare” — make ready or suitable or equip in advance for a particular purpose or for some use, event, etc

From this reading “They had been preparing to do so when they were summoned into the presence of To-la-go-to-de.”

All words in this reading · 53

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 There had been a very good reason why neither Steve Harrison nor Murray came back with the Lipan braves who were sent to bring home the game.

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 "Cougar, big-horn, deer, all good.

ApachenounUS /əˈpætʃi/

any member of Athapaskan tribes that migrated to the southwestern desert (from Arizona to Texas and south into Mexico); fought a losing battle from 1861 to 1886 with the United States and were resettled in Oklahoma

From this reading Apache heap better."

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading "No Tongue is a great hunter," said the dark-browed leader, as they came forward.

backadverbUS /bæk/

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading There had been a very good reason why neither Steve Harrison nor Murray came back with the Lipan braves who were sent to bring home the game.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading There had been a very good reason why neither Steve Harrison nor Murray came back with the Lipan braves who were sent to bring home the game.

betteradjectiveUS /ˈbetər/

(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another

From this reading Apache heap better."

big-horn

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

From this reading "Cougar, big-horn, deer, all good.

bravesnounUS /breɪvz/

plural of “brave” — a North American Indian warrior

From this reading There had been a very good reason why neither Steve Harrison nor Murray came back with the Lipan braves who were sent to bring home the game.

bringverbUS /brɪŋ/

take something or somebody with oneself somewhere

From this reading There had been a very good reason why neither Steve Harrison nor Murray came back with the Lipan braves who were sent to bring home the game.

cameverbUS /keɪm/

inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading There had been a very good reason why neither Steve Harrison nor Murray came back with the Lipan braves who were sent to bring home the game.

CougarnounUS /ˈkuːɡər/

large American feline resembling a lion

From this reading "Cougar, big-horn, deer, all good.

dark-browed

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

From this reading "No Tongue is a great hunter," said the dark-browed leader, as they came forward.

deernounUS /dɪr/

distinguished from Bovidae by the male's having solid deciduous antlers

From this reading "Cougar, big-horn, deer, all good.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading They had been preparing to do so when they were summoned into the presence of To-la-go-to-de.

forwardadverbUS /ˈfɔːrwərd/

at or to or toward the front

From this reading "No Tongue is a great hunter," said the dark-browed leader, as they came forward.

gamenounUS /ɡeɪm/

a contest with rules to determine a winner

From this reading There had been a very good reason why neither Steve Harrison nor Murray came back with the Lipan braves who were sent to bring home the game.

goodadjectiveUS /ɡʊd/

having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified

From this reading There had been a very good reason why neither Steve Harrison nor Murray came back with the Lipan braves who were sent to bring home the game.

greatadjectiveUS /ɡreɪt/

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind

From this reading "No Tongue is a great hunter," said the dark-browed leader, as they came forward.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading There had been a very good reason why neither Steve Harrison nor Murray came back with the Lipan braves who were sent to bring home the game.

HarrisonnounUS /ˈherɪsən/

English actor on stage and in films (1908-1990)

From this reading There had been a very good reason why neither Steve Harrison nor Murray came back with the Lipan braves who were sent to bring home the game.

heapnounUS /hiːp/

a collection of objects laid on top of each other

From this reading Apache heap better."

homenounUS /hoʊm/

where you live at a particular time

From this reading There had been a very good reason why neither Steve Harrison nor Murray came back with the Lipan braves who were sent to bring home the game.

hunternounUS /ˈhʌntər/

someone who hunts game

From this reading "No Tongue is a great hunter," said the dark-browed leader, as they came forward.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading They had been preparing to do so when they were summoned into the presence of To-la-go-to-de.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading "No Tongue is a great hunter," said the dark-browed leader, as they came forward.

leadernounUS /ˈliːdər/

a person who rules or guides or inspires others

From this reading "No Tongue is a great hunter," said the dark-browed leader, as they came forward.

Lipan

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

From this reading There had been a very good reason why neither Steve Harrison nor Murray came back with the Lipan braves who were sent to bring home the game.

MurraynounUS /ˈmɜːri/

British classical scholar (born in Australia) who advocated the League of Nations and the United Nations (1866-1957)

From this reading There had been a very good reason why neither Steve Harrison nor Murray came back with the Lipan braves who were sent to bring home the game.

neitherdeterminerUS /ˈniːðər/

not one and not the other of two

From this reading There had been a very good reason why neither Steve Harrison nor Murray came back with the Lipan braves who were sent to bring home the game.

NodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading "No Tongue is a great hunter," said the dark-browed leader, as they came forward.

norconjunctionUS /nɔːr/

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

From this reading There had been a very good reason why neither Steve Harrison nor Murray came back with the Lipan braves who were sent to bring home the game.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading They had been preparing to do so when they were summoned into the presence of To-la-go-to-de.

preparingverbUS /priˈperɪŋ/

-ing form of “prepare” — make ready or suitable or equip in advance for a particular purpose or for some use, event, etc

From this reading They had been preparing to do so when they were summoned into the presence of To-la-go-to-de.

presencenounUS /ˈprezəns/

the state of being present; current existence

From this reading They had been preparing to do so when they were summoned into the presence of To-la-go-to-de.

reasonnounUS /ˈriːzən/

a rational motive for a belief or action

From this reading There had been a very good reason why neither Steve Harrison nor Murray came back with the Lipan braves who were sent to bring home the game.

saidadjectiveUS /sed/

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading "No Tongue is a great hunter," said the dark-browed leader, as they came forward.

sentnounUS /sent/

100 senti equal 1 kroon in Estonia

From this reading There had been a very good reason why neither Steve Harrison nor Murray came back with the Lipan braves who were sent to bring home the game.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading They had been preparing to do so when they were summoned into the presence of To-la-go-to-de.

Steve

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

From this reading There had been a very good reason why neither Steve Harrison nor Murray came back with the Lipan braves who were sent to bring home the game.

summonedverbUS /ˈsʌmənd/

past form of “summon” — call in an official matter, such as to attend court

From this reading They had been preparing to do so when they were summoned into the presence of To-la-go-to-de.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading There had been a very good reason why neither Steve Harrison nor Murray came back with the Lipan braves who were sent to bring home the game.

ThereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading There had been a very good reason why neither Steve Harrison nor Murray came back with the Lipan braves who were sent to bring home the game.

TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading They had been preparing to do so when they were summoned into the presence of To-la-go-to-de.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading There had been a very good reason why neither Steve Harrison nor Murray came back with the Lipan braves who were sent to bring home the game.

To-la-go-to-de

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

From this reading They had been preparing to do so when they were summoned into the presence of To-la-go-to-de.

TonguenounUS /tʌŋ/

a mobile mass of muscular tissue covered with mucous membrane and located in the oral cavity

From this reading "No Tongue is a great hunter," said the dark-browed leader, as they came forward.

veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/

precisely as stated

From this reading There had been a very good reason why neither Steve Harrison nor Murray came back with the Lipan braves who were sent to bring home the game.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading There had been a very good reason why neither Steve Harrison nor Murray came back with the Lipan braves who were sent to bring home the game.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading They had been preparing to do so when they were summoned into the presence of To-la-go-to-de.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading There had been a very good reason why neither Steve Harrison nor Murray came back with the Lipan braves who were sent to bring home the game.

whynounUS /waɪ/

the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”

From this reading There had been a very good reason why neither Steve Harrison nor Murray came back with the Lipan braves who were sent to bring home the game.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading There had been a very good reason why neither Steve Harrison nor Murray came back with the Lipan braves who were sent to bring home the game.

Chapter 8 of The Talking Leaves: An Indian Story by William O. Stoddard holds 178 sentences, grouped into 36 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 Talking Leaves: An Indian Story contain?

Chapter 8 holds 178 sentences of The Talking Leaves: An Indian Story, unabridged, divided into 36 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 8 of The Talking Leaves: An Indian Story by William O. Stoddard exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 178 sentences, grouped into 36 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 Talking Leaves: An Indian Story?

Work through the 36 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 36 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 Talking Leaves: An Indian Story

Common questions about reading The Talking Leaves: An Indian Story by William O. Stoddard on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Talking Leaves: An Indian Story?

Yes. All 4972 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #21913 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Talking Leaves: An Indian Story is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #21913, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Talking Leaves: An Indian Story take to read?

About 414 minutes of reading across 995 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Talking Leaves: An Indian Story section by section

How to work through The Talking Leaves: An Indian Story section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 29 chapters of The Talking Leaves: An Indian Story 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 Talking Leaves: An Indian Story

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Talking Leaves: An Indian Story, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Murray
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Talking Leaves: An Indian Story; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Higher
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Talking Leaves: An Indian Story; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Mountains
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Talking Leaves: An Indian Story; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
These
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Talking Leaves: An Indian Story; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.