The Westerners

Chapter IV

Chapter 4 of The Westerners is here in full — 415 sentences across 83 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Stewart Edward White • Curated US English Learning Edition

English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5

By the time the little band of Indians had reached the doctor's cabin, the first wisps of cloud were clinging to Harney.

While they were in the house, the blackness gathered and loomed and darkened until the sun was obscured and the western hills lost themselves in rain.

The doctor was in the hills.

Prue was making the bed in the little bedroom, and little Miss Prue was asleep on a rug in one corner of the larger apartment.

The savages stole in with noiseless, moccasined feet behind the stooping woman.

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Chapter IV Reading 1/83

The Westerners

Chapter IV

Chapter 4 of The Westerners is here in full — 415 sentences across 83 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/83 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1

By the time the little band of Indians had reached the doctor's cabin, the first wisps of cloud were clinging to Harney.

Line 2

While they were in the house, the blackness gathered and loomed and darkened until the sun was obscured and the western hills lost themselves in rain.

/waɪl ðeɪ wɜːr ɪn ðə haʊs ðə ˈblæknəs ˈɡæðərd ənd luːmd ənd ˈdɑːrkənd ənˈtɪl ðə sʌn wɑːz əbsˈkjʊrd ənd ðə ˈwestərn hɪlz lɔːst ðemˈselvz ɪn reɪn/

Line 3

The doctor was in the hills.

/ðə ˈdɑːktər wɑːz ɪn ðə hɪlz/

Line 4

Prue was making the bed in the little bedroom, and little Miss Prue was asleep on a rug in one corner of the larger apartment.

Line 5

The savages stole in with noiseless, moccasined feet behind the stooping woman.

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.

blackness noun US /ˈblæknəs/

the quality or state of the achromatic color of least lightness (bearing the least resemblance to white)

From this reading “While they were in the house, the blackness gathered and loomed and darkened until the sun was obscured and the western hills lost themselves in rain.”

clinging verb US /ˈklɪŋɪŋ/

-ing form of “cling” — come or be in close contact with; stick or hold together and resist separation

From this reading “By the time the little band of Indians had reached the doctor's cabin, the first wisps of cloud were clinging to Harney.”

darkened adjective US /ˈdɑːrkənd/

(of fabrics and paper) grown dark in color over time

From this reading “While they were in the house, the blackness gathered and loomed and darkened until the sun was obscured and the western hills lost themselves in rain.”

doctor's noun US /ˈdɑːktərz/

possessive form of “doctor” — a licensed medical practitioner

From this reading “By the time the little band of Indians had reached the doctor's cabin, the first wisps of cloud were clinging to Harney.”

loomed verb US /luːmd/

past form of “loom” — come into view indistinctly, often threateningly

From this reading “While they were in the house, the blackness gathered and loomed and darkened until the sun was obscured and the western hills lost themselves in rain.”

obscured verb US /əbsˈkjʊrd/

past form of “obscure” — make less visible or unclear

From this reading “While they were in the house, the blackness gathered and loomed and darkened until the sun was obscured and the western hills lost themselves in rain.”

rug noun US /rʌɡ/

floor covering consisting of a piece of thick heavy fabric (usually with nap or pile)

From this reading “Prue was making the bed in the little bedroom, and little Miss Prue was asleep on a rug in one corner of the larger apartment.”

stooping adjective US /ˈstuːpɪŋ/

having the back and shoulders rounded; not erect

From this reading “The savages stole in with noiseless, moccasined feet behind the stooping woman.”

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.

western hills adjective + noun counted as “western hill”

In this reading “While they were in the house, the blackness gathered and loomed and darkened until the sun was obscured and the western hills lost themselves in rain.”

little band adjective + noun

In this reading “By the time the little band of Indians had reached the doctor's cabin, the first wisps of cloud were clinging to Harney.”

on a rug preposition + article + noun counted as “on … rug”

In this reading “Prue was making the bed in the little bedroom, and little Miss Prue was asleep on a rug in one corner of the larger apartment.”

until the sun preposition + article + noun counted as “until … sun”

In this reading “While they were in the house, the blackness gathered and loomed and darkened until the sun was obscured and the western hills lost themselves in rain.”

little bedroom adjective + noun

In this reading “Prue was making the bed in the little bedroom, and little Miss Prue was asleep on a rug in one corner of the larger apartment.”

in the house preposition + article + noun counted as “in … house”

In this reading “While they were in the house, the blackness gathered and loomed and darkened until the sun was obscured and the western hills lost themselves in rain.”

By the time preposition + article + noun counted as “by … time”

In this reading “By the time the little band of Indians had reached the doctor's cabin, the first wisps of cloud were clinging to Harney.”

All words in this reading · 59

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 Prue was making the bed in the little bedroom, and little Miss Prue was asleep on a rug in one corner of the larger apartment.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading While they were in the house, the blackness gathered and loomed and darkened until the sun was obscured and the western hills lost themselves in rain.

apartmentnounUS /əˈpɑːrtmənt/

a suite of rooms usually on one floor of an apartment house

From this reading Prue was making the bed in the little bedroom, and little Miss Prue was asleep on a rug in one corner of the larger apartment.

asleepadjectiveUS /əˈsliːp/

in a state of sleep

From this reading Prue was making the bed in the little bedroom, and little Miss Prue was asleep on a rug in one corner of the larger apartment.

bandnounUS /bænd/

an unofficial association of people or groups

From this reading By the time the little band of Indians had reached the doctor's cabin, the first wisps of cloud were clinging to Harney.

bednounUS /bed/

a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep

From this reading Prue was making the bed in the little bedroom, and little Miss Prue was asleep on a rug in one corner of the larger apartment.

bedroomnounUS /ˈbedruːm/

a room used primarily for sleeping

From this reading Prue was making the bed in the little bedroom, and little Miss Prue was asleep on a rug in one corner of the larger apartment.

behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/

at or toward the back of something

From this reading The savages stole in with noiseless, moccasined feet behind the stooping woman.

blacknessnounUS /ˈblæknəs/

the quality or state of the achromatic color of least lightness (bearing the least resemblance to white)

From this reading While they were in the house, the blackness gathered and loomed and darkened until the sun was obscured and the western hills lost themselves in rain.

ByprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading By the time the little band of Indians had reached the doctor's cabin, the first wisps of cloud were clinging to Harney.

cabinnounUS /ˈkæbən/

small room on a ship or boat where people sleep

From this reading By the time the little band of Indians had reached the doctor's cabin, the first wisps of cloud were clinging to Harney.

clingingverbUS /ˈklɪŋɪŋ/

-ing form of “cling” — come or be in close contact with; stick or hold together and resist separation

From this reading By the time the little band of Indians had reached the doctor's cabin, the first wisps of cloud were clinging to Harney.

cloudverbUS /klaʊd/

make overcast or cloudy

From this reading By the time the little band of Indians had reached the doctor's cabin, the first wisps of cloud were clinging to Harney.

cornernounUS /ˈkɔːrnər/

a place off to the side of an area

From this reading Prue was making the bed in the little bedroom, and little Miss Prue was asleep on a rug in one corner of the larger apartment.

darkenedadjectiveUS /ˈdɑːrkənd/

(of fabrics and paper) grown dark in color over time

From this reading While they were in the house, the blackness gathered and loomed and darkened until the sun was obscured and the western hills lost themselves in rain.

doctornounUS /ˈdɑːktər/

a licensed medical practitioner

From this reading The doctor was in the hills.

doctor'snounUS /ˈdɑːktərz/

possessive form of “doctor” — a licensed medical practitioner

From this reading By the time the little band of Indians had reached the doctor's cabin, the first wisps of cloud were clinging to Harney.

feetnounUS /fiːt/

plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint

From this reading The savages stole in with noiseless, moccasined feet behind the stooping woman.

firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading By the time the little band of Indians had reached the doctor's cabin, the first wisps of cloud were clinging to Harney.

gatheredadjectiveUS /ˈɡæðərd/

brought together in one place

From this reading While they were in the house, the blackness gathered and loomed and darkened until the sun was obscured and the western hills lost themselves in rain.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading By the time the little band of Indians had reached the doctor's cabin, the first wisps of cloud were clinging to Harney.

Harney

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

From this reading By the time the little band of Indians had reached the doctor's cabin, the first wisps of cloud were clinging to Harney.

hillsnounUS /hɪlz/

plural of “hill” — a local and well-defined elevation of the land

From this reading While they were in the house, the blackness gathered and loomed and darkened until the sun was obscured and the western hills lost themselves in rain.

housenounUS /haʊs/

a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading While they were in the house, the blackness gathered and loomed and darkened until the sun was obscured and the western hills lost themselves in rain.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading While they were in the house, the blackness gathered and loomed and darkened until the sun was obscured and the western hills lost themselves in rain.

IndiansnounUS /ˈɪndiənz/

plural of “indian” — a native or inhabitant of India

From this reading By the time the little band of Indians had reached the doctor's cabin, the first wisps of cloud were clinging to Harney.

largeradjectiveUS /ˈlɑːrdʒər/

large or big relative to something else

From this reading Prue was making the bed in the little bedroom, and little Miss Prue was asleep on a rug in one corner of the larger apartment.

littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/

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

From this reading By the time the little band of Indians had reached the doctor's cabin, the first wisps of cloud were clinging to Harney.

loomedverbUS /luːmd/

past form of “loom” — come into view indistinctly, often threateningly

From this reading While they were in the house, the blackness gathered and loomed and darkened until the sun was obscured and the western hills lost themselves in rain.

lostadjectiveUS /lɔːst/

no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered

From this reading While they were in the house, the blackness gathered and loomed and darkened until the sun was obscured and the western hills lost themselves in rain.

makingnounUS /ˈmeɪkɪŋ/

the act that results in something coming to be

From this reading Prue was making the bed in the little bedroom, and little Miss Prue was asleep on a rug in one corner of the larger apartment.

MissverbUS /mɪs/

fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind

From this reading Prue was making the bed in the little bedroom, and little Miss Prue was asleep on a rug in one corner of the larger apartment.

moccasined

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

From this reading The savages stole in with noiseless, moccasined feet behind the stooping woman.

noiselessadjective

making no sound

From this reading The savages stole in with noiseless, moccasined feet behind the stooping woman.

obscuredverbUS /əbsˈkjʊrd/

past form of “obscure” — make less visible or unclear

From this reading While they were in the house, the blackness gathered and loomed and darkened until the sun was obscured and the western hills lost themselves in rain.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading By the time the little band of Indians had reached the doctor's cabin, the first wisps of cloud were clinging to Harney.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Prue was making the bed in the little bedroom, and little Miss Prue was asleep on a rug in one corner of the larger apartment.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Prue was making the bed in the little bedroom, and little Miss Prue was asleep on a rug in one corner of the larger apartment.

Prue

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

From this reading Prue was making the bed in the little bedroom, and little Miss Prue was asleep on a rug in one corner of the larger apartment.

rainnounUS /reɪn/

water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere

From this reading While they were in the house, the blackness gathered and loomed and darkened until the sun was obscured and the western hills lost themselves in rain.

reachedverbUS /riːtʃt/

past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract

From this reading By the time the little band of Indians had reached the doctor's cabin, the first wisps of cloud were clinging to Harney.

rugnounUS /rʌɡ/

floor covering consisting of a piece of thick heavy fabric (usually with nap or pile)

From this reading Prue was making the bed in the little bedroom, and little Miss Prue was asleep on a rug in one corner of the larger apartment.

savagesnounUS /ˈsævədʒəz/

plural of “savage” — a member of an uncivilized people

From this reading The savages stole in with noiseless, moccasined feet behind the stooping woman.

stolenounUS /stoʊl/

a wide scarf worn about their shoulders by women

From this reading The savages stole in with noiseless, moccasined feet behind the stooping woman.

stoopingadjectiveUS /ˈstuːpɪŋ/

having the back and shoulders rounded; not erect

From this reading The savages stole in with noiseless, moccasined feet behind the stooping woman.

sunnounUS /sʌn/

the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system

From this reading While they were in the house, the blackness gathered and loomed and darkened until the sun was obscured and the western hills lost themselves in rain.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading By the time the little band of Indians had reached the doctor's cabin, the first wisps of cloud were clinging to Harney.

themselvespronounUS /ðemˈselvz/

used when the people doing the action are also its object

From this reading While they were in the house, the blackness gathered and loomed and darkened until the sun was obscured and the western hills lost themselves in rain.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading While they were in the house, the blackness gathered and loomed and darkened until the sun was obscured and the western hills lost themselves in rain.

timenounUS /taɪm/

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading By the time the little band of Indians had reached the doctor's cabin, the first wisps of cloud were clinging to Harney.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading By the time the little band of Indians had reached the doctor's cabin, the first wisps of cloud were clinging to Harney.

untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading While they were in the house, the blackness gathered and loomed and darkened until the sun was obscured and the western hills lost themselves in rain.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading While they were in the house, the blackness gathered and loomed and darkened until the sun was obscured and the western hills lost themselves in rain.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading By the time the little band of Indians had reached the doctor's cabin, the first wisps of cloud were clinging to Harney.

westernadjectiveUS /ˈwestərn/

relating to or characteristic of the western parts of the world or the West as opposed to the eastern or oriental parts

From this reading While they were in the house, the blackness gathered and loomed and darkened until the sun was obscured and the western hills lost themselves in rain.

WhileconjunctionUS /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading While they were in the house, the blackness gathered and loomed and darkened until the sun was obscured and the western hills lost themselves in rain.

wisps

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

From this reading By the time the little band of Indians had reached the doctor's cabin, the first wisps of cloud were clinging to Harney.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading The savages stole in with noiseless, moccasined feet behind the stooping woman.

womannounUS /ˈwʊmən/

an adult female person (as opposed to a man)

From this reading The savages stole in with noiseless, moccasined feet behind the stooping woman.

Chapter 4 of The Westerners by Stewart Edward White holds 415 sentences, grouped into 83 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 Westerners contain?

Chapter 4 holds 415 sentences of The Westerners, unabridged, divided into 83 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 4 of The Westerners by Stewart Edward White exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 415 sentences, grouped into 83 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 Westerners?

Work through the 83 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 83 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 4 be read aloud to me?

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 Westerners

Common questions about reading The Westerners by Stewart Edward White on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Westerners?

Yes. All 6116 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #34399 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Westerners is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #34399, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Westerners take to read?

About 509 minutes of reading across 1224 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Westerners section by section

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

Open a chapter

Choose one of the 15 chapters of The Westerners to begin.
Read one section

Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.
Listen and tap

Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.

Vocabulary met early in The Westerners

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

Tourist: A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Westerners; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
To-day: A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Westerners; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Peering: A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Westerners; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Window: A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Westerners; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.

Chapter IV

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Can chapter 4 be read aloud to me?

Questions about reading The Westerners

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Vocabulary met early in The Westerners