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Thirty-One Years on the Plains and in the
Thirty-One Years on the Plains and in the

Chapter V · Chapter 5

Chapter 5 of Thirty-One Years on the Plains and in the is here in full — 82 sentences across 17 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By William F. Drannan • Curated US English Learning Edition
Cover illustration for Thirty-One Years on the Plains and in the
Context Illustration Reading 1/16 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
TWO BOYS RIDE TO THE CITY OF MEXICO.
ELEVEN HUNDRED MILES OF TRIAL, DANGER AND DUTY---A GIFT HORSE.--THE WIND RIVER MOUNTAINS.
It was now the spring of 1850.
I was eighteen years old and beginning to think myself a man.
Uncle Kit asked me to go to the City of Mexico, saying that he owed a man there two hundred and fifty dollars, and wished to pay him.
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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.

Thirty-One Years on the Plains and in the

Chapter V · Chapter 5

Chapter 5 of Thirty-One Years on the Plains and in the is here in full — 82 sentences across 17 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/16 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
TWO BOYS RIDE TO THE CITY OF MEXICO.
/tuː bɔɪz raɪd tuː ðə ˈsɪti ʌv ˈmeksəkoʊ/
Line 2
ELEVEN HUNDRED MILES OF TRIAL, DANGER AND DUTY---A GIFT HORSE.--THE WIND RIVER MOUNTAINS.
Line 3
It was now the spring of 1850.
Line 4
I was eighteen years old and beginning to think myself a man.
/aɪ wɑːz eɪˈtiːn jɪrz oʊld ənd bɪˈɡɪnɪŋ tuː θɪŋk ˌmaɪˈself ə mæn/
Line 5
Uncle Kit asked me to go to the City of Mexico, saying that he owed a man there two hundred and fifty dollars, and wished to pay him.
/ˈʌŋkəl kɪt æskt miː tuː ɡoʊ tuː ðə ˈsɪti ʌv ˈmeksəkoʊ ˈseɪɪŋ ðæt hiː oʊd ə mæn ðer tuː ˈhʌndrəd ənd ˈfɪfti ˈdɑːlərz ənd wɪʃt tuː peɪ hɪm/

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.

eighteen adjective US /eɪˈtiːn/

being one more than seventeen

From this reading “I was eighteen years old and beginning to think myself a man.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
eleven adjective US /ɪˈlevən/

being one more than ten

From this reading “ELEVEN HUNDRED MILES OF TRIAL, DANGER AND DUTY---A GIFT HORSE.--THE WIND RIVER MOUNTAINS.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
gift noun US /ɡɪft/

something acquired without compensation

From this reading “ELEVEN HUNDRED MILES OF TRIAL, DANGER AND DUTY---A GIFT HORSE.--THE WIND RIVER MOUNTAINS.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Kit noun US /kɪt/

a case for containing a set of articles

From this reading “Uncle Kit asked me to go to the City of Mexico, saying that he owed a man there two hundred and fifty dollars, and wished to pay him.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
mexico noun US /ˈmeksəkoʊ/

a republic in southern North America; became independent from Spain in 1810

From this reading “TWO BOYS RIDE TO THE CITY OF MEXICO.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
mountains noun US /ˈmaʊntənz/

plural of “mountain” — a land mass that projects well above its surroundings; higher than a hill

From this reading “ELEVEN HUNDRED MILES OF TRIAL, DANGER AND DUTY---A GIFT HORSE.--THE WIND RIVER MOUNTAINS.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
owed verb US /oʊd/

past form of “owe” — be obliged to pay or repay

From this reading “Uncle Kit asked me to go to the City of Mexico, saying that he owed a man there two hundred and fifty dollars, and wished to pay him.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
trial noun US /ˈtraɪəl/

the act of testing something

From this reading “ELEVEN HUNDRED MILES OF TRIAL, DANGER AND DUTY---A GIFT HORSE.--THE WIND RIVER MOUNTAINS.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1

All words in this reading · 49

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.

1850

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

From this reading It was now the spring of 1850.

Pending verification
AdeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading ELEVEN HUNDRED MILES OF TRIAL, DANGER AND DUTY---A GIFT HORSE.--THE WIND RIVER MOUNTAINS.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
ANDconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading ELEVEN HUNDRED MILES OF TRIAL, DANGER AND DUTY---A GIFT HORSE.--THE WIND RIVER MOUNTAINS.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
askedverbUS /æskt/

past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody

From this reading Uncle Kit asked me to go to the City of Mexico, saying that he owed a man there two hundred and fifty dollars, and wished to pay him.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
beginningnounUS /bɪˈɡɪnɪŋ/

the event consisting of the start of something

From this reading I was eighteen years old and beginning to think myself a man.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
BOYSnounUS /bɔɪz/

plural of “boy” — a youthful male person

From this reading TWO BOYS RIDE TO THE CITY OF MEXICO.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
CITYnounUS /ˈsɪti/

a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts

From this reading TWO BOYS RIDE TO THE CITY OF MEXICO.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
DANGERnounUS /ˈdeɪndʒər/

the condition of being susceptible to harm or injury

From this reading ELEVEN HUNDRED MILES OF TRIAL, DANGER AND DUTY---A GIFT HORSE.--THE WIND RIVER MOUNTAINS.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
dollarsnounUS /ˈdɑːlərz/

plural of “dollar” — the basic monetary unit in many countries; equal to 100 cents

From this reading Uncle Kit asked me to go to the City of Mexico, saying that he owed a man there two hundred and fifty dollars, and wished to pay him.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
DUTYnounUS /ˈduːti/

the social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force

From this reading ELEVEN HUNDRED MILES OF TRIAL, DANGER AND DUTY---A GIFT HORSE.--THE WIND RIVER MOUNTAINS.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
eighteenadjectiveUS /eɪˈtiːn/

being one more than seventeen

From this reading I was eighteen years old and beginning to think myself a man.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ELEVENadjectiveUS /ɪˈlevən/

being one more than ten

From this reading ELEVEN HUNDRED MILES OF TRIAL, DANGER AND DUTY---A GIFT HORSE.--THE WIND RIVER MOUNTAINS.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
fiftynounUS /ˈfɪfti/

the cardinal number that is the product of ten and five

From this reading Uncle Kit asked me to go to the City of Mexico, saying that he owed a man there two hundred and fifty dollars, and wished to pay him.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
GIFTnounUS /ɡɪft/

something acquired without compensation

From this reading ELEVEN HUNDRED MILES OF TRIAL, DANGER AND DUTY---A GIFT HORSE.--THE WIND RIVER MOUNTAINS.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
goverbUS /ɡoʊ/

change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading Uncle Kit asked me to go to the City of Mexico, saying that he owed a man there two hundred and fifty dollars, and wished to pay him.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading Uncle Kit asked me to go to the City of Mexico, saying that he owed a man there two hundred and fifty dollars, and wished to pay him.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
himpronounUS /hɪm/

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading Uncle Kit asked me to go to the City of Mexico, saying that he owed a man there two hundred and fifty dollars, and wished to pay him.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
HORSEnounUS /hɔːrs/

solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times

From this reading ELEVEN HUNDRED MILES OF TRIAL, DANGER AND DUTY---A GIFT HORSE.--THE WIND RIVER MOUNTAINS.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
HUNDREDnounUS /ˈhʌndrəd/

ten 10s

From this reading ELEVEN HUNDRED MILES OF TRIAL, DANGER AND DUTY---A GIFT HORSE.--THE WIND RIVER MOUNTAINS.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
IpronounUS /aɪ/

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading I was eighteen years old and beginning to think myself a man.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was now the spring of 1850.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
KitnounUS /kɪt/

a case for containing a set of articles

From this reading Uncle Kit asked me to go to the City of Mexico, saying that he owed a man there two hundred and fifty dollars, and wished to pay him.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
mannounUS /mæn/

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading I was eighteen years old and beginning to think myself a man.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
mepronounUS /miː/

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading Uncle Kit asked me to go to the City of Mexico, saying that he owed a man there two hundred and fifty dollars, and wished to pay him.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
MEXICOnounUS /ˈmeksəkoʊ/

a republic in southern North America; became independent from Spain in 1810

From this reading TWO BOYS RIDE TO THE CITY OF MEXICO.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
MILESnounUS /maɪlz/

plural of “mile” — a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters

From this reading ELEVEN HUNDRED MILES OF TRIAL, DANGER AND DUTY---A GIFT HORSE.--THE WIND RIVER MOUNTAINS.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
MOUNTAINSnounUS /ˈmaʊntənz/

plural of “mountain” — a land mass that projects well above its surroundings; higher than a hill

From this reading ELEVEN HUNDRED MILES OF TRIAL, DANGER AND DUTY---A GIFT HORSE.--THE WIND RIVER MOUNTAINS.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
myselfpronounUS /ˌmaɪˈself/

used when the speaker is also the object of the action

From this reading I was eighteen years old and beginning to think myself a man.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
nowadverbUS /naʊ/

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading It was now the spring of 1850.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
OFprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading TWO BOYS RIDE TO THE CITY OF MEXICO.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
oldadjectiveUS /oʊld/

(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading I was eighteen years old and beginning to think myself a man.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
owedverbUS /oʊd/

past form of “owe” — be obliged to pay or repay

From this reading Uncle Kit asked me to go to the City of Mexico, saying that he owed a man there two hundred and fifty dollars, and wished to pay him.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
payverbUS /peɪ/

give money, usually in exchange for goods or services

From this reading Uncle Kit asked me to go to the City of Mexico, saying that he owed a man there two hundred and fifty dollars, and wished to pay him.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
RIDEverbUS /raɪd/

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

From this reading TWO BOYS RIDE TO THE CITY OF MEXICO.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
RIVERnounUS /ˈrɪvər/

a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)

From this reading ELEVEN HUNDRED MILES OF TRIAL, DANGER AND DUTY---A GIFT HORSE.--THE WIND RIVER MOUNTAINS.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
sayingnounUS /ˈseɪɪŋ/

a word or phrase that particular people use in particular situations

From this reading Uncle Kit asked me to go to the City of Mexico, saying that he owed a man there two hundred and fifty dollars, and wished to pay him.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
springnounUS /sprɪŋ/

the season of growth

From this reading It was now the spring of 1850.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Uncle Kit asked me to go to the City of Mexico, saying that he owed a man there two hundred and fifty dollars, and wished to pay him.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading TWO BOYS RIDE TO THE CITY OF MEXICO.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
thereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading Uncle Kit asked me to go to the City of Mexico, saying that he owed a man there two hundred and fifty dollars, and wished to pay him.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
thinkverbUS /θɪŋk/

judge or regard; look upon; judge

From this reading I was eighteen years old and beginning to think myself a man.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
TOparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading TWO BOYS RIDE TO THE CITY OF MEXICO.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
TRIALnounUS /ˈtraɪəl/

the act of testing something

From this reading ELEVEN HUNDRED MILES OF TRIAL, DANGER AND DUTY---A GIFT HORSE.--THE WIND RIVER MOUNTAINS.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
TWOnounUS /tuː/

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading TWO BOYS RIDE TO THE CITY OF MEXICO.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
UnclenounUS /ˈʌŋkəl/

the brother of your father or mother; the husband of your aunt

From this reading Uncle Kit asked me to go to the City of Mexico, saying that he owed a man there two hundred and fifty dollars, and wished to pay him.

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 It was now the spring of 1850.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
WINDnounUS /waɪnd/

air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure

From this reading ELEVEN HUNDRED MILES OF TRIAL, DANGER AND DUTY---A GIFT HORSE.--THE WIND RIVER MOUNTAINS.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
wishedverbUS /wɪʃt/

past form of “wish” — hope for; have a wish

From this reading Uncle Kit asked me to go to the City of Mexico, saying that he owed a man there two hundred and fifty dollars, and wished to pay him.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
yearsnounUS /jɪrz/

a late time of life

From this reading I was eighteen years old and beginning to think myself a man.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1

Chapter 5 of Thirty-One Years on the Plains and in the by William F. Drannan holds 82 sentences, grouped into 17 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 5 of Thirty-One Years on the Plains and in the contain?

Chapter 5 holds 82 sentences of Thirty-One Years on the Plains and in the, unabridged, divided into 17 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 5 of Thirty-One Years on the Plains and in the by William F. Drannan exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 82 sentences, grouped into 17 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 5 of Thirty-One Years on the Plains and in the?

Work through the 17 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 17 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 5 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 5 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 Thirty-One Years on the Plains and in the

Common questions about reading Thirty-One Years on the Plains and in the by William F. Drannan on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Thirty-One Years on the Plains and in the?

Yes. All 5390 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #5337 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Thirty-One Years on the Plains and in the is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #5337, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Thirty-One Years on the Plains and in the take to read?

About 449 minutes of reading across 1078 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Thirty-One Years on the Plains and in the section by section

How to work through Thirty-One Years on the Plains and in the section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

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  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 Thirty-One Years on the Plains and in the

Words and structures a reader meets early in Thirty-One Years on the Plains and in the, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Beginning
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Thirty-One Years on the Plains and in the; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Adventurous
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Thirty-One Years on the Plains and in the; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
First
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Thirty-One Years on the Plains and in the; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Turkey
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Thirty-One Years on the Plains and in the; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.