Complete classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
The Voodoo Gold Trail
The Voodoo Gold Trail

Chapter XXXI

Chapter 31 of The Voodoo Gold Trail is here in full — 229 sentences across 46 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Walter Walden • Curated US English Learning Edition
Cover illustration for The Voodoo Gold Trail
Context Illustration Reading 1/45 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
WE RUN THE GAUNTLET--HOME BOUND "Too bad we can't put in a week, getting some more gold out of this creek," said Norris.
He was plucking little bits of the precious metal out of a pan of gravel he'd just washed.
"There's no end of the stuff here still," he complained.
"Well, but aren't we coming back some day?" observed Robert.
"Just like some folks," said Ray.
0:00 / 0:00
Speed 0.75x
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 Voodoo Gold Trail

Chapter XXXI

Chapter 31 of The Voodoo Gold Trail is here in full — 229 sentences across 46 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/45 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
WE RUN THE GAUNTLET--HOME BOUND "Too bad we can't put in a week, getting some more gold out of this creek," said Norris.
Line 2
He was plucking little bits of the precious metal out of a pan of gravel he'd just washed.
Line 3
"There's no end of the stuff here still," he complained.
Line 4
"Well, but aren't we coming back some day?" observed Robert.
Line 5
"Just like some folks," said Ray.
/dʒʌst laɪk sʌm foʊks sed reɪ/

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.

bits noun US /bɪts/

plural of “bit” — a small piece or quantity of something

From this reading “He was plucking little bits of the precious metal out of a pan of gravel he'd just washed.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
complained verb US /kəmˈpleɪnd/

past form of “complain” — express complaints, discontent, displeasure, or unhappiness

From this reading “"There's no end of the stuff here still," he complained.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
gauntlet noun US /ˈɡɔːntlət/

to offer or accept a challenge

From this reading “WE RUN THE GAUNTLET--HOME BOUND "Too bad we can't put in a week, getting some more gold out of this creek," said Norris.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
gravel noun US /ˈɡrævəl/

rock fragments and pebbles

From this reading “He was plucking little bits of the precious metal out of a pan of gravel he'd just washed.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Norris noun US /ˈnɔːrɪs/

United States writer (1870-1902)

From this reading “WE RUN THE GAUNTLET--HOME BOUND "Too bad we can't put in a week, getting some more gold out of this creek," said Norris.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
pan verb US /pæn/

make a sweeping movement

From this reading “He was plucking little bits of the precious metal out of a pan of gravel he'd just washed.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
plucking verb US /ˈplʌkɪŋ/

-ing form of “pluck” — pull or pull out sharply

From this reading “He was plucking little bits of the precious metal out of a pan of gravel he'd just washed.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Ray noun US /reɪ/

a column of light (as from a beacon)

From this reading “"Just like some folks," said Ray.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1

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.

precious metal adjective + noun

any of the less common and valuable metals often used to make coins or jewelry

In this reading “He was plucking little bits of the precious metal out of a pan of gravel he'd just washed.”

962 times in 225,867 chapters
Too bad adverb + adjective

deserving regret

In this reading “WE RUN THE GAUNTLET--HOME BOUND "Too bad we can't put in a week, getting some more gold out of this creek," said Norris.”

9,222 times in 225,867 chapters
little bits adjective + noun counted as “little bit”

In this reading “He was plucking little bits of the precious metal out of a pan of gravel he'd just washed.”

9,780 times in 225,867 chapters
some folks adjective + noun

In this reading “"Just like some folks," said Ray.”

2,288 times in 225,867 chapters
some day adjective + noun

In this reading “"Well, but aren't we coming back some day?" observed Robert.”

32,932 times in 225,867 chapters
put in verb + particle

place, fit, or thrust (something) into another thing

In this reading “WE RUN THE GAUNTLET--HOME BOUND "Too bad we can't put in a week, getting some more gold out of this creek," said Norris.”

44,057 times in 225,867 chapters
like some verb + adjective

In this reading “"Just like some folks," said Ray.”

11,629 times in 225,867 chapters

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 WE RUN THE GAUNTLET--HOME BOUND "Too bad we can't put in a week, getting some more gold out of this creek," said Norris.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
aren't

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

From this reading "Well, but aren't we coming back some day?" observed Robert.

Pending verification
backadverbUS /bæk/

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading "Well, but aren't we coming back some day?" observed Robert.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
badadjectiveUS /bæd/

having undesirable or negative qualities

From this reading WE RUN THE GAUNTLET--HOME BOUND "Too bad we can't put in a week, getting some more gold out of this creek," said Norris.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
bitsnounUS /bɪts/

plural of “bit” — a small piece or quantity of something

From this reading He was plucking little bits of the precious metal out of a pan of gravel he'd just washed.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
BOUNDadjectiveUS /baʊnd/

confined by bonds

From this reading WE RUN THE GAUNTLET--HOME BOUND "Too bad we can't put in a week, getting some more gold out of this creek," said Norris.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading "Well, but aren't we coming back some day?" observed Robert.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
can't

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

From this reading WE RUN THE GAUNTLET--HOME BOUND "Too bad we can't put in a week, getting some more gold out of this creek," said Norris.

Pending verification
comingnounUS /ˈkʌmɪŋ/

the act of drawing spatially closer to something

From this reading "Well, but aren't we coming back some day?" observed Robert.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
complainedverbUS /kəmˈpleɪnd/

past form of “complain” — express complaints, discontent, displeasure, or unhappiness

From this reading "There's no end of the stuff here still," he complained.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
creeknounUS /kriːk/

a natural stream of water smaller than a river (and often a tributary of a river)

From this reading WE RUN THE GAUNTLET--HOME BOUND "Too bad we can't put in a week, getting some more gold out of this creek," said Norris.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
daynounUS /deɪ/

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading "Well, but aren't we coming back some day?" observed Robert.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
endnounUS /end/

either extremity of something that has length

From this reading "There's no end of the stuff here still," he complained.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
folksnounUS /foʊks/

your parents

From this reading "Just like some folks," said Ray.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
GAUNTLETnounUS /ˈɡɔːntlət/

to offer or accept a challenge

From this reading WE RUN THE GAUNTLET--HOME BOUND "Too bad we can't put in a week, getting some more gold out of this creek," said Norris.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
gettingnounUS /ˈɡetɪŋ/

the act of acquiring something

From this reading WE RUN THE GAUNTLET--HOME BOUND "Too bad we can't put in a week, getting some more gold out of this creek," said Norris.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
goldnounUS /ɡoʊld/

coins made of gold

From this reading WE RUN THE GAUNTLET--HOME BOUND "Too bad we can't put in a week, getting some more gold out of this creek," said Norris.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
gravelnounUS /ˈɡrævəl/

rock fragments and pebbles

From this reading He was plucking little bits of the precious metal out of a pan of gravel he'd just washed.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading He was plucking little bits of the precious metal out of a pan of gravel he'd just washed.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
he'd

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

From this reading He was plucking little bits of the precious metal out of a pan of gravel he'd just washed.

Pending verification
hereadverbUS /hiːr/

in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is

From this reading "There's no end of the stuff here still," he complained.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
HOMEnounUS /hoʊm/

where you live at a particular time

From this reading WE RUN THE GAUNTLET--HOME BOUND "Too bad we can't put in a week, getting some more gold out of this creek," said Norris.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading WE RUN THE GAUNTLET--HOME BOUND "Too bad we can't put in a week, getting some more gold out of this creek," said Norris.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
justadverbUS /dʒʌst/

and nothing more

From this reading He was plucking little bits of the precious metal out of a pan of gravel he'd just washed.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
likeverbUS /laɪk/

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading "Just like some folks," said Ray.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/

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

From this reading He was plucking little bits of the precious metal out of a pan of gravel he'd just washed.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
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 He was plucking little bits of the precious metal out of a pan of gravel he'd just washed.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading WE RUN THE GAUNTLET--HOME BOUND "Too bad we can't put in a week, getting some more gold out of this creek," said Norris.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading "There's no end of the stuff here still," he complained.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
NorrisnounUS /ˈnɔːrɪs/

United States writer (1870-1902)

From this reading WE RUN THE GAUNTLET--HOME BOUND "Too bad we can't put in a week, getting some more gold out of this creek," said Norris.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
observedadjectiveUS /əbˈzɜːrvd/

discovered or determined by scientific observation

From this reading "Well, but aren't we coming back some day?" observed Robert.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading WE RUN THE GAUNTLET--HOME BOUND "Too bad we can't put in a week, getting some more gold out of this creek," said Norris.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
outadjectiveUS /aʊt/

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading WE RUN THE GAUNTLET--HOME BOUND "Too bad we can't put in a week, getting some more gold out of this creek," said Norris.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
panverbUS /pæn/

make a sweeping movement

From this reading He was plucking little bits of the precious metal out of a pan of gravel he'd just washed.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
pluckingverbUS /ˈplʌkɪŋ/

-ing form of “pluck” — pull or pull out sharply

From this reading He was plucking little bits of the precious metal out of a pan of gravel he'd just washed.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
preciousadjectiveUS /ˈpreʃəs/

characterized by feeling or showing fond affection for

From this reading He was plucking little bits of the precious metal out of a pan of gravel he'd just washed.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
putverbUS /pʊt/

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading WE RUN THE GAUNTLET--HOME BOUND "Too bad we can't put in a week, getting some more gold out of this creek," said Norris.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
RaynounUS /reɪ/

a column of light (as from a beacon)

From this reading "Just like some folks," said Ray.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
RobertnounUS /ˈrɑːbərt/

United States parliamentary authority and author (in 1876) of Robert's Rules of Order (1837-1923)

From this reading "Well, but aren't we coming back some day?" observed Robert.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
RUNverbUS /rʌn/

move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time

From this reading WE RUN THE GAUNTLET--HOME BOUND "Too bad we can't put in a week, getting some more gold out of this creek," said Norris.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
saidadjectiveUS /sed/

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading WE RUN THE GAUNTLET--HOME BOUND "Too bad we can't put in a week, getting some more gold out of this creek," said Norris.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
someadjectiveUS /sʌm/

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading WE RUN THE GAUNTLET--HOME BOUND "Too bad we can't put in a week, getting some more gold out of this creek," said Norris.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
stilladjectiveUS /stɪl/

not in physical motion

From this reading "There's no end of the stuff here still," he complained.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
stuffnounUS /stʌf/

the tangible substance that goes into the makeup of a physical object

From this reading "There's no end of the stuff here still," he complained.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading WE RUN THE GAUNTLET--HOME BOUND "Too bad we can't put in a week, getting some more gold out of this creek," said Norris.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
There's

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

From this reading "There's no end of the stuff here still," he complained.

Pending verification
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading WE RUN THE GAUNTLET--HOME BOUND "Too bad we can't put in a week, getting some more gold out of this creek," said Norris.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
TooadverbUS /tuː/

to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits

From this reading WE RUN THE GAUNTLET--HOME BOUND "Too bad we can't put in a week, getting some more gold out of this creek," said Norris.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading He was plucking little bits of the precious metal out of a pan of gravel he'd just washed.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
washedadjectiveUS /wɑːʃt/

clean by virtue of having been washed in water

From this reading He was plucking little bits of the precious metal out of a pan of gravel he'd just washed.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
WEpronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading WE RUN THE GAUNTLET--HOME BOUND "Too bad we can't put in a week, getting some more gold out of this creek," said Norris.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
weeknounUS /wiːk/

any period of seven consecutive days

From this reading WE RUN THE GAUNTLET--HOME BOUND "Too bad we can't put in a week, getting some more gold out of this creek," said Norris.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
WelladverbUS /wel/

(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)

From this reading "Well, but aren't we coming back some day?" observed Robert.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1

Chapter 31 of The Voodoo Gold Trail by Walter Walden holds 229 sentences, grouped into 46 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 31 of The Voodoo Gold Trail contain?

Chapter 31 holds 229 sentences of The Voodoo Gold Trail, unabridged, divided into 46 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 31 of The Voodoo Gold Trail by Walter Walden exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 229 sentences, grouped into 46 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 31 of The Voodoo Gold Trail?

Work through the 46 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 46 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 31 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 31 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 Voodoo Gold Trail

Common questions about reading The Voodoo Gold Trail by Walter Walden on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Voodoo Gold Trail?

Yes. All 5071 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #34442 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Voodoo Gold Trail is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #34442, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Voodoo Gold Trail take to read?

About 422 minutes of reading across 1015 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Voodoo Gold Trail section by section

How to work through The Voodoo Gold Trail section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 31 chapters of The Voodoo Gold Trail 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 Voodoo Gold Trail

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Voodoo Gold Trail, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Author
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Voodoo Gold Trail; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Hidden
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Voodoo Gold Trail; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Islands
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Voodoo Gold Trail; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Murray
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Voodoo Gold Trail; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.