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The Untamed
The Untamed

Chapter XXVII

Cover illustration for The Untamed
Context Illustration Reading 1/44 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
WHISTLING DAN, DESPERADO It was an urgent business which sent Silent galloping over the hills before dawn.
When the first light came he was close to the place of Gus Morris.
He slowed his horse to a trot, but after a careful reconnoitring, seeing no one stirring around the sheriff's house, he drew closer and commenced to whistle a range song, broken here and there with a significant phrase which sounded like a signal.
Finally a cloth was waved from a window, and Silent, content, turned his back on the house, and rode away at a walk.
Within half an hour the pounding of a horse approached from behind.
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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 Untamed

Chapter XXVII

Reading 1/44 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
WHISTLING DAN, DESPERADO It was an urgent business which sent Silent galloping over the hills before dawn.
Line 2
When the first light came he was close to the place of Gus Morris.
Line 3
He slowed his horse to a trot, but after a careful reconnoitring, seeing no one stirring around the sheriff's house, he drew closer and commenced to whistle a range song, broken here and there with a significant phrase which sounded like a signal.
Line 4
Finally a cloth was waved from a window, and Silent, content, turned his back on the house, and rode away at a walk.
Line 5
Within half an hour the pounding of a horse approached from behind.

Learner Dictionary

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.

After preposition US /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading “He slowed his horse to a trot, but after a careful reconnoitring, seeing no one stirring around the sheriff's house, he drew closer and commenced to whistle a range song, broken here and there with a significant phrase which sounded like a signal.”

Around preposition US /ərˈaʊnd/

surrounding, or on every side of, something

From this reading “He slowed his horse to a trot, but after a careful reconnoitring, seeing no one stirring around the sheriff's house, he drew closer and commenced to whistle a range song, broken here and there with a significant phrase which sounded like a signal.”

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “WHISTLING DAN, DESPERADO It was an urgent business which sent Silent galloping over the hills before dawn.”

Behind preposition US /bɪˈhaɪnd/

at or toward the back of something

From this reading “Within half an hour the pounding of a horse approached from behind.”

Broken noun US /broken/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He slowed his horse to a trot, but after a careful reconnoitring, seeing no one stirring around the sheriff's house, he drew closer and commenced to whistle a range song, broken here and there with a significant phrase which sounded like a signal.”

Drew noun US /drew/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He slowed his horse to a trot, but after a careful reconnoitring, seeing no one stirring around the sheriff's house, he drew closer and commenced to whistle a range song, broken here and there with a significant phrase which sounded like a signal.”

First noun US /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “When the first light came he was close to the place of Gus Morris.”

Half noun US /half/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Within half an hour the pounding of a horse approached from behind.”

Here noun US /here/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He slowed his horse to a trot, but after a careful reconnoitring, seeing no one stirring around the sheriff's house, he drew closer and commenced to whistle a range song, broken here and there with a significant phrase which sounded like a signal.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “He slowed his horse to a trot, but after a careful reconnoitring, seeing no one stirring around the sheriff's house, he drew closer and commenced to whistle a range song, broken here and there with a significant phrase which sounded like a signal.”

Over preposition US /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading “WHISTLING DAN, DESPERADO It was an urgent business which sent Silent galloping over the hills before dawn.”

Seeing noun US /seeing/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He slowed his horse to a trot, but after a careful reconnoitring, seeing no one stirring around the sheriff's house, he drew closer and commenced to whistle a range song, broken here and there with a significant phrase which sounded like a signal.”

Whistle noun US /ˈwhistle/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading “He slowed his horse to a trot, but after a careful reconnoitring, seeing no one stirring around the sheriff's house, he drew closer and commenced to whistle a range song, broken here and there with a significant phrase which sounded like a signal.”

Within preposition US /wɪˈðɪn/

inside; before a period of time has passed

From this reading “Within half an hour the pounding of a horse approached from behind.”

All words in this reading · 79

Every word is available to listen to. 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 He slowed his horse to a trot, but after a careful reconnoitring, seeing no one stirring around the sheriff's house, he drew closer and commenced to whistle a range song, broken here and there with a significant phrase which sounded like a signal.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading He slowed his horse to a trot, but after a careful reconnoitring, seeing no one stirring around the sheriff's house, he drew closer and commenced to whistle a range song, broken here and there with a significant phrase which sounded like a signal.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading WHISTLING DAN, DESPERADO It was an urgent business which sent Silent galloping over the hills before dawn.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading He slowed his horse to a trot, but after a careful reconnoitring, seeing no one stirring around the sheriff's house, he drew closer and commenced to whistle a range song, broken here and there with a significant phrase which sounded like a signal.

approached

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

From this reading Within half an hour the pounding of a horse approached from behind.

aroundprepositionUS /ərˈaʊnd/

surrounding, or on every side of, something

From this reading He slowed his horse to a trot, but after a careful reconnoitring, seeing no one stirring around the sheriff's house, he drew closer and commenced to whistle a range song, broken here and there with a significant phrase which sounded like a signal.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Finally a cloth was waved from a window, and Silent, content, turned his back on the house, and rode away at a walk.

away

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

From this reading Finally a cloth was waved from a window, and Silent, content, turned his back on the house, and rode away at a walk.

back

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

From this reading Finally a cloth was waved from a window, and Silent, content, turned his back on the house, and rode away at a walk.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading WHISTLING DAN, DESPERADO It was an urgent business which sent Silent galloping over the hills before dawn.

behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/

at or toward the back of something

From this reading Within half an hour the pounding of a horse approached from behind.

brokennounUS /broken/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He slowed his horse to a trot, but after a careful reconnoitring, seeing no one stirring around the sheriff's house, he drew closer and commenced to whistle a range song, broken here and there with a significant phrase which sounded like a signal.

business

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

From this reading WHISTLING DAN, DESPERADO It was an urgent business which sent Silent galloping over the hills before dawn.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading He slowed his horse to a trot, but after a careful reconnoitring, seeing no one stirring around the sheriff's house, he drew closer and commenced to whistle a range song, broken here and there with a significant phrase which sounded like a signal.

came

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

From this reading When the first light came he was close to the place of Gus Morris.

careful

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

From this reading He slowed his horse to a trot, but after a careful reconnoitring, seeing no one stirring around the sheriff's house, he drew closer and commenced to whistle a range song, broken here and there with a significant phrase which sounded like a signal.

close

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

From this reading When the first light came he was close to the place of Gus Morris.

closer

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

From this reading He slowed his horse to a trot, but after a careful reconnoitring, seeing no one stirring around the sheriff's house, he drew closer and commenced to whistle a range song, broken here and there with a significant phrase which sounded like a signal.

cloth

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

From this reading Finally a cloth was waved from a window, and Silent, content, turned his back on the house, and rode away at a walk.

commenced

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

From this reading He slowed his horse to a trot, but after a careful reconnoitring, seeing no one stirring around the sheriff's house, he drew closer and commenced to whistle a range song, broken here and there with a significant phrase which sounded like a signal.

content

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

From this reading Finally a cloth was waved from a window, and Silent, content, turned his back on the house, and rode away at a walk.

DAN

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

From this reading WHISTLING DAN, DESPERADO It was an urgent business which sent Silent galloping over the hills before dawn.

dawn

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

From this reading WHISTLING DAN, DESPERADO It was an urgent business which sent Silent galloping over the hills before dawn.

DESPERADO

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

From this reading WHISTLING DAN, DESPERADO It was an urgent business which sent Silent galloping over the hills before dawn.

drewnounUS /drew/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He slowed his horse to a trot, but after a careful reconnoitring, seeing no one stirring around the sheriff's house, he drew closer and commenced to whistle a range song, broken here and there with a significant phrase which sounded like a signal.

Finally

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

From this reading Finally a cloth was waved from a window, and Silent, content, turned his back on the house, and rode away at a walk.

firstnounUS /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading When the first light came he was close to the place of Gus Morris.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Finally a cloth was waved from a window, and Silent, content, turned his back on the house, and rode away at a walk.

galloping

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

From this reading WHISTLING DAN, DESPERADO It was an urgent business which sent Silent galloping over the hills before dawn.

Gus

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

From this reading When the first light came he was close to the place of Gus Morris.

halfnounUS /half/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Within half an hour the pounding of a horse approached from behind.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading When the first light came he was close to the place of Gus Morris.

herenounUS /here/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He slowed his horse to a trot, but after a careful reconnoitring, seeing no one stirring around the sheriff's house, he drew closer and commenced to whistle a range song, broken here and there with a significant phrase which sounded like a signal.

hills

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

From this reading WHISTLING DAN, DESPERADO It was an urgent business which sent Silent galloping over the hills before dawn.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading He slowed his horse to a trot, but after a careful reconnoitring, seeing no one stirring around the sheriff's house, he drew closer and commenced to whistle a range song, broken here and there with a significant phrase which sounded like a signal.

horse

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

From this reading He slowed his horse to a trot, but after a careful reconnoitring, seeing no one stirring around the sheriff's house, he drew closer and commenced to whistle a range song, broken here and there with a significant phrase which sounded like a signal.

hour

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

From this reading Within half an hour the pounding of a horse approached from behind.

house

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

From this reading He slowed his horse to a trot, but after a careful reconnoitring, seeing no one stirring around the sheriff's house, he drew closer and commenced to whistle a range song, broken here and there with a significant phrase which sounded like a signal.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading WHISTLING DAN, DESPERADO It was an urgent business which sent Silent galloping over the hills before dawn.

light

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

From this reading When the first light came he was close to the place of Gus Morris.

like

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

From this reading He slowed his horse to a trot, but after a careful reconnoitring, seeing no one stirring around the sheriff's house, he drew closer and commenced to whistle a range song, broken here and there with a significant phrase which sounded like a signal.

Morris

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

From this reading When the first light came he was close to the place of Gus Morris.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading He slowed his horse to a trot, but after a careful reconnoitring, seeing no one stirring around the sheriff's house, he drew closer and commenced to whistle a range song, broken here and there with a significant phrase which sounded like a signal.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading When the first light came he was close to the place of Gus Morris.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Finally a cloth was waved from a window, and Silent, content, turned his back on the house, and rode away at a walk.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading He slowed his horse to a trot, but after a careful reconnoitring, seeing no one stirring around the sheriff's house, he drew closer and commenced to whistle a range song, broken here and there with a significant phrase which sounded like a signal.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading WHISTLING DAN, DESPERADO It was an urgent business which sent Silent galloping over the hills before dawn.

phrase

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

From this reading He slowed his horse to a trot, but after a careful reconnoitring, seeing no one stirring around the sheriff's house, he drew closer and commenced to whistle a range song, broken here and there with a significant phrase which sounded like a signal.

place

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

From this reading When the first light came he was close to the place of Gus Morris.

pounding

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

From this reading Within half an hour the pounding of a horse approached from behind.

range

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

From this reading He slowed his horse to a trot, but after a careful reconnoitring, seeing no one stirring around the sheriff's house, he drew closer and commenced to whistle a range song, broken here and there with a significant phrase which sounded like a signal.

reconnoitring

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

From this reading He slowed his horse to a trot, but after a careful reconnoitring, seeing no one stirring around the sheriff's house, he drew closer and commenced to whistle a range song, broken here and there with a significant phrase which sounded like a signal.

rode

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

From this reading Finally a cloth was waved from a window, and Silent, content, turned his back on the house, and rode away at a walk.

seeing

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

From this reading He slowed his horse to a trot, but after a careful reconnoitring, seeing no one stirring around the sheriff's house, he drew closer and commenced to whistle a range song, broken here and there with a significant phrase which sounded like a signal.

sent

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

From this reading WHISTLING DAN, DESPERADO It was an urgent business which sent Silent galloping over the hills before dawn.

sheriff's

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

From this reading He slowed his horse to a trot, but after a careful reconnoitring, seeing no one stirring around the sheriff's house, he drew closer and commenced to whistle a range song, broken here and there with a significant phrase which sounded like a signal.

signal

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

From this reading He slowed his horse to a trot, but after a careful reconnoitring, seeing no one stirring around the sheriff's house, he drew closer and commenced to whistle a range song, broken here and there with a significant phrase which sounded like a signal.

significant

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

From this reading He slowed his horse to a trot, but after a careful reconnoitring, seeing no one stirring around the sheriff's house, he drew closer and commenced to whistle a range song, broken here and there with a significant phrase which sounded like a signal.

Silent

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

From this reading WHISTLING DAN, DESPERADO It was an urgent business which sent Silent galloping over the hills before dawn.

slowed

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

From this reading He slowed his horse to a trot, but after a careful reconnoitring, seeing no one stirring around the sheriff's house, he drew closer and commenced to whistle a range song, broken here and there with a significant phrase which sounded like a signal.

song

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

From this reading He slowed his horse to a trot, but after a careful reconnoitring, seeing no one stirring around the sheriff's house, he drew closer and commenced to whistle a range song, broken here and there with a significant phrase which sounded like a signal.

sounded

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

From this reading He slowed his horse to a trot, but after a careful reconnoitring, seeing no one stirring around the sheriff's house, he drew closer and commenced to whistle a range song, broken here and there with a significant phrase which sounded like a signal.

stirring

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

From this reading He slowed his horse to a trot, but after a careful reconnoitring, seeing no one stirring around the sheriff's house, he drew closer and commenced to whistle a range song, broken here and there with a significant phrase which sounded like a signal.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading WHISTLING DAN, DESPERADO It was an urgent business which sent Silent galloping over the hills before dawn.

there

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

From this reading He slowed his horse to a trot, but after a careful reconnoitring, seeing no one stirring around the sheriff's house, he drew closer and commenced to whistle a range song, broken here and there with a significant phrase which sounded like a signal.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading When the first light came he was close to the place of Gus Morris.

trot

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

From this reading He slowed his horse to a trot, but after a careful reconnoitring, seeing no one stirring around the sheriff's house, he drew closer and commenced to whistle a range song, broken here and there with a significant phrase which sounded like a signal.

turned

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

From this reading Finally a cloth was waved from a window, and Silent, content, turned his back on the house, and rode away at a walk.

urgent

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

From this reading WHISTLING DAN, DESPERADO It was an urgent business which sent Silent galloping over the hills before dawn.

walk

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

From this reading Finally a cloth was waved from a window, and Silent, content, turned his back on the house, and rode away at a walk.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading WHISTLING DAN, DESPERADO It was an urgent business which sent Silent galloping over the hills before dawn.

waved

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

From this reading Finally a cloth was waved from a window, and Silent, content, turned his back on the house, and rode away at a walk.

WhenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading When the first light came he was close to the place of Gus Morris.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading WHISTLING DAN, DESPERADO It was an urgent business which sent Silent galloping over the hills before dawn.

whistlenounUS /ˈwhistle/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading He slowed his horse to a trot, but after a careful reconnoitring, seeing no one stirring around the sheriff's house, he drew closer and commenced to whistle a range song, broken here and there with a significant phrase which sounded like a signal.

WHISTLING

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

From this reading WHISTLING DAN, DESPERADO It was an urgent business which sent Silent galloping over the hills before dawn.

window

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

From this reading Finally a cloth was waved from a window, and Silent, content, turned his back on the house, and rode away at a walk.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading He slowed his horse to a trot, but after a careful reconnoitring, seeing no one stirring around the sheriff's house, he drew closer and commenced to whistle a range song, broken here and there with a significant phrase which sounded like a signal.

WithinprepositionUS /wɪˈðɪn/

inside; before a period of time has passed

From this reading Within half an hour the pounding of a horse approached from behind.