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The Treasure of Pearls
The Treasure of Pearls

Chapter IV

Chapter 4 of The Treasure of Pearls is here in full — 49 sentences across 10 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

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A DESERT MYSTERY.
Upon this enjoinder of so eminently practical a nature, and thoroughly aware of the necessity of haste, the fallen Mexican rapidly drew with his ramrod end, upon a space of earth smoothed by his foot in its deerskin boot, like an antique tablet under the stylus, a map--rude, but, to a navigator, plain and ample.
"At this point," said he, "a sunken reef trends north and south, with a break at a little bow a quarter mile from the black rock that juts out all but flush with its ripple.
Deep water in 'the pot,' and there we anchored to ride to a submerged buoy, so that the cankerworm would not attack the metal or the borer the wood--a chest, bound with yellow metal.
If it shall have broke away, its weight would only have sunk it deep in the oyster bed, all the shells there smashed to powdery scales by the drags.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The Treasure of Pearls

Chapter IV

Chapter 4 of The Treasure of Pearls is here in full — 49 sentences across 10 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/9 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
A DESERT MYSTERY.
/ə ˈdezərt ˈmɪstəri/
Line 2
Upon this enjoinder of so eminently practical a nature, and thoroughly aware of the necessity of haste, the fallen Mexican rapidly drew with his ramrod end, upon a space of earth smoothed by his foot in its deerskin boot, like an antique tablet under the stylus, a map--rude, but, to a navigator, plain and ample.
Line 3
"At this point," said he, "a sunken reef trends north and south, with a break at a little bow a quarter mile from the black rock that juts out all but flush with its ripple.
/æt ðɪs pɔɪnt sed hiː ə ˈsʌŋkən riːf trendz nɔːrθ ənd saʊθ wɪð ə breɪk æt ə ˈlɪtəl baʊ ə ˈkwɔːrtər maɪl frʌm ðə blæk rɑːk ðæt dʒʌts aʊt ɔːl bʌt flʌʃ wɪð ɪts ˈrɪpəl/
Line 4
Deep water in 'the pot,' and there we anchored to ride to a submerged buoy, so that the cankerworm would not attack the metal or the borer the wood--a chest, bound with yellow metal.
Line 5
If it shall have broke away, its weight would only have sunk it deep in the oyster bed, all the shells there smashed to powdery scales by the drags.
/ɪf ɪt ʃæl hæv broʊk əˈweɪ ɪts weɪt wʊd ˈoʊnli hæv sʌŋk ɪt diːp ɪn ðə ˈɔɪstər bed ɔːl ðə ʃelz ðer smæʃt tuː ˈpaʊdəri skeɪlz baɪ ðə dræɡz/

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.

borer noun US /ˈbɔːrər/

a drill for penetrating rock

From this reading “Deep water in 'the pot,' and there we anchored to ride to a submerged buoy, so that the cankerworm would not attack the metal or the borer the wood--a chest, bound with yellow metal.”

deerskin noun US /ˈdɪrskɪn/

leather from the hide of a deer

From this reading “Upon this enjoinder of so eminently practical a nature, and thoroughly aware of the necessity of haste, the fallen Mexican rapidly drew with his ramrod end, upon a space of earth smoothed by his foot in its deerskin boot, like an antique tablet under the stylus, a map--rude, but, to a navigator, plain and ample.”

drags noun US /dræɡz/

plural of “drag” — the phenomenon of resistance to motion through a fluid

From this reading “If it shall have broke away, its weight would only have sunk it deep in the oyster bed, all the shells there smashed to powdery scales by the drags.”

juts noun US /dʒʌts/

plural of “jut” — something that bulges out or is protuberant or projects from its surroundings

From this reading “"At this point," said he, "a sunken reef trends north and south, with a break at a little bow a quarter mile from the black rock that juts out all but flush with its ripple.”

powdery adjective US /ˈpaʊdəri/

consisting of fine particles

From this reading “If it shall have broke away, its weight would only have sunk it deep in the oyster bed, all the shells there smashed to powdery scales by the drags.”

ramrod noun US /ˈræmrɑːd/

a rod used to ram the charge into a muzzle-loading firearm

From this reading “Upon this enjoinder of so eminently practical a nature, and thoroughly aware of the necessity of haste, the fallen Mexican rapidly drew with his ramrod end, upon a space of earth smoothed by his foot in its deerskin boot, like an antique tablet under the stylus, a map--rude, but, to a navigator, plain and ample.”

stylus noun US /ˈstaɪləs/

a sharp pointed device attached to the cartridge of a record player

From this reading “Upon this enjoinder of so eminently practical a nature, and thoroughly aware of the necessity of haste, the fallen Mexican rapidly drew with his ramrod end, upon a space of earth smoothed by his foot in its deerskin boot, like an antique tablet under the stylus, a map--rude, but, to a navigator, plain and ample.”

trends noun US /trendz/

plural of “trend” — a general direction in which something tends to move

From this reading “"At this point," said he, "a sunken reef trends north and south, with a break at a little bow a quarter mile from the black rock that juts out all but flush with its ripple.”

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.

yellow metal adjective + noun

a brass that has more zinc and is stronger than alpha brass; used in making castings and hot-worked products

In this reading “Deep water in 'the pot,' and there we anchored to ride to a submerged buoy, so that the cankerworm would not attack the metal or the borer the wood--a chest, bound with yellow metal.”

Deep water adjective + noun

serious trouble

In this reading “Deep water in 'the pot,' and there we anchored to ride to a submerged buoy, so that the cankerworm would not attack the metal or the borer the wood--a chest, bound with yellow metal.”

black rock adjective + noun

In this reading “"At this point," said he, "a sunken reef trends north and south, with a break at a little bow a quarter mile from the black rock that juts out all but flush with its ripple.”

quarter mile noun + noun

a unit of length equal to a quarter of 1 mile

In this reading “"At this point," said he, "a sunken reef trends north and south, with a break at a little bow a quarter mile from the black rock that juts out all but flush with its ripple.”

All words in this reading · 106

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 A DESERT MYSTERY.

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 "At this point," said he, "a sunken reef trends north and south, with a break at a little bow a quarter mile from the black rock that juts out all but flush with its ripple.

ampleadjectiveUS /ˈæmpəl/

more than enough in size or scope or capacity

From this reading Upon this enjoinder of so eminently practical a nature, and thoroughly aware of the necessity of haste, the fallen Mexican rapidly drew with his ramrod end, upon a space of earth smoothed by his foot in its deerskin boot, like an antique tablet under the stylus, a map--rude, but, to a navigator, plain and ample.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading Upon this enjoinder of so eminently practical a nature, and thoroughly aware of the necessity of haste, the fallen Mexican rapidly drew with his ramrod end, upon a space of earth smoothed by his foot in its deerskin boot, like an antique tablet under the stylus, a map--rude, but, to a navigator, plain and ample.

anchoredverbUS /ˈæŋkərd/

past form of “anchor” — fix firmly and stably

From this reading Deep water in 'the pot,' and there we anchored to ride to a submerged buoy, so that the cankerworm would not attack the metal or the borer the wood--a chest, bound with yellow metal.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Upon this enjoinder of so eminently practical a nature, and thoroughly aware of the necessity of haste, the fallen Mexican rapidly drew with his ramrod end, upon a space of earth smoothed by his foot in its deerskin boot, like an antique tablet under the stylus, a map--rude, but, to a navigator, plain and ample.

antiqueadjectiveUS /ænˈtiːk/

made in or typical of earlier times and valued for its age

From this reading Upon this enjoinder of so eminently practical a nature, and thoroughly aware of the necessity of haste, the fallen Mexican rapidly drew with his ramrod end, upon a space of earth smoothed by his foot in its deerskin boot, like an antique tablet under the stylus, a map--rude, but, to a navigator, plain and ample.

AtprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading "At this point," said he, "a sunken reef trends north and south, with a break at a little bow a quarter mile from the black rock that juts out all but flush with its ripple.

attacknounUS /əˈtæk/

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

From this reading Deep water in 'the pot,' and there we anchored to ride to a submerged buoy, so that the cankerworm would not attack the metal or the borer the wood--a chest, bound with yellow metal.

awareadjectiveUS /əˈwer/

(sometimes followed by “of”) having or showing knowledge or understanding or realization or perception

From this reading Upon this enjoinder of so eminently practical a nature, and thoroughly aware of the necessity of haste, the fallen Mexican rapidly drew with his ramrod end, upon a space of earth smoothed by his foot in its deerskin boot, like an antique tablet under the stylus, a map--rude, but, to a navigator, plain and ample.

awayadverbUS /əˈweɪ/

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading If it shall have broke away, its weight would only have sunk it deep in the oyster bed, all the shells there smashed to powdery scales by the drags.

bednounUS /bed/

a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep

From this reading If it shall have broke away, its weight would only have sunk it deep in the oyster bed, all the shells there smashed to powdery scales by the drags.

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 "At this point," said he, "a sunken reef trends north and south, with a break at a little bow a quarter mile from the black rock that juts out all but flush with its ripple.

bootnounUS /buːt/

footwear that covers the whole foot and lower leg

From this reading Upon this enjoinder of so eminently practical a nature, and thoroughly aware of the necessity of haste, the fallen Mexican rapidly drew with his ramrod end, upon a space of earth smoothed by his foot in its deerskin boot, like an antique tablet under the stylus, a map--rude, but, to a navigator, plain and ample.

borernounUS /ˈbɔːrər/

a drill for penetrating rock

From this reading Deep water in 'the pot,' and there we anchored to ride to a submerged buoy, so that the cankerworm would not attack the metal or the borer the wood--a chest, bound with yellow metal.

boundadjectiveUS /baʊnd/

confined by bonds

From this reading Deep water in 'the pot,' and there we anchored to ride to a submerged buoy, so that the cankerworm would not attack the metal or the borer the wood--a chest, bound with yellow metal.

bownounUS /baʊ/

a knot with two loops and loose ends; used to tie shoelaces

From this reading "At this point," said he, "a sunken reef trends north and south, with a break at a little bow a quarter mile from the black rock that juts out all but flush with its ripple.

breakverbUS /breɪk/

terminate

From this reading "At this point," said he, "a sunken reef trends north and south, with a break at a little bow a quarter mile from the black rock that juts out all but flush with its ripple.

brokeadjectiveUS /broʊk/

lacking funds

From this reading If it shall have broke away, its weight would only have sunk it deep in the oyster bed, all the shells there smashed to powdery scales by the drags.

buoyverbUS /ˈbuːi/

float on the surface of water

From this reading Deep water in 'the pot,' and there we anchored to ride to a submerged buoy, so that the cankerworm would not attack the metal or the borer the wood--a chest, bound with yellow metal.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Upon this enjoinder of so eminently practical a nature, and thoroughly aware of the necessity of haste, the fallen Mexican rapidly drew with his ramrod end, upon a space of earth smoothed by his foot in its deerskin boot, like an antique tablet under the stylus, a map--rude, but, to a navigator, plain and ample.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Upon this enjoinder of so eminently practical a nature, and thoroughly aware of the necessity of haste, the fallen Mexican rapidly drew with his ramrod end, upon a space of earth smoothed by his foot in its deerskin boot, like an antique tablet under the stylus, a map--rude, but, to a navigator, plain and ample.

cankerwormnoun

green caterpillar of a geometrid moth; pest of various fruit and shade trees

From this reading Deep water in 'the pot,' and there we anchored to ride to a submerged buoy, so that the cankerworm would not attack the metal or the borer the wood--a chest, bound with yellow metal.

chestnounUS /tʃest/

the part of the human torso between the neck and the diaphragm or the corresponding part in other vertebrates

From this reading Deep water in 'the pot,' and there we anchored to ride to a submerged buoy, so that the cankerworm would not attack the metal or the borer the wood--a chest, bound with yellow metal.

DeepadjectiveUS /diːp/

relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply

From this reading Deep water in 'the pot,' and there we anchored to ride to a submerged buoy, so that the cankerworm would not attack the metal or the borer the wood--a chest, bound with yellow metal.

deerskinnounUS /ˈdɪrskɪn/

leather from the hide of a deer

From this reading Upon this enjoinder of so eminently practical a nature, and thoroughly aware of the necessity of haste, the fallen Mexican rapidly drew with his ramrod end, upon a space of earth smoothed by his foot in its deerskin boot, like an antique tablet under the stylus, a map--rude, but, to a navigator, plain and ample.

DESERTverbUS /ˈdezərt/

leave someone who needs or counts on you; leave in the lurch

From this reading A DESERT MYSTERY.

dragsnounUS /dræɡz/

plural of “drag” — the phenomenon of resistance to motion through a fluid

From this reading If it shall have broke away, its weight would only have sunk it deep in the oyster bed, all the shells there smashed to powdery scales by the drags.

drewnounUS /druː/

United States actor (born in Ireland); father of Georgiana Emma Barrymore (1827-1862)

From this reading Upon this enjoinder of so eminently practical a nature, and thoroughly aware of the necessity of haste, the fallen Mexican rapidly drew with his ramrod end, upon a space of earth smoothed by his foot in its deerskin boot, like an antique tablet under the stylus, a map--rude, but, to a navigator, plain and ample.

earthnounUS /ɜːrθ/

the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on

From this reading Upon this enjoinder of so eminently practical a nature, and thoroughly aware of the necessity of haste, the fallen Mexican rapidly drew with his ramrod end, upon a space of earth smoothed by his foot in its deerskin boot, like an antique tablet under the stylus, a map--rude, but, to a navigator, plain and ample.

eminentlyadverbUS /ˈemənəntli/

in an eminent manner

From this reading Upon this enjoinder of so eminently practical a nature, and thoroughly aware of the necessity of haste, the fallen Mexican rapidly drew with his ramrod end, upon a space of earth smoothed by his foot in its deerskin boot, like an antique tablet under the stylus, a map--rude, but, to a navigator, plain and ample.

endnounUS /end/

either extremity of something that has length

From this reading Upon this enjoinder of so eminently practical a nature, and thoroughly aware of the necessity of haste, the fallen Mexican rapidly drew with his ramrod end, upon a space of earth smoothed by his foot in its deerskin boot, like an antique tablet under the stylus, a map--rude, but, to a navigator, plain and ample.

enjoinder

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

From this reading Upon this enjoinder of so eminently practical a nature, and thoroughly aware of the necessity of haste, the fallen Mexican rapidly drew with his ramrod end, upon a space of earth smoothed by his foot in its deerskin boot, like an antique tablet under the stylus, a map--rude, but, to a navigator, plain and ample.

fallenadjectiveUS /ˈfɑːlən/

having dropped by the force of gravity

From this reading Upon this enjoinder of so eminently practical a nature, and thoroughly aware of the necessity of haste, the fallen Mexican rapidly drew with his ramrod end, upon a space of earth smoothed by his foot in its deerskin boot, like an antique tablet under the stylus, a map--rude, but, to a navigator, plain and ample.

flushnounUS /flʌʃ/

the period of greatest prosperity or productivity

From this reading "At this point," said he, "a sunken reef trends north and south, with a break at a little bow a quarter mile from the black rock that juts out all but flush with its ripple.

footnounUS /fʊt/

the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint

From this reading Upon this enjoinder of so eminently practical a nature, and thoroughly aware of the necessity of haste, the fallen Mexican rapidly drew with his ramrod end, upon a space of earth smoothed by his foot in its deerskin boot, like an antique tablet under the stylus, a map--rude, but, to a navigator, plain and ample.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading "At this point," said he, "a sunken reef trends north and south, with a break at a little bow a quarter mile from the black rock that juts out all but flush with its ripple.

hastenounUS /heɪst/

overly eager speed (and possible carelessness)

From this reading Upon this enjoinder of so eminently practical a nature, and thoroughly aware of the necessity of haste, the fallen Mexican rapidly drew with his ramrod end, upon a space of earth smoothed by his foot in its deerskin boot, like an antique tablet under the stylus, a map--rude, but, to a navigator, plain and ample.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading If it shall have broke away, its weight would only have sunk it deep in the oyster bed, all the shells there smashed to powdery scales by the drags.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading "At this point," said he, "a sunken reef trends north and south, with a break at a little bow a quarter mile from the black rock that juts out all but flush with its ripple.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Upon this enjoinder of so eminently practical a nature, and thoroughly aware of the necessity of haste, the fallen Mexican rapidly drew with his ramrod end, upon a space of earth smoothed by his foot in its deerskin boot, like an antique tablet under the stylus, a map--rude, but, to a navigator, plain and ample.

IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading If it shall have broke away, its weight would only have sunk it deep in the oyster bed, all the shells there smashed to powdery scales by the drags.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading Upon this enjoinder of so eminently practical a nature, and thoroughly aware of the necessity of haste, the fallen Mexican rapidly drew with his ramrod end, upon a space of earth smoothed by his foot in its deerskin boot, like an antique tablet under the stylus, a map--rude, but, to a navigator, plain and ample.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading If it shall have broke away, its weight would only have sunk it deep in the oyster bed, all the shells there smashed to powdery scales by the drags.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading Upon this enjoinder of so eminently practical a nature, and thoroughly aware of the necessity of haste, the fallen Mexican rapidly drew with his ramrod end, upon a space of earth smoothed by his foot in its deerskin boot, like an antique tablet under the stylus, a map--rude, but, to a navigator, plain and ample.

jutsnounUS /dʒʌts/

plural of “jut” — something that bulges out or is protuberant or projects from its surroundings

From this reading "At this point," said he, "a sunken reef trends north and south, with a break at a little bow a quarter mile from the black rock that juts out all but flush with its ripple.

likeverbUS /laɪk/

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading Upon this enjoinder of so eminently practical a nature, and thoroughly aware of the necessity of haste, the fallen Mexican rapidly drew with his ramrod end, upon a space of earth smoothed by his foot in its deerskin boot, like an antique tablet under the stylus, a map--rude, but, to a navigator, plain and ample.

littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/

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

From this reading "At this point," said he, "a sunken reef trends north and south, with a break at a little bow a quarter mile from the black rock that juts out all but flush with its ripple.

mapverbUS /mæp/

make a map of; show or establish the features of details of

From this reading Upon this enjoinder of so eminently practical a nature, and thoroughly aware of the necessity of haste, the fallen Mexican rapidly drew with his ramrod end, upon a space of earth smoothed by his foot in its deerskin boot, like an antique tablet under the stylus, a map--rude, but, to a navigator, plain and ample.

metalnounUS /ˈmetəl/

any of several chemical elements that are usually shiny solids that conduct heat or electricity and can be formed into sheets etc.

From this reading Deep water in 'the pot,' and there we anchored to ride to a submerged buoy, so that the cankerworm would not attack the metal or the borer the wood--a chest, bound with yellow metal.

MexicannounUS /ˈmeksəkən/

a native or inhabitant of Mexico

From this reading Upon this enjoinder of so eminently practical a nature, and thoroughly aware of the necessity of haste, the fallen Mexican rapidly drew with his ramrod end, upon a space of earth smoothed by his foot in its deerskin boot, like an antique tablet under the stylus, a map--rude, but, to a navigator, plain and ample.

milenounUS /maɪl/

a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters

From this reading "At this point," said he, "a sunken reef trends north and south, with a break at a little bow a quarter mile from the black rock that juts out all but flush with its ripple.

MYSTERYnounUS /ˈmɪstəri/

something that baffles understanding and cannot be explained

From this reading A DESERT MYSTERY.

naturenounUS /ˈneɪtʃər/

the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized

From this reading Upon this enjoinder of so eminently practical a nature, and thoroughly aware of the necessity of haste, the fallen Mexican rapidly drew with his ramrod end, upon a space of earth smoothed by his foot in its deerskin boot, like an antique tablet under the stylus, a map--rude, but, to a navigator, plain and ample.

navigatornounUS /ˈnævəɡeɪtər/

the ship's officer in charge of navigation

From this reading Upon this enjoinder of so eminently practical a nature, and thoroughly aware of the necessity of haste, the fallen Mexican rapidly drew with his ramrod end, upon a space of earth smoothed by his foot in its deerskin boot, like an antique tablet under the stylus, a map--rude, but, to a navigator, plain and ample.

necessitynounUS /nəˈsesəti/

the condition of being essential or indispensable

From this reading Upon this enjoinder of so eminently practical a nature, and thoroughly aware of the necessity of haste, the fallen Mexican rapidly drew with his ramrod end, upon a space of earth smoothed by his foot in its deerskin boot, like an antique tablet under the stylus, a map--rude, but, to a navigator, plain and ample.

northnounUS /nɔːrθ/

the region of the United States lying to the north of the Mason-Dixon line

From this reading "At this point," said he, "a sunken reef trends north and south, with a break at a little bow a quarter mile from the black rock that juts out all but flush with its ripple.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Deep water in 'the pot,' and there we anchored to ride to a submerged buoy, so that the cankerworm would not attack the metal or the borer the wood--a chest, bound with yellow metal.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Upon this enjoinder of so eminently practical a nature, and thoroughly aware of the necessity of haste, the fallen Mexican rapidly drew with his ramrod end, upon a space of earth smoothed by his foot in its deerskin boot, like an antique tablet under the stylus, a map--rude, but, to a navigator, plain and ample.

onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/

and nothing more

From this reading If it shall have broke away, its weight would only have sunk it deep in the oyster bed, all the shells there smashed to powdery scales by the drags.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Deep water in 'the pot,' and there we anchored to ride to a submerged buoy, so that the cankerworm would not attack the metal or the borer the wood--a chest, bound with yellow metal.

outadjectiveUS /aʊt/

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading "At this point," said he, "a sunken reef trends north and south, with a break at a little bow a quarter mile from the black rock that juts out all but flush with its ripple.

oysternounUS /ˈɔɪstər/

marine mollusks having a rough irregular shell; found on the sea bed mostly in coastal waters

From this reading If it shall have broke away, its weight would only have sunk it deep in the oyster bed, all the shells there smashed to powdery scales by the drags.

plainadjectiveUS /pleɪn/

clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment

From this reading Upon this enjoinder of so eminently practical a nature, and thoroughly aware of the necessity of haste, the fallen Mexican rapidly drew with his ramrod end, upon a space of earth smoothed by his foot in its deerskin boot, like an antique tablet under the stylus, a map--rude, but, to a navigator, plain and ample.

pointnounUS /pɔɪnt/

a geometric element that has position but no extension

From this reading "At this point," said he, "a sunken reef trends north and south, with a break at a little bow a quarter mile from the black rock that juts out all but flush with its ripple.

potnounUS /pɑːt/

metal or earthenware cooking vessel that is usually round and deep; often has a handle and lid

From this reading Deep water in 'the pot,' and there we anchored to ride to a submerged buoy, so that the cankerworm would not attack the metal or the borer the wood--a chest, bound with yellow metal.

powderyadjectiveUS /ˈpaʊdəri/

consisting of fine particles

From this reading If it shall have broke away, its weight would only have sunk it deep in the oyster bed, all the shells there smashed to powdery scales by the drags.

practicaladjectiveUS /ˈpræktəkəl/

concerned with actual use or practice

From this reading Upon this enjoinder of so eminently practical a nature, and thoroughly aware of the necessity of haste, the fallen Mexican rapidly drew with his ramrod end, upon a space of earth smoothed by his foot in its deerskin boot, like an antique tablet under the stylus, a map--rude, but, to a navigator, plain and ample.

quarternounUS /ˈkwɔːrtər/

one of four equal parts

From this reading "At this point," said he, "a sunken reef trends north and south, with a break at a little bow a quarter mile from the black rock that juts out all but flush with its ripple.

ramrodnounUS /ˈræmrɑːd/

a rod used to ram the charge into a muzzle-loading firearm

From this reading Upon this enjoinder of so eminently practical a nature, and thoroughly aware of the necessity of haste, the fallen Mexican rapidly drew with his ramrod end, upon a space of earth smoothed by his foot in its deerskin boot, like an antique tablet under the stylus, a map--rude, but, to a navigator, plain and ample.

rapidlyadverbUS /ˈræpədli/

with speed

From this reading Upon this enjoinder of so eminently practical a nature, and thoroughly aware of the necessity of haste, the fallen Mexican rapidly drew with his ramrod end, upon a space of earth smoothed by his foot in its deerskin boot, like an antique tablet under the stylus, a map--rude, but, to a navigator, plain and ample.

reefnounUS /riːf/

a submerged ridge of rock or coral near the surface of the water

From this reading "At this point," said he, "a sunken reef trends north and south, with a break at a little bow a quarter mile from the black rock that juts out all but flush with its ripple.

rideverbUS /raɪd/

sit and travel on the back of animal, usually while controlling its motions

From this reading Deep water in 'the pot,' and there we anchored to ride to a submerged buoy, so that the cankerworm would not attack the metal or the borer the wood--a chest, bound with yellow metal.

ripplenounUS /ˈrɪpəl/

a small wave on the surface of a liquid

From this reading "At this point," said he, "a sunken reef trends north and south, with a break at a little bow a quarter mile from the black rock that juts out all but flush with its ripple.

rocknounUS /rɑːk/

a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter

From this reading "At this point," said he, "a sunken reef trends north and south, with a break at a little bow a quarter mile from the black rock that juts out all but flush with its ripple.

rudeadjectiveUS /ruːd/

socially incorrect in behavior

From this reading Upon this enjoinder of so eminently practical a nature, and thoroughly aware of the necessity of haste, the fallen Mexican rapidly drew with his ramrod end, upon a space of earth smoothed by his foot in its deerskin boot, like an antique tablet under the stylus, a map--rude, but, to a navigator, plain and ample.

saidadjectiveUS /sed/

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading "At this point," said he, "a sunken reef trends north and south, with a break at a little bow a quarter mile from the black rock that juts out all but flush with its ripple.

scalesnounUS /skeɪlz/

plural of “scale” — an ordered reference standard

From this reading If it shall have broke away, its weight would only have sunk it deep in the oyster bed, all the shells there smashed to powdery scales by the drags.

shallmodal verbUS /ʃæl/

used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest

From this reading If it shall have broke away, its weight would only have sunk it deep in the oyster bed, all the shells there smashed to powdery scales by the drags.

shellsnounUS /ʃelz/

plural of “shell” — ammunition consisting of a cylindrical metal casing containing an explosive charge and a projectile; fired from a large gun

From this reading If it shall have broke away, its weight would only have sunk it deep in the oyster bed, all the shells there smashed to powdery scales by the drags.

smashedadjectiveUS /smæʃt/

very drunk

From this reading If it shall have broke away, its weight would only have sunk it deep in the oyster bed, all the shells there smashed to powdery scales by the drags.

smoothedadjectiveUS /smuːðd/

made smooth by ironing

From this reading Upon this enjoinder of so eminently practical a nature, and thoroughly aware of the necessity of haste, the fallen Mexican rapidly drew with his ramrod end, upon a space of earth smoothed by his foot in its deerskin boot, like an antique tablet under the stylus, a map--rude, but, to a navigator, plain and ample.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Upon this enjoinder of so eminently practical a nature, and thoroughly aware of the necessity of haste, the fallen Mexican rapidly drew with his ramrod end, upon a space of earth smoothed by his foot in its deerskin boot, like an antique tablet under the stylus, a map--rude, but, to a navigator, plain and ample.

southnounUS /saʊθ/

the region of the United States lying to the south of the Mason-Dixon line

From this reading "At this point," said he, "a sunken reef trends north and south, with a break at a little bow a quarter mile from the black rock that juts out all but flush with its ripple.

spacenounUS /speɪs/

the unlimited expanse in which everything is located

From this reading Upon this enjoinder of so eminently practical a nature, and thoroughly aware of the necessity of haste, the fallen Mexican rapidly drew with his ramrod end, upon a space of earth smoothed by his foot in its deerskin boot, like an antique tablet under the stylus, a map--rude, but, to a navigator, plain and ample.

stylusnounUS /ˈstaɪləs/

a sharp pointed device attached to the cartridge of a record player

From this reading Upon this enjoinder of so eminently practical a nature, and thoroughly aware of the necessity of haste, the fallen Mexican rapidly drew with his ramrod end, upon a space of earth smoothed by his foot in its deerskin boot, like an antique tablet under the stylus, a map--rude, but, to a navigator, plain and ample.

submergedadjectiveUS /səbˈmɜːrdʒd/

beneath the surface of the water

From this reading Deep water in 'the pot,' and there we anchored to ride to a submerged buoy, so that the cankerworm would not attack the metal or the borer the wood--a chest, bound with yellow metal.

sunkadjectiveUS /sʌŋk/

doomed to extinction

From this reading If it shall have broke away, its weight would only have sunk it deep in the oyster bed, all the shells there smashed to powdery scales by the drags.

sunkenadjectiveUS /ˈsʌŋkən/

having a sunken area

From this reading "At this point," said he, "a sunken reef trends north and south, with a break at a little bow a quarter mile from the black rock that juts out all but flush with its ripple.

tabletnounUS /ˈtæblət/

a slab of stone or wood suitable for bearing an inscription

From this reading Upon this enjoinder of so eminently practical a nature, and thoroughly aware of the necessity of haste, the fallen Mexican rapidly drew with his ramrod end, upon a space of earth smoothed by his foot in its deerskin boot, like an antique tablet under the stylus, a map--rude, but, to a navigator, plain and ample.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading "At this point," said he, "a sunken reef trends north and south, with a break at a little bow a quarter mile from the black rock that juts out all but flush with its ripple.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Upon this enjoinder of so eminently practical a nature, and thoroughly aware of the necessity of haste, the fallen Mexican rapidly drew with his ramrod end, upon a space of earth smoothed by his foot in its deerskin boot, like an antique tablet under the stylus, a map--rude, but, to a navigator, plain and ample.

thereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading Deep water in 'the pot,' and there we anchored to ride to a submerged buoy, so that the cankerworm would not attack the metal or the borer the wood--a chest, bound with yellow metal.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading Upon this enjoinder of so eminently practical a nature, and thoroughly aware of the necessity of haste, the fallen Mexican rapidly drew with his ramrod end, upon a space of earth smoothed by his foot in its deerskin boot, like an antique tablet under the stylus, a map--rude, but, to a navigator, plain and ample.

thoroughlyadverbUS /ˈθɜːroʊli/

in an exhaustive manner

From this reading Upon this enjoinder of so eminently practical a nature, and thoroughly aware of the necessity of haste, the fallen Mexican rapidly drew with his ramrod end, upon a space of earth smoothed by his foot in its deerskin boot, like an antique tablet under the stylus, a map--rude, but, to a navigator, plain and ample.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Upon this enjoinder of so eminently practical a nature, and thoroughly aware of the necessity of haste, the fallen Mexican rapidly drew with his ramrod end, upon a space of earth smoothed by his foot in its deerskin boot, like an antique tablet under the stylus, a map--rude, but, to a navigator, plain and ample.

trendsnounUS /trendz/

plural of “trend” — a general direction in which something tends to move

From this reading "At this point," said he, "a sunken reef trends north and south, with a break at a little bow a quarter mile from the black rock that juts out all but flush with its ripple.

underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading Upon this enjoinder of so eminently practical a nature, and thoroughly aware of the necessity of haste, the fallen Mexican rapidly drew with his ramrod end, upon a space of earth smoothed by his foot in its deerskin boot, like an antique tablet under the stylus, a map--rude, but, to a navigator, plain and ample.

UponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading Upon this enjoinder of so eminently practical a nature, and thoroughly aware of the necessity of haste, the fallen Mexican rapidly drew with his ramrod end, upon a space of earth smoothed by his foot in its deerskin boot, like an antique tablet under the stylus, a map--rude, but, to a navigator, plain and ample.

waternounUS /ˈwɔːtər/

binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent

From this reading Deep water in 'the pot,' and there we anchored to ride to a submerged buoy, so that the cankerworm would not attack the metal or the borer the wood--a chest, bound with yellow metal.

wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading Deep water in 'the pot,' and there we anchored to ride to a submerged buoy, so that the cankerworm would not attack the metal or the borer the wood--a chest, bound with yellow metal.

weightnounUS /weɪt/

the vertical force exerted by a mass as a result of gravity

From this reading If it shall have broke away, its weight would only have sunk it deep in the oyster bed, all the shells there smashed to powdery scales by the drags.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Upon this enjoinder of so eminently practical a nature, and thoroughly aware of the necessity of haste, the fallen Mexican rapidly drew with his ramrod end, upon a space of earth smoothed by his foot in its deerskin boot, like an antique tablet under the stylus, a map--rude, but, to a navigator, plain and ample.

woodnounUS /wʊd/

the hard fibrous lignified substance under the bark of trees

From this reading Deep water in 'the pot,' and there we anchored to ride to a submerged buoy, so that the cankerworm would not attack the metal or the borer the wood--a chest, bound with yellow metal.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading Deep water in 'the pot,' and there we anchored to ride to a submerged buoy, so that the cankerworm would not attack the metal or the borer the wood--a chest, bound with yellow metal.

yellowadjectiveUS /ˈjeloʊ/

of the color intermediate between green and orange in the color spectrum; of something resembling the color of an egg yolk

From this reading Deep water in 'the pot,' and there we anchored to ride to a submerged buoy, so that the cankerworm would not attack the metal or the borer the wood--a chest, bound with yellow metal.

Chapter 4 of The Treasure of Pearls by Gustave Aimard holds 49 sentences, grouped into 10 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 4 of The Treasure of Pearls contain?

Chapter 4 holds 49 sentences of The Treasure of Pearls, unabridged, divided into 10 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 4 of The Treasure of Pearls by Gustave Aimard exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 49 sentences, grouped into 10 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 4 of The Treasure of Pearls?

Work through the 10 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 10 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.

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Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 4 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 Treasure of Pearls

Common questions about reading The Treasure of Pearls by Gustave Aimard on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Treasure of Pearls?

Yes. All 3334 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #46276 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Treasure of Pearls is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #46276, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Treasure of Pearls take to read?

About 277 minutes of reading across 667 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

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Vocabulary met early in The Treasure of Pearls

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

Romance
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Treasure of Pearls; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Adventures
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Treasure of Pearls; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
California
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Treasure of Pearls; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Trail
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Treasure of Pearls; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.