Chapter 21 of The Valley of the Kings is here in full — 89 sentences across 18 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter XXI
Chapter 21 of The Valley of the Kings is here in full — 89 sentences across 18 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A swarm of mounted Arabs, shadows in the sun-haze, was careering towards them, leaving a dust-cloud trailing on the distant plain. Their lance-points glittered. They were nearing rapidly. Iskender stood gaping, awestruck at the sight, when a whip-lash scored his face. "You infernal scoundrel!" snarled the Emir through his clenched teeth.
Chapter 21 of The Valley of the Kings is here in full — 89 sentences across 18 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/17 · 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.
having or showing a feeling of mixed reverence and respect and wonder and dread
From this reading “Iskender stood gaping, awestruck at the sight, when a whip-lash scored his face.”
-ing form of “career” — move headlong at high speed
From this reading “A swarm of mounted Arabs, shadows in the sun-haze, was careering towards them, leaving a dust-cloud trailing on the distant plain.”
an independent ruler or chieftain (especially in Africa or Arabia)
From this reading “"You infernal scoundrel!" snarled the Emir through his clenched teeth.”
with the mouth wide open as in wonder or awe
From this reading “Iskender stood gaping, awestruck at the sight, when a whip-lash scored his face.”
-ing form of “near” — move towards
From this reading “They were nearing rapidly.”
past form of “score” — gain points in a game
From this reading “Iskender stood gaping, awestruck at the sight, when a whip-lash scored his face.”
tangled in knots or snarls
From this reading “"You infernal scoundrel!" snarled the Emir through his clenched teeth.”
a moving crowd
From this reading “A swarm of mounted Arabs, shadows in the sun-haze, was careering towards them, leaving a dust-cloud trailing on the distant plain.”
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 swarm of mounted Arabs, shadows in the sun-haze, was careering towards them, leaving a dust-cloud trailing on the distant plain.
plural of “arab” — a member of a Semitic people originally from the Arabian peninsula and surrounding territories who speaks Arabic and who inhabits much of the Middle East and northern Africa
From this reading A swarm of mounted Arabs, shadows in the sun-haze, was careering towards them, leaving a dust-cloud trailing on the distant plain.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Iskender stood gaping, awestruck at the sight, when a whip-lash scored his face.
having or showing a feeling of mixed reverence and respect and wonder and dread
From this reading Iskender stood gaping, awestruck at the sight, when a whip-lash scored his face.
-ing form of “career” — move headlong at high speed
From this reading A swarm of mounted Arabs, shadows in the sun-haze, was careering towards them, leaving a dust-cloud trailing on the distant plain.
closed or squeezed together tightly
From this reading "You infernal scoundrel!" snarled the Emir through his clenched teeth.
separated in space or coming from or going to a distance
From this reading A swarm of mounted Arabs, shadows in the sun-haze, was careering towards them, leaving a dust-cloud trailing on the distant plain.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A swarm of mounted Arabs, shadows in the sun-haze, was careering towards them, leaving a dust-cloud trailing on the distant plain.
an independent ruler or chieftain (especially in Africa or Arabia)
From this reading "You infernal scoundrel!" snarled the Emir through his clenched teeth.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading Iskender stood gaping, awestruck at the sight, when a whip-lash scored his face.
with the mouth wide open as in wonder or awe
From this reading Iskender stood gaping, awestruck at the sight, when a whip-lash scored his face.
past form of “glitter” — be shiny, as if wet
From this reading Their lance-points glittered.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Iskender stood gaping, awestruck at the sight, when a whip-lash scored his face.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A swarm of mounted Arabs, shadows in the sun-haze, was careering towards them, leaving a dust-cloud trailing on the distant plain.
characteristic of or resembling Hell
From this reading "You infernal scoundrel!" snarled the Emir through his clenched teeth.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Iskender stood gaping, awestruck at the sight, when a whip-lash scored his face.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Their lance-points glittered.
the act of departing
From this reading A swarm of mounted Arabs, shadows in the sun-haze, was careering towards them, leaving a dust-cloud trailing on the distant plain.
assembled for use; especially by being attached to a support
From this reading A swarm of mounted Arabs, shadows in the sun-haze, was careering towards them, leaving a dust-cloud trailing on the distant plain.
-ing form of “near” — move towards
From this reading They were nearing rapidly.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A swarm of mounted Arabs, shadows in the sun-haze, was careering towards them, leaving a dust-cloud trailing on the distant plain.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading A swarm of mounted Arabs, shadows in the sun-haze, was careering towards them, leaving a dust-cloud trailing on the distant plain.
clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
From this reading A swarm of mounted Arabs, shadows in the sun-haze, was careering towards them, leaving a dust-cloud trailing on the distant plain.
with speed
From this reading They were nearing rapidly.
past form of “score” — gain points in a game
From this reading Iskender stood gaping, awestruck at the sight, when a whip-lash scored his face.
a wicked or evil person; someone who does evil deliberately
From this reading "You infernal scoundrel!" snarled the Emir through his clenched teeth.
plural of “shadow” — shade within clear boundaries
From this reading A swarm of mounted Arabs, shadows in the sun-haze, was careering towards them, leaving a dust-cloud trailing on the distant plain.
an instance of visual perception
From this reading Iskender stood gaping, awestruck at the sight, when a whip-lash scored his face.
tangled in knots or snarls
From this reading "You infernal scoundrel!" snarled the Emir through his clenched teeth.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading Iskender stood gaping, awestruck at the sight, when a whip-lash scored his face.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A swarm of mounted Arabs, shadows in the sun-haze, was careering towards them, leaving a dust-cloud trailing on the distant plain.
a moving crowd
From this reading A swarm of mounted Arabs, shadows in the sun-haze, was careering towards them, leaving a dust-cloud trailing on the distant plain.
the kind and number and arrangement of teeth (collectively) in a person or animal
From this reading "You infernal scoundrel!" snarled the Emir through his clenched teeth.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A swarm of mounted Arabs, shadows in the sun-haze, was careering towards them, leaving a dust-cloud trailing on the distant plain.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Their lance-points glittered.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading A swarm of mounted Arabs, shadows in the sun-haze, was careering towards them, leaving a dust-cloud trailing on the distant plain.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They were nearing rapidly.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading "You infernal scoundrel!" snarled the Emir through his clenched teeth.
in the direction of
From this reading A swarm of mounted Arabs, shadows in the sun-haze, was careering towards them, leaving a dust-cloud trailing on the distant plain.
the pursuit (of a person or animal) by following tracks or marks they left behind
From this reading A swarm of mounted Arabs, shadows in the sun-haze, was careering towards them, leaving a dust-cloud trailing on the distant plain.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A swarm of mounted Arabs, shadows in the sun-haze, was careering towards them, leaving a dust-cloud trailing on the distant plain.
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They were nearing rapidly.
at the time that
From this reading Iskender stood gaping, awestruck at the sight, when a whip-lash scored his face.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Iskender stood gaping, awestruck at the sight, when a whip-lash scored his face.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "You infernal scoundrel!" snarled the Emir through his clenched teeth.
Chapter 21 of The Valley of the Kings by Marmaduke William Pickthall holds 89 sentences, grouped into 18 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 21 holds 89 sentences of The Valley of the Kings, unabridged, divided into 18 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 21 of The Valley of the Kings by Marmaduke William Pickthall exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 89 sentences, grouped into 18 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 18 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 18 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 21 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 Valley of the Kings by Marmaduke William Pickthall on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 3590 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #24744 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #24744, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 299 minutes of reading across 718 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through The Valley of the Kings section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 32 chapters of The Valley of the Kings 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 Valley of the Kings, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
