used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Anywhere else he might have sent a sergeant with a couple of men in pursuit, but here it would be exposing them to almost certain death.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading Fred Waller knew all the Valley of the North Platte as well as he did the trails around Sanders and Red buttes, and if he could succeed in eluding the Indian war parties, he would have no difficulty in fording the river, or swimming if necessary; and, with the start he must have had, his light weight, and powerful horse, it would be next to impossible to catch him, even if they could follow his trail.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading Anywhere else he might have sent a sergeant with a couple of men in pursuit, but here it would be exposing them to almost certain death.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Fred Waller knew all the Valley of the North Platte as well as he did the trails around Sanders and Red buttes, and if he could succeed in eluding the Indian war parties, he would have no difficulty in fording the river, or swimming if necessary; and, with the start he must have had, his light weight, and powerful horse, it would be next to impossible to catch him, even if they could follow his trail.
at or in or to any place
From this reading Anywhere else he might have sent a sergeant with a couple of men in pursuit, but here it would be exposing them to almost certain death.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading Fred Waller knew all the Valley of the North Platte as well as he did the trails around Sanders and Red buttes, and if he could succeed in eluding the Indian war parties, he would have no difficulty in fording the river, or swimming if necessary; and, with the start he must have had, his light weight, and powerful horse, it would be next to impossible to catch him, even if they could follow his trail.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Fred Waller knew all the Valley of the North Platte as well as he did the trails around Sanders and Red buttes, and if he could succeed in eluding the Indian war parties, he would have no difficulty in fording the river, or swimming if necessary; and, with the start he must have had, his light weight, and powerful horse, it would be next to impossible to catch him, even if they could follow his trail.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Besides, were they not ordered to remain at the Niobrara until Charlton's return?
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Fred Waller knew all the Valley of the North Platte as well as he did the trails around Sanders and Red buttes, and if he could succeed in eluding the Indian war parties, he would have no difficulty in fording the river, or swimming if necessary; and, with the start he must have had, his light weight, and powerful horse, it would be next to impossible to catch him, even if they could follow his trail.
inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading The more Mr. Blunt thought of the matter the more worried and perplexed he became.
in addition to; as well as
From this reading Besides, were they not ordered to remain at the Niobrara until Charlton's return?
BluntadjectiveUS /blʌnt/
having a broad or rounded end
From this reading The more Mr. Blunt thought of the matter the more worried and perplexed he became.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Anywhere else he might have sent a sergeant with a couple of men in pursuit, but here it would be exposing them to almost certain death.
buttes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fred Waller knew all the Valley of the North Platte as well as he did the trails around Sanders and Red buttes, and if he could succeed in eluding the Indian war parties, he would have no difficulty in fording the river, or swimming if necessary; and, with the start he must have had, his light weight, and powerful horse, it would be next to impossible to catch him, even if they could follow his trail.
discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading Fred Waller knew all the Valley of the North Platte as well as he did the trails around Sanders and Red buttes, and if he could succeed in eluding the Indian war parties, he would have no difficulty in fording the river, or swimming if necessary; and, with the start he must have had, his light weight, and powerful horse, it would be next to impossible to catch him, even if they could follow his trail.
definite but not specified or identified
From this reading Anywhere else he might have sent a sergeant with a couple of men in pursuit, but here it would be exposing them to almost certain death.
Charlton's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Besides, were they not ordered to remain at the Niobrara until Charlton's return?
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Fred Waller knew all the Valley of the North Platte as well as he did the trails around Sanders and Red buttes, and if he could succeed in eluding the Indian war parties, he would have no difficulty in fording the river, or swimming if necessary; and, with the start he must have had, his light weight, and powerful horse, it would be next to impossible to catch him, even if they could follow his trail.
a pair who associate with one another
From this reading Anywhere else he might have sent a sergeant with a couple of men in pursuit, but here it would be exposing them to almost certain death.
the event of dying or departure from life
From this reading Anywhere else he might have sent a sergeant with a couple of men in pursuit, but here it would be exposing them to almost certain death.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Fred Waller knew all the Valley of the North Platte as well as he did the trails around Sanders and Red buttes, and if he could succeed in eluding the Indian war parties, he would have no difficulty in fording the river, or swimming if necessary; and, with the start he must have had, his light weight, and powerful horse, it would be next to impossible to catch him, even if they could follow his trail.
an effort that is inconvenient
From this reading Fred Waller knew all the Valley of the North Platte as well as he did the trails around Sanders and Red buttes, and if he could succeed in eluding the Indian war parties, he would have no difficulty in fording the river, or swimming if necessary; and, with the start he must have had, his light weight, and powerful horse, it would be next to impossible to catch him, even if they could follow his trail.
else
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Anywhere else he might have sent a sergeant with a couple of men in pursuit, but here it would be exposing them to almost certain death.
eludingnounUS /ɪˈluːdɪŋ/
the act of avoiding capture (especially by cunning)
From this reading Fred Waller knew all the Valley of the North Platte as well as he did the trails around Sanders and Red buttes, and if he could succeed in eluding the Indian war parties, he would have no difficulty in fording the river, or swimming if necessary; and, with the start he must have had, his light weight, and powerful horse, it would be next to impossible to catch him, even if they could follow his trail.
divisible by two
From this reading Fred Waller knew all the Valley of the North Platte as well as he did the trails around Sanders and Red buttes, and if he could succeed in eluding the Indian war parties, he would have no difficulty in fording the river, or swimming if necessary; and, with the start he must have had, his light weight, and powerful horse, it would be next to impossible to catch him, even if they could follow his trail.
exposingverbUS /ɪkˈspoʊzɪŋ/
-ing form of “expose” — expose or make accessible to some action or influence
From this reading Anywhere else he might have sent a sergeant with a couple of men in pursuit, but here it would be exposing them to almost certain death.
to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading Fred Waller knew all the Valley of the North Platte as well as he did the trails around Sanders and Red buttes, and if he could succeed in eluding the Indian war parties, he would have no difficulty in fording the river, or swimming if necessary; and, with the start he must have had, his light weight, and powerful horse, it would be next to impossible to catch him, even if they could follow his trail.
fordingnoun
the act of crossing a stream or river by wading or in a car or on a horse
From this reading Fred Waller knew all the Valley of the North Platte as well as he did the trails around Sanders and Red buttes, and if he could succeed in eluding the Indian war parties, he would have no difficulty in fording the river, or swimming if necessary; and, with the start he must have had, his light weight, and powerful horse, it would be next to impossible to catch him, even if they could follow his trail.
Fred
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fred Waller knew all the Valley of the North Platte as well as he did the trails around Sanders and Red buttes, and if he could succeed in eluding the Indian war parties, he would have no difficulty in fording the river, or swimming if necessary; and, with the start he must have had, his light weight, and powerful horse, it would be next to impossible to catch him, even if they could follow his trail.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Fred Waller knew all the Valley of the North Platte as well as he did the trails around Sanders and Red buttes, and if he could succeed in eluding the Indian war parties, he would have no difficulty in fording the river, or swimming if necessary; and, with the start he must have had, his light weight, and powerful horse, it would be next to impossible to catch him, even if they could follow his trail.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Fred Waller knew all the Valley of the North Platte as well as he did the trails around Sanders and Red buttes, and if he could succeed in eluding the Indian war parties, he would have no difficulty in fording the river, or swimming if necessary; and, with the start he must have had, his light weight, and powerful horse, it would be next to impossible to catch him, even if they could follow his trail.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Fred Waller knew all the Valley of the North Platte as well as he did the trails around Sanders and Red buttes, and if he could succeed in eluding the Indian war parties, he would have no difficulty in fording the river, or swimming if necessary; and, with the start he must have had, his light weight, and powerful horse, it would be next to impossible to catch him, even if they could follow his trail.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading Anywhere else he might have sent a sergeant with a couple of men in pursuit, but here it would be exposing them to almost certain death.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Fred Waller knew all the Valley of the North Platte as well as he did the trails around Sanders and Red buttes, and if he could succeed in eluding the Indian war parties, he would have no difficulty in fording the river, or swimming if necessary; and, with the start he must have had, his light weight, and powerful horse, it would be next to impossible to catch him, even if they could follow his trail.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Fred Waller knew all the Valley of the North Platte as well as he did the trails around Sanders and Red buttes, and if he could succeed in eluding the Indian war parties, he would have no difficulty in fording the river, or swimming if necessary; and, with the start he must have had, his light weight, and powerful horse, it would be next to impossible to catch him, even if they could follow his trail.
solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times
From this reading Fred Waller knew all the Valley of the North Platte as well as he did the trails around Sanders and Red buttes, and if he could succeed in eluding the Indian war parties, he would have no difficulty in fording the river, or swimming if necessary; and, with the start he must have had, his light weight, and powerful horse, it would be next to impossible to catch him, even if they could follow his trail.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Fred Waller knew all the Valley of the North Platte as well as he did the trails around Sanders and Red buttes, and if he could succeed in eluding the Indian war parties, he would have no difficulty in fording the river, or swimming if necessary; and, with the start he must have had, his light weight, and powerful horse, it would be next to impossible to catch him, even if they could follow his trail.
not capable of occurring or being accomplished or dealt with
From this reading Fred Waller knew all the Valley of the North Platte as well as he did the trails around Sanders and Red buttes, and if he could succeed in eluding the Indian war parties, he would have no difficulty in fording the river, or swimming if necessary; and, with the start he must have had, his light weight, and powerful horse, it would be next to impossible to catch him, even if they could follow his trail.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Fred Waller knew all the Valley of the North Platte as well as he did the trails around Sanders and Red buttes, and if he could succeed in eluding the Indian war parties, he would have no difficulty in fording the river, or swimming if necessary; and, with the start he must have had, his light weight, and powerful horse, it would be next to impossible to catch him, even if they could follow his trail.
of or relating to or characteristic of India or the East Indies or their peoples or languages or cultures
From this reading Fred Waller knew all the Valley of the North Platte as well as he did the trails around Sanders and Red buttes, and if he could succeed in eluding the Indian war parties, he would have no difficulty in fording the river, or swimming if necessary; and, with the start he must have had, his light weight, and powerful horse, it would be next to impossible to catch him, even if they could follow his trail.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Fred Waller knew all the Valley of the North Platte as well as he did the trails around Sanders and Red buttes, and if he could succeed in eluding the Indian war parties, he would have no difficulty in fording the river, or swimming if necessary; and, with the start he must have had, his light weight, and powerful horse, it would be next to impossible to catch him, even if they could follow his trail.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading Fred Waller knew all the Valley of the North Platte as well as he did the trails around Sanders and Red buttes, and if he could succeed in eluding the Indian war parties, he would have no difficulty in fording the river, or swimming if necessary; and, with the start he must have had, his light weight, and powerful horse, it would be next to impossible to catch him, even if they could follow his trail.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading Fred Waller knew all the Valley of the North Platte as well as he did the trails around Sanders and Red buttes, and if he could succeed in eluding the Indian war parties, he would have no difficulty in fording the river, or swimming if necessary; and, with the start he must have had, his light weight, and powerful horse, it would be next to impossible to catch him, even if they could follow his trail.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading The more Mr. Blunt thought of the matter the more worried and perplexed he became.
the force of workers available
From this reading Anywhere else he might have sent a sergeant with a couple of men in pursuit, but here it would be exposing them to almost certain death.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Anywhere else he might have sent a sergeant with a couple of men in pursuit, but here it would be exposing them to almost certain death.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading The more Mr. Blunt thought of the matter the more worried and perplexed he became.
a form of address for a man
From this reading The more Mr. Blunt thought of the matter the more worried and perplexed he became.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading Fred Waller knew all the Valley of the North Platte as well as he did the trails around Sanders and Red buttes, and if he could succeed in eluding the Indian war parties, he would have no difficulty in fording the river, or swimming if necessary; and, with the start he must have had, his light weight, and powerful horse, it would be next to impossible to catch him, even if they could follow his trail.
absolutely essential
From this reading Fred Waller knew all the Valley of the North Platte as well as he did the trails around Sanders and Red buttes, and if he could succeed in eluding the Indian war parties, he would have no difficulty in fording the river, or swimming if necessary; and, with the start he must have had, his light weight, and powerful horse, it would be next to impossible to catch him, even if they could follow his trail.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading Fred Waller knew all the Valley of the North Platte as well as he did the trails around Sanders and Red buttes, and if he could succeed in eluding the Indian war parties, he would have no difficulty in fording the river, or swimming if necessary; and, with the start he must have had, his light weight, and powerful horse, it would be next to impossible to catch him, even if they could follow his trail.
Niobraranoun
a tributary of the Missouri River
From this reading Besides, were they not ordered to remain at the Niobrara until Charlton's return?
not any; not one
From this reading Fred Waller knew all the Valley of the North Platte as well as he did the trails around Sanders and Red buttes, and if he could succeed in eluding the Indian war parties, he would have no difficulty in fording the river, or swimming if necessary; and, with the start he must have had, his light weight, and powerful horse, it would be next to impossible to catch him, even if they could follow his trail.
the region of the United States lying to the north of the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading Fred Waller knew all the Valley of the North Platte as well as he did the trails around Sanders and Red buttes, and if he could succeed in eluding the Indian war parties, he would have no difficulty in fording the river, or swimming if necessary; and, with the start he must have had, his light weight, and powerful horse, it would be next to impossible to catch him, even if they could follow his trail.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Besides, were they not ordered to remain at the Niobrara until Charlton's return?
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Fred Waller knew all the Valley of the North Platte as well as he did the trails around Sanders and Red buttes, and if he could succeed in eluding the Indian war parties, he would have no difficulty in fording the river, or swimming if necessary; and, with the start he must have had, his light weight, and powerful horse, it would be next to impossible to catch him, even if they could follow his trail.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Fred Waller knew all the Valley of the North Platte as well as he did the trails around Sanders and Red buttes, and if he could succeed in eluding the Indian war parties, he would have no difficulty in fording the river, or swimming if necessary; and, with the start he must have had, his light weight, and powerful horse, it would be next to impossible to catch him, even if they could follow his trail.
having a systematic arrangement; especially having elements succeeding in order according to rule
From this reading Besides, were they not ordered to remain at the Niobrara until Charlton's return?
plural of “party” — an organization to gain political power
From this reading Fred Waller knew all the Valley of the North Platte as well as he did the trails around Sanders and Red buttes, and if he could succeed in eluding the Indian war parties, he would have no difficulty in fording the river, or swimming if necessary; and, with the start he must have had, his light weight, and powerful horse, it would be next to impossible to catch him, even if they could follow his trail.
perplexedadjectiveUS /pərˈplekst/
full of difficulty or confusion or bewilderment
From this reading The more Mr. Blunt thought of the matter the more worried and perplexed he became.
PlattenounUS /plæt/
a river in Nebraska that flows eastward to become a tributary of the Missouri River
From this reading Fred Waller knew all the Valley of the North Platte as well as he did the trails around Sanders and Red buttes, and if he could succeed in eluding the Indian war parties, he would have no difficulty in fording the river, or swimming if necessary; and, with the start he must have had, his light weight, and powerful horse, it would be next to impossible to catch him, even if they could follow his trail.
having great power or force or potency or effect
From this reading Fred Waller knew all the Valley of the North Platte as well as he did the trails around Sanders and Red buttes, and if he could succeed in eluding the Indian war parties, he would have no difficulty in fording the river, or swimming if necessary; and, with the start he must have had, his light weight, and powerful horse, it would be next to impossible to catch him, even if they could follow his trail.
the act of pursuing in an effort to overtake or capture
From this reading Anywhere else he might have sent a sergeant with a couple of men in pursuit, but here it would be exposing them to almost certain death.
red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
From this reading Fred Waller knew all the Valley of the North Platte as well as he did the trails around Sanders and Red buttes, and if he could succeed in eluding the Indian war parties, he would have no difficulty in fording the river, or swimming if necessary; and, with the start he must have had, his light weight, and powerful horse, it would be next to impossible to catch him, even if they could follow his trail.
stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading Besides, were they not ordered to remain at the Niobrara until Charlton's return?
go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading Besides, were they not ordered to remain at the Niobrara until Charlton's return?
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading Fred Waller knew all the Valley of the North Platte as well as he did the trails around Sanders and Red buttes, and if he could succeed in eluding the Indian war parties, he would have no difficulty in fording the river, or swimming if necessary; and, with the start he must have had, his light weight, and powerful horse, it would be next to impossible to catch him, even if they could follow his trail.
SandersnounUS /ˈsændərz/
plural of “sander” — a power tool used for sanding wood; an endless loop of sandpaper is moved at high speed by an electric motor
From this reading Fred Waller knew all the Valley of the North Platte as well as he did the trails around Sanders and Red buttes, and if he could succeed in eluding the Indian war parties, he would have no difficulty in fording the river, or swimming if necessary; and, with the start he must have had, his light weight, and powerful horse, it would be next to impossible to catch him, even if they could follow his trail.
100 senti equal 1 kroon in Estonia
From this reading Anywhere else he might have sent a sergeant with a couple of men in pursuit, but here it would be exposing them to almost certain death.
any of several noncommissioned officer ranks in the Army or Air Force or Marines ranking above a corporal
From this reading Anywhere else he might have sent a sergeant with a couple of men in pursuit, but here it would be exposing them to almost certain death.
take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Fred Waller knew all the Valley of the North Platte as well as he did the trails around Sanders and Red buttes, and if he could succeed in eluding the Indian war parties, he would have no difficulty in fording the river, or swimming if necessary; and, with the start he must have had, his light weight, and powerful horse, it would be next to impossible to catch him, even if they could follow his trail.
attain success or reach a desired goal
From this reading Fred Waller knew all the Valley of the North Platte as well as he did the trails around Sanders and Red buttes, and if he could succeed in eluding the Indian war parties, he would have no difficulty in fording the river, or swimming if necessary; and, with the start he must have had, his light weight, and powerful horse, it would be next to impossible to catch him, even if they could follow his trail.
swimmingnounUS /ˈswɪmɪŋ/
the act of swimming
From this reading Fred Waller knew all the Valley of the North Platte as well as he did the trails around Sanders and Red buttes, and if he could succeed in eluding the Indian war parties, he would have no difficulty in fording the river, or swimming if necessary; and, with the start he must have had, his light weight, and powerful horse, it would be next to impossible to catch him, even if they could follow his trail.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading TRAILING THE TRAITOR.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Anywhere else he might have sent a sergeant with a couple of men in pursuit, but here it would be exposing them to almost certain death.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Fred Waller knew all the Valley of the North Platte as well as he did the trails around Sanders and Red buttes, and if he could succeed in eluding the Indian war parties, he would have no difficulty in fording the river, or swimming if necessary; and, with the start he must have had, his light weight, and powerful horse, it would be next to impossible to catch him, even if they could follow his trail.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading The more Mr. Blunt thought of the matter the more worried and perplexed he became.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Fred Waller knew all the Valley of the North Platte as well as he did the trails around Sanders and Red buttes, and if he could succeed in eluding the Indian war parties, he would have no difficulty in fording the river, or swimming if necessary; and, with the start he must have had, his light weight, and powerful horse, it would be next to impossible to catch him, even if they could follow his trail.
a track or mark left by something that has passed
From this reading Fred Waller knew all the Valley of the North Platte as well as he did the trails around Sanders and Red buttes, and if he could succeed in eluding the Indian war parties, he would have no difficulty in fording the river, or swimming if necessary; and, with the start he must have had, his light weight, and powerful horse, it would be next to impossible to catch him, even if they could follow his trail.
TRAILINGnounUS /ˈtreɪlɪŋ/
the pursuit (of a person or animal) by following tracks or marks they left behind
From this reading TRAILING THE TRAITOR.
trailsnounUS /treɪlz/
plural of “trail” — a track or mark left by something that has passed
From this reading Fred Waller knew all the Valley of the North Platte as well as he did the trails around Sanders and Red buttes, and if he could succeed in eluding the Indian war parties, he would have no difficulty in fording the river, or swimming if necessary; and, with the start he must have had, his light weight, and powerful horse, it would be next to impossible to catch him, even if they could follow his trail.
TRAITORnounUS /ˈtreɪtər/
someone who betrays his country by committing treason
From this reading TRAILING THE TRAITOR.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading Besides, were they not ordered to remain at the Niobrara until Charlton's return?
a long depression in the surface of the land that usually contains a river
From this reading Fred Waller knew all the Valley of the North Platte as well as he did the trails around Sanders and Red buttes, and if he could succeed in eluding the Indian war parties, he would have no difficulty in fording the river, or swimming if necessary; and, with the start he must have had, his light weight, and powerful horse, it would be next to impossible to catch him, even if they could follow his trail.
WallernounUS /ˈwɔːlər/
United States jazz musician (1904-1943)
From this reading Fred Waller knew all the Valley of the North Platte as well as he did the trails around Sanders and Red buttes, and if he could succeed in eluding the Indian war parties, he would have no difficulty in fording the river, or swimming if necessary; and, with the start he must have had, his light weight, and powerful horse, it would be next to impossible to catch him, even if they could follow his trail.
the waging of armed conflict against an enemy
From this reading Fred Waller knew all the Valley of the North Platte as well as he did the trails around Sanders and Red buttes, and if he could succeed in eluding the Indian war parties, he would have no difficulty in fording the river, or swimming if necessary; and, with the start he must have had, his light weight, and powerful horse, it would be next to impossible to catch him, even if they could follow his trail.
the vertical force exerted by a mass as a result of gravity
From this reading Fred Waller knew all the Valley of the North Platte as well as he did the trails around Sanders and Red buttes, and if he could succeed in eluding the Indian war parties, he would have no difficulty in fording the river, or swimming if necessary; and, with the start he must have had, his light weight, and powerful horse, it would be next to impossible to catch him, even if they could follow his trail.
(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 Fred Waller knew all the Valley of the North Platte as well as he did the trails around Sanders and Red buttes, and if he could succeed in eluding the Indian war parties, he would have no difficulty in fording the river, or swimming if necessary; and, with the start he must have had, his light weight, and powerful horse, it would be next to impossible to catch him, even if they could follow his trail.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Besides, were they not ordered to remain at the Niobrara until Charlton's return?
in the company of; together with
From this reading Fred Waller knew all the Valley of the North Platte as well as he did the trails around Sanders and Red buttes, and if he could succeed in eluding the Indian war parties, he would have no difficulty in fording the river, or swimming if necessary; and, with the start he must have had, his light weight, and powerful horse, it would be next to impossible to catch him, even if they could follow his trail.
worriedadjectiveUS /ˈwɜːrid/
afflicted with or marked by anxious uneasiness or trouble or grief
From this reading The more Mr. Blunt thought of the matter the more worried and perplexed he became.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Fred Waller knew all the Valley of the North Platte as well as he did the trails around Sanders and Red buttes, and if he could succeed in eluding the Indian war parties, he would have no difficulty in fording the river, or swimming if necessary; and, with the start he must have had, his light weight, and powerful horse, it would be next to impossible to catch him, even if they could follow his trail.
