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To Alaska for Gold
To Alaska for Gold

Chapter XXIX

Cover illustration for To Alaska for Gold
Context Illustration Reading 1/19 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
SNOWED IN.
Although everything in the gulch was frozen up, it must not be supposed that mining there came to an end.
While it was true no more washing could be done that season, there was dirt, gravel, and sand to be heaped in convenient spots, ready for the first run of water in the spring.
At one end of the claims there was a bank which had been examined by Foster Portney and found to contain very rich pay dirt, and this bank was now attacked by all hands and the dirt brought out to the nearest sluice box.
To thaw the ground a fire was built up against the bank every night and allowed to burn until morning.
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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.

To Alaska for Gold

Chapter XXIX

Reading 1/19 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
SNOWED IN.
Line 2
Although everything in the gulch was frozen up, it must not be supposed that mining there came to an end.
Line 3
While it was true no more washing could be done that season, there was dirt, gravel, and sand to be heaped in convenient spots, ready for the first run of water in the spring.
Line 4
At one end of the claims there was a bank which had been examined by Foster Portney and found to contain very rich pay dirt, and this bank was now attacked by all hands and the dirt brought out to the nearest sluice box.
Line 5
To thaw the ground a fire was built up against the bank every night and allowed to burn until morning.

Learner Dictionary

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

Against preposition US /əˈɡenst/

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading “To thaw the ground a fire was built up against the bank every night and allowed to burn until morning.”

Although noun US /ˈalthough/

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

From this reading “Although everything in the gulch was frozen up, it must not be supposed that mining there came to an end.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “At one end of the claims there was a bank which had been examined by Foster Portney and found to contain very rich pay dirt, and this bank was now attacked by all hands and the dirt brought out to the nearest sluice box.”

Brought noun US /ˈbrought/

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

From this reading “At one end of the claims there was a bank which had been examined by Foster Portney and found to contain very rich pay dirt, and this bank was now attacked by all hands and the dirt brought out to the nearest sluice box.”

Burn verb US /bɜːrn/

To consume or be consumed by fire.

From this reading “To thaw the ground a fire was built up against the bank every night and allowed to burn until morning.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading “While it was true no more washing could be done that season, there was dirt, gravel, and sand to be heaped in convenient spots, ready for the first run of water in the spring.”

Done noun US /done/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “While it was true no more washing could be done that season, there was dirt, gravel, and sand to be heaped in convenient spots, ready for the first run of water in the spring.”

Every determiner US /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading “To thaw the ground a fire was built up against the bank every night and allowed to burn until morning.”

Everything pronoun US /ˈevriθɪŋ/

all things; all of a situation

From this reading “Although everything in the gulch was frozen up, it must not be supposed that mining there came to an end.”

First noun US /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “While it was true no more washing could be done that season, there was dirt, gravel, and sand to be heaped in convenient spots, ready for the first run of water in the spring.”

Found noun US /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “At one end of the claims there was a bank which had been examined by Foster Portney and found to contain very rich pay dirt, and this bank was now attacked by all hands and the dirt brought out to the nearest sluice box.”

Hands plural noun US /hændz/

members of a ship’s crew

From this reading “At one end of the claims there was a bank which had been examined by Foster Portney and found to contain very rich pay dirt, and this bank was now attacked by all hands and the dirt brought out to the nearest sluice box.”

Morning noun US /morning/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “To thaw the ground a fire was built up against the bank every night and allowed to burn until morning.”

Must modal verb US /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading “Although everything in the gulch was frozen up, it must not be supposed that mining there came to an end.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “At one end of the claims there was a bank which had been examined by Foster Portney and found to contain very rich pay dirt, and this bank was now attacked by all hands and the dirt brought out to the nearest sluice box.”

Until preposition US /ənˈtɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading “To thaw the ground a fire was built up against the bank every night and allowed to burn until morning.”

While conjunction US /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading “While it was true no more washing could be done that season, there was dirt, gravel, and sand to be heaped in convenient spots, ready for the first run of water in the spring.”

All words in this reading · 81

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 At one end of the claims there was a bank which had been examined by Foster Portney and found to contain very rich pay dirt, and this bank was now attacked by all hands and the dirt brought out to the nearest sluice box.

againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading To thaw the ground a fire was built up against the bank every night and allowed to burn until morning.

all

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

From this reading At one end of the claims there was a bank which had been examined by Foster Portney and found to contain very rich pay dirt, and this bank was now attacked by all hands and the dirt brought out to the nearest sluice box.

allowed

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

From this reading To thaw the ground a fire was built up against the bank every night and allowed to burn until morning.

AlthoughnounUS /ˈalthough/

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

From this reading Although everything in the gulch was frozen up, it must not be supposed that mining there came to an end.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading Although everything in the gulch was frozen up, it must not be supposed that mining there came to an end.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading While it was true no more washing could be done that season, there was dirt, gravel, and sand to be heaped in convenient spots, ready for the first run of water in the spring.

AtprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading At one end of the claims there was a bank which had been examined by Foster Portney and found to contain very rich pay dirt, and this bank was now attacked by all hands and the dirt brought out to the nearest sluice box.

attacked

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

From this reading At one end of the claims there was a bank which had been examined by Foster Portney and found to contain very rich pay dirt, and this bank was now attacked by all hands and the dirt brought out to the nearest sluice box.

bank

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

From this reading At one end of the claims there was a bank which had been examined by Foster Portney and found to contain very rich pay dirt, and this bank was now attacked by all hands and the dirt brought out to the nearest sluice box.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading Although everything in the gulch was frozen up, it must not be supposed that mining there came to an end.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading At one end of the claims there was a bank which had been examined by Foster Portney and found to contain very rich pay dirt, and this bank was now attacked by all hands and the dirt brought out to the nearest sluice box.

box

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

From this reading At one end of the claims there was a bank which had been examined by Foster Portney and found to contain very rich pay dirt, and this bank was now attacked by all hands and the dirt brought out to the nearest sluice box.

broughtnounUS /ˈbrought/

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

From this reading At one end of the claims there was a bank which had been examined by Foster Portney and found to contain very rich pay dirt, and this bank was now attacked by all hands and the dirt brought out to the nearest sluice box.

built

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

From this reading To thaw the ground a fire was built up against the bank every night and allowed to burn until morning.

burnverbUS /bɜːrn/

To consume or be consumed by fire.

From this reading To thaw the ground a fire was built up against the bank every night and allowed to burn until morning.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading At one end of the claims there was a bank which had been examined by Foster Portney and found to contain very rich pay dirt, and this bank was now attacked by all hands and the dirt brought out to the nearest sluice box.

came

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

From this reading Although everything in the gulch was frozen up, it must not be supposed that mining there came to an end.

claims

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

From this reading At one end of the claims there was a bank which had been examined by Foster Portney and found to contain very rich pay dirt, and this bank was now attacked by all hands and the dirt brought out to the nearest sluice box.

contain

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

From this reading At one end of the claims there was a bank which had been examined by Foster Portney and found to contain very rich pay dirt, and this bank was now attacked by all hands and the dirt brought out to the nearest sluice box.

convenient

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

From this reading While it was true no more washing could be done that season, there was dirt, gravel, and sand to be heaped in convenient spots, ready for the first run of water in the spring.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading While it was true no more washing could be done that season, there was dirt, gravel, and sand to be heaped in convenient spots, ready for the first run of water in the spring.

dirt

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

From this reading While it was true no more washing could be done that season, there was dirt, gravel, and sand to be heaped in convenient spots, ready for the first run of water in the spring.

donenounUS /done/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading While it was true no more washing could be done that season, there was dirt, gravel, and sand to be heaped in convenient spots, ready for the first run of water in the spring.

end

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

From this reading Although everything in the gulch was frozen up, it must not be supposed that mining there came to an end.

everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading To thaw the ground a fire was built up against the bank every night and allowed to burn until morning.

everythingpronounUS /ˈevriθɪŋ/

all things; all of a situation

From this reading Although everything in the gulch was frozen up, it must not be supposed that mining there came to an end.

examined

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

From this reading At one end of the claims there was a bank which had been examined by Foster Portney and found to contain very rich pay dirt, and this bank was now attacked by all hands and the dirt brought out to the nearest sluice box.

fire

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

From this reading To thaw the ground a fire was built up against the bank every night and allowed to burn until morning.

firstnounUS /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading While it was true no more washing could be done that season, there was dirt, gravel, and sand to be heaped in convenient spots, ready for the first run of water in the spring.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading While it was true no more washing could be done that season, there was dirt, gravel, and sand to be heaped in convenient spots, ready for the first run of water in the spring.

Foster

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

From this reading At one end of the claims there was a bank which had been examined by Foster Portney and found to contain very rich pay dirt, and this bank was now attacked by all hands and the dirt brought out to the nearest sluice box.

foundnounUS /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading At one end of the claims there was a bank which had been examined by Foster Portney and found to contain very rich pay dirt, and this bank was now attacked by all hands and the dirt brought out to the nearest sluice box.

frozen

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

From this reading Although everything in the gulch was frozen up, it must not be supposed that mining there came to an end.

gravel

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

From this reading While it was true no more washing could be done that season, there was dirt, gravel, and sand to be heaped in convenient spots, ready for the first run of water in the spring.

ground

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

From this reading To thaw the ground a fire was built up against the bank every night and allowed to burn until morning.

gulch

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

From this reading Although everything in the gulch was frozen up, it must not be supposed that mining there came to an end.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading At one end of the claims there was a bank which had been examined by Foster Portney and found to contain very rich pay dirt, and this bank was now attacked by all hands and the dirt brought out to the nearest sluice box.

handsplural nounUS /hændz/

members of a ship’s crew

From this reading At one end of the claims there was a bank which had been examined by Foster Portney and found to contain very rich pay dirt, and this bank was now attacked by all hands and the dirt brought out to the nearest sluice box.

heaped

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

From this reading While it was true no more washing could be done that season, there was dirt, gravel, and sand to be heaped in convenient spots, ready for the first run of water in the spring.

INprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading SNOWED IN.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Although everything in the gulch was frozen up, it must not be supposed that mining there came to an end.

mining

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

From this reading Although everything in the gulch was frozen up, it must not be supposed that mining there came to an end.

more

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

From this reading While it was true no more washing could be done that season, there was dirt, gravel, and sand to be heaped in convenient spots, ready for the first run of water in the spring.

morningnounUS /morning/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading To thaw the ground a fire was built up against the bank every night and allowed to burn until morning.

mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading Although everything in the gulch was frozen up, it must not be supposed that mining there came to an end.

nearest

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

From this reading At one end of the claims there was a bank which had been examined by Foster Portney and found to contain very rich pay dirt, and this bank was now attacked by all hands and the dirt brought out to the nearest sluice box.

night

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

From this reading To thaw the ground a fire was built up against the bank every night and allowed to burn until morning.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading While it was true no more washing could be done that season, there was dirt, gravel, and sand to be heaped in convenient spots, ready for the first run of water in the spring.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Although everything in the gulch was frozen up, it must not be supposed that mining there came to an end.

now

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

From this reading At one end of the claims there was a bank which had been examined by Foster Portney and found to contain very rich pay dirt, and this bank was now attacked by all hands and the dirt brought out to the nearest sluice box.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading While it was true no more washing could be done that season, there was dirt, gravel, and sand to be heaped in convenient spots, ready for the first run of water in the spring.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading At one end of the claims there was a bank which had been examined by Foster Portney and found to contain very rich pay dirt, and this bank was now attacked by all hands and the dirt brought out to the nearest sluice box.

out

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

From this reading At one end of the claims there was a bank which had been examined by Foster Portney and found to contain very rich pay dirt, and this bank was now attacked by all hands and the dirt brought out to the nearest sluice box.

pay

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

From this reading At one end of the claims there was a bank which had been examined by Foster Portney and found to contain very rich pay dirt, and this bank was now attacked by all hands and the dirt brought out to the nearest sluice box.

Portney

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

From this reading At one end of the claims there was a bank which had been examined by Foster Portney and found to contain very rich pay dirt, and this bank was now attacked by all hands and the dirt brought out to the nearest sluice box.

ready

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

From this reading While it was true no more washing could be done that season, there was dirt, gravel, and sand to be heaped in convenient spots, ready for the first run of water in the spring.

rich

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

From this reading At one end of the claims there was a bank which had been examined by Foster Portney and found to contain very rich pay dirt, and this bank was now attacked by all hands and the dirt brought out to the nearest sluice box.

run

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

From this reading While it was true no more washing could be done that season, there was dirt, gravel, and sand to be heaped in convenient spots, ready for the first run of water in the spring.

sand

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

From this reading While it was true no more washing could be done that season, there was dirt, gravel, and sand to be heaped in convenient spots, ready for the first run of water in the spring.

season

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

From this reading While it was true no more washing could be done that season, there was dirt, gravel, and sand to be heaped in convenient spots, ready for the first run of water in the spring.

sluice

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

From this reading At one end of the claims there was a bank which had been examined by Foster Portney and found to contain very rich pay dirt, and this bank was now attacked by all hands and the dirt brought out to the nearest sluice box.

SNOWED

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

From this reading SNOWED IN.

spots

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

From this reading While it was true no more washing could be done that season, there was dirt, gravel, and sand to be heaped in convenient spots, ready for the first run of water in the spring.

spring

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

From this reading While it was true no more washing could be done that season, there was dirt, gravel, and sand to be heaped in convenient spots, ready for the first run of water in the spring.

supposed

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

From this reading Although everything in the gulch was frozen up, it must not be supposed that mining there came to an end.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Although everything in the gulch was frozen up, it must not be supposed that mining there came to an end.

thaw

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

From this reading To thaw the ground a fire was built up against the bank every night and allowed to burn until morning.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Although everything in the gulch was frozen up, it must not be supposed that mining there came to an end.

there

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

From this reading Although everything in the gulch was frozen up, it must not be supposed that mining there came to an end.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading At one end of the claims there was a bank which had been examined by Foster Portney and found to contain very rich pay dirt, and this bank was now attacked by all hands and the dirt brought out to the nearest sluice box.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Although everything in the gulch was frozen up, it must not be supposed that mining there came to an end.

true

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

From this reading While it was true no more washing could be done that season, there was dirt, gravel, and sand to be heaped in convenient spots, ready for the first run of water in the spring.

untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading To thaw the ground a fire was built up against the bank every night and allowed to burn until morning.

up

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

From this reading Although everything in the gulch was frozen up, it must not be supposed that mining there came to an end.

very

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

From this reading At one end of the claims there was a bank which had been examined by Foster Portney and found to contain very rich pay dirt, and this bank was now attacked by all hands and the dirt brought out to the nearest sluice box.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Although everything in the gulch was frozen up, it must not be supposed that mining there came to an end.

washing

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

From this reading While it was true no more washing could be done that season, there was dirt, gravel, and sand to be heaped in convenient spots, ready for the first run of water in the spring.

water

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

From this reading While it was true no more washing could be done that season, there was dirt, gravel, and sand to be heaped in convenient spots, ready for the first run of water in the spring.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading At one end of the claims there was a bank which had been examined by Foster Portney and found to contain very rich pay dirt, and this bank was now attacked by all hands and the dirt brought out to the nearest sluice box.

WhileconjunctionUS /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading While it was true no more washing could be done that season, there was dirt, gravel, and sand to be heaped in convenient spots, ready for the first run of water in the spring.