Chapter II

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

From this reading Along a trail which wound itself in many tortuous twists across forested heights and dipped down to lose itself at intervals in the creek bed of Little Slippery, a mounted traveler rode at a snail-like pace.

from one side of something to the other

From this reading Along a trail which wound itself in many tortuous twists across forested heights and dipped down to lose itself at intervals in the creek bed of Little Slippery, a mounted traveler rode at a snail-like pace.

the part of the day between noon and evening

From this reading The afternoon was half spent and the sun, making its way toward the purpled ridges of the west, was already casting long shadows athwart the valleys.

(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but

From this reading The rider, a man weather-rusted to a drab monotone, slouched in his saddle with an apathetic droop which was almost stupor, permitting his reins to flap loosely.

following the length of something from one end toward the other

From this reading Along a trail which wound itself in many tortuous twists across forested heights and dipped down to lose itself at intervals in the creek bed of Little Slippery, a mounted traveler rode at a snail-like pace.

prior to a specified or implied time

From this reading The afternoon was half spent and the sun, making its way toward the purpled ridges of the west, was already casting long shadows athwart the valleys.

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

From this reading The rider, a man weather-rusted to a drab monotone, slouched in his saddle with an apathetic droop which was almost stupor, permitting his reins to flap loosely.

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

From this reading The afternoon was half spent and the sun, making its way toward the purpled ridges of the west, was already casting long shadows athwart the valleys.

showing little or no emotion or animation

From this reading The rider, a man weather-rusted to a drab monotone, slouched in his saddle with an apathetic droop which was almost stupor, permitting his reins to flap loosely.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Along a trail which wound itself in many tortuous twists across forested heights and dipped down to lose itself at intervals in the creek bed of Little Slippery, a mounted traveler rode at a snail-like pace.

at right angles to the center line of a ship

From this reading The afternoon was half spent and the sun, making its way toward the purpled ridges of the west, was already casting long shadows athwart the valleys.

the hair growing on the lower part of a man's face

From this reading His face, under an unclean bristle of beard, wore a sleepy sneer and his eyes were bloodshot from white whiskey.

a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep

From this reading Along a trail which wound itself in many tortuous twists across forested heights and dipped down to lose itself at intervals in the creek bed of Little Slippery, a mounted traveler rode at a snail-like pace.

(of an eye) reddened as a result of locally congested blood vessels; inflamed

From this reading His face, under an unclean bristle of beard, wore a sleepy sneer and his eyes were bloodshot from white whiskey.

plural of “brink” — a region marking a boundary

From this reading The horse was a lean brute through whose rusty coat the ribs showed in under-nourished prominence, but it went sure-footedly up and down broken stairways of slimy ledges where tiny waterfalls licked at its fetlocks and along the brinks of chasms where the sand shelved with treacherous looseness.

be in a state of movement or action

From this reading His face, under an unclean bristle of beard, wore a sleepy sneer and his eyes were bloodshot from white whiskey.

physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split

From this reading The horse was a lean brute through whose rusty coat the ribs showed in under-nourished prominence, but it went sure-footedly up and down broken stairways of slimy ledges where tiny waterfalls licked at its fetlocks and along the brinks of chasms where the sand shelved with treacherous looseness.

a cruelly rapacious person

From this reading The horse was a lean brute through whose rusty coat the ribs showed in under-nourished prominence, but it went sure-footedly up and down broken stairways of slimy ledges where tiny waterfalls licked at its fetlocks and along the brinks of chasms where the sand shelved with treacherous looseness.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading The horse was a lean brute through whose rusty coat the ribs showed in under-nourished prominence, but it went sure-footedly up and down broken stairways of slimy ledges where tiny waterfalls licked at its fetlocks and along the brinks of chasms where the sand shelved with treacherous looseness.

object formed by a mold

From this reading The afternoon was half spent and the sun, making its way toward the purpled ridges of the west, was already casting long shadows athwart the valleys.

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

From this reading The horse was a lean brute through whose rusty coat the ribs showed in under-nourished prominence, but it went sure-footedly up and down broken stairways of slimy ledges where tiny waterfalls licked at its fetlocks and along the brinks of chasms where the sand shelved with treacherous looseness.

an outer garment that has sleeves and covers the body from shoulder down; worn outdoors

From this reading The horse was a lean brute through whose rusty coat the ribs showed in under-nourished prominence, but it went sure-footedly up and down broken stairways of slimy ledges where tiny waterfalls licked at its fetlocks and along the brinks of chasms where the sand shelved with treacherous looseness.

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

From this reading Along a trail which wound itself in many tortuous twists across forested heights and dipped down to lose itself at intervals in the creek bed of Little Slippery, a mounted traveler rode at a snail-like pace.

having abnormal sagging of the spine (especially in horses)

From this reading Along a trail which wound itself in many tortuous twists across forested heights and dipped down to lose itself at intervals in the creek bed of Little Slippery, a mounted traveler rode at a snail-like pace.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading Along a trail which wound itself in many tortuous twists across forested heights and dipped down to lose itself at intervals in the creek bed of Little Slippery, a mounted traveler rode at a snail-like pace.

lacking in liveliness or charm or surprise

From this reading The rider, a man weather-rusted to a drab monotone, slouched in his saddle with an apathetic droop which was almost stupor, permitting his reins to flap loosely.

droop, sink, or settle from or as if from pressure or loss of tautness

From this reading The rider, a man weather-rusted to a drab monotone, slouched in his saddle with an apathetic droop which was almost stupor, permitting his reins to flap loosely.

opinion or judgment

From this reading His face, under an unclean bristle of beard, wore a sleepy sneer and his eyes were bloodshot from white whiskey.

the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear

From this reading His face, under an unclean bristle of beard, wore a sleepy sneer and his eyes were bloodshot from white whiskey.

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

From this reading The horse was a lean brute through whose rusty coat the ribs showed in under-nourished prominence, but it went sure-footedly up and down broken stairways of slimy ledges where tiny waterfalls licked at its fetlocks and along the brinks of chasms where the sand shelved with treacherous looseness.

move in a wavy pattern or with a rising and falling motion

From this reading The rider, a man weather-rusted to a drab monotone, slouched in his saddle with an apathetic droop which was almost stupor, permitting his reins to flap loosely.

covered with forest

From this reading Along a trail which wound itself in many tortuous twists across forested heights and dipped down to lose itself at intervals in the creek bed of Little Slippery, a mounted traveler rode at a snail-like pace.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading His face, under an unclean bristle of beard, wore a sleepy sneer and his eyes were bloodshot from white whiskey.

consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity

From this reading The afternoon was half spent and the sun, making its way toward the purpled ridges of the west, was already casting long shadows athwart the valleys.

a high place

From this reading Along a trail which wound itself in many tortuous twists across forested heights and dipped down to lose itself at intervals in the creek bed of Little Slippery, a mounted traveler rode at a snail-like pace.

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading The rider, a man weather-rusted to a drab monotone, slouched in his saddle with an apathetic droop which was almost stupor, permitting his reins to flap loosely.

solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times

From this reading The horse was a lean brute through whose rusty coat the ribs showed in under-nourished prominence, but it went sure-footedly up and down broken stairways of slimy ledges where tiny waterfalls licked at its fetlocks and along the brinks of chasms where the sand shelved with treacherous looseness.

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

From this reading Along a trail which wound itself in many tortuous twists across forested heights and dipped down to lose itself at intervals in the creek bed of Little Slippery, a mounted traveler rode at a snail-like pace.

plural of “interval” — a definite length of time marked off by two instants

From this reading Along a trail which wound itself in many tortuous twists across forested heights and dipped down to lose itself at intervals in the creek bed of Little Slippery, a mounted traveler rode at a snail-like pace.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading The horse was a lean brute through whose rusty coat the ribs showed in under-nourished prominence, but it went sure-footedly up and down broken stairways of slimy ledges where tiny waterfalls licked at its fetlocks and along the brinks of chasms where the sand shelved with treacherous looseness.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading The afternoon was half spent and the sun, making its way toward the purpled ridges of the west, was already casting long shadows athwart the valleys.

used when the thing doing the action is also its object

From this reading Along a trail which wound itself in many tortuous twists across forested heights and dipped down to lose itself at intervals in the creek bed of Little Slippery, a mounted traveler rode at a snail-like pace.

to incline or bend from a vertical position

From this reading The horse was a lean brute through whose rusty coat the ribs showed in under-nourished prominence, but it went sure-footedly up and down broken stairways of slimy ledges where tiny waterfalls licked at its fetlocks and along the brinks of chasms where the sand shelved with treacherous looseness.

plural of “ledge” — a projecting ridge on a mountain or submerged under water

From this reading The horse was a lean brute through whose rusty coat the ribs showed in under-nourished prominence, but it went sure-footedly up and down broken stairways of slimy ledges where tiny waterfalls licked at its fetlocks and along the brinks of chasms where the sand shelved with treacherous looseness.

having been got the better of

From this reading The horse was a lean brute through whose rusty coat the ribs showed in under-nourished prominence, but it went sure-footedly up and down broken stairways of slimy ledges where tiny waterfalls licked at its fetlocks and along the brinks of chasms where the sand shelved with treacherous looseness.

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

From this reading Along a trail which wound itself in many tortuous twists across forested heights and dipped down to lose itself at intervals in the creek bed of Little Slippery, a mounted traveler rode at a snail-like pace.

primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified

From this reading The afternoon was half spent and the sun, making its way toward the purpled ridges of the west, was already casting long shadows athwart the valleys.

in a relaxed manner; not rigid

From this reading The rider, a man weather-rusted to a drab monotone, slouched in his saddle with an apathetic droop which was almost stupor, permitting his reins to flap loosely.

frequent and watery bowel movements; can be a symptom of infection or food poisoning or colitis or a gastrointestinal tumor

From this reading The horse was a lean brute through whose rusty coat the ribs showed in under-nourished prominence, but it went sure-footedly up and down broken stairways of slimy ledges where tiny waterfalls licked at its fetlocks and along the brinks of chasms where the sand shelved with treacherous looseness.

fail to keep or to maintain; cease to have, either physically or in an abstract sense

From this reading Along a trail which wound itself in many tortuous twists across forested heights and dipped down to lose itself at intervals in the creek bed of Little Slippery, a mounted traveler rode at a snail-like pace.

the act that results in something coming to be

From this reading The afternoon was half spent and the sun, making its way toward the purpled ridges of the west, was already casting long shadows athwart the valleys.

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

From this reading The rider, a man weather-rusted to a drab monotone, slouched in his saddle with an apathetic droop which was almost stupor, permitting his reins to flap loosely.

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number

From this reading Along a trail which wound itself in many tortuous twists across forested heights and dipped down to lose itself at intervals in the creek bed of Little Slippery, a mounted traveler rode at a snail-like pace.

an unchanging intonation

From this reading The rider, a man weather-rusted to a drab monotone, slouched in his saddle with an apathetic droop which was almost stupor, permitting his reins to flap loosely.

assembled for use; especially by being attached to a support

From this reading Along a trail which wound itself in many tortuous twists across forested heights and dipped down to lose itself at intervals in the creek bed of Little Slippery, a mounted traveler rode at a snail-like pace.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The afternoon was half spent and the sun, making its way toward the purpled ridges of the west, was already casting long shadows athwart the valleys.

the rate of moving (especially walking or running)

From this reading Along a trail which wound itself in many tortuous twists across forested heights and dipped down to lose itself at intervals in the creek bed of Little Slippery, a mounted traveler rode at a snail-like pace.

inflected form of “permit” — consent to, give permission

From this reading The rider, a man weather-rusted to a drab monotone, slouched in his saddle with an apathetic droop which was almost stupor, permitting his reins to flap loosely.

the state of being prominent: widely known or eminent

From this reading The horse was a lean brute through whose rusty coat the ribs showed in under-nourished prominence, but it went sure-footedly up and down broken stairways of slimy ledges where tiny waterfalls licked at its fetlocks and along the brinks of chasms where the sand shelved with treacherous looseness.

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

From this reading The afternoon was half spent and the sun, making its way toward the purpled ridges of the west, was already casting long shadows athwart the valleys.

plural of “rein” — one of a pair of long straps (usually connected to the bit or the headpiece) used to control a horse

From this reading The rider, a man weather-rusted to a drab monotone, slouched in his saddle with an apathetic droop which was almost stupor, permitting his reins to flap loosely.

plural of “rib” — support resembling the rib of an animal

From this reading The horse was a lean brute through whose rusty coat the ribs showed in under-nourished prominence, but it went sure-footedly up and down broken stairways of slimy ledges where tiny waterfalls licked at its fetlocks and along the brinks of chasms where the sand shelved with treacherous looseness.

a traveler who actively rides an animal (as a horse or camel)

From this reading The rider, a man weather-rusted to a drab monotone, slouched in his saddle with an apathetic droop which was almost stupor, permitting his reins to flap loosely.

plural of “ridge” — a long narrow natural elevation or striation

From this reading The afternoon was half spent and the sun, making its way toward the purpled ridges of the west, was already casting long shadows athwart the valleys.

inflected form of “ride” — sit and travel on the back of animal, usually while controlling its motions

From this reading Along a trail which wound itself in many tortuous twists across forested heights and dipped down to lose itself at intervals in the creek bed of Little Slippery, a mounted traveler rode at a snail-like pace.

covered with or consisting of rust

From this reading The horse was a lean brute through whose rusty coat the ribs showed in under-nourished prominence, but it went sure-footedly up and down broken stairways of slimy ledges where tiny waterfalls licked at its fetlocks and along the brinks of chasms where the sand shelved with treacherous looseness.

put a saddle on

From this reading The rider, a man weather-rusted to a drab monotone, slouched in his saddle with an apathetic droop which was almost stupor, permitting his reins to flap loosely.

a loose material consisting of grains of rock or coral

From this reading The horse was a lean brute through whose rusty coat the ribs showed in under-nourished prominence, but it went sure-footedly up and down broken stairways of slimy ledges where tiny waterfalls licked at its fetlocks and along the brinks of chasms where the sand shelved with treacherous looseness.

plural of “shadow” — shade within clear boundaries

From this reading The afternoon was half spent and the sun, making its way toward the purpled ridges of the west, was already casting long shadows athwart the valleys.

past form of “shelve” — hold back to a later time

From this reading The horse was a lean brute through whose rusty coat the ribs showed in under-nourished prominence, but it went sure-footedly up and down broken stairways of slimy ledges where tiny waterfalls licked at its fetlocks and along the brinks of chasms where the sand shelved with treacherous looseness.

past form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience

From this reading The horse was a lean brute through whose rusty coat the ribs showed in under-nourished prominence, but it went sure-footedly up and down broken stairways of slimy ledges where tiny waterfalls licked at its fetlocks and along the brinks of chasms where the sand shelved with treacherous looseness.

ready to fall asleep

From this reading His face, under an unclean bristle of beard, wore a sleepy sneer and his eyes were bloodshot from white whiskey.

covered with or resembling slime

From this reading The horse was a lean brute through whose rusty coat the ribs showed in under-nourished prominence, but it went sure-footedly up and down broken stairways of slimy ledges where tiny waterfalls licked at its fetlocks and along the brinks of chasms where the sand shelved with treacherous looseness.

causing or tending to cause things to slip or slide

From this reading Along a trail which wound itself in many tortuous twists across forested heights and dipped down to lose itself at intervals in the creek bed of Little Slippery, a mounted traveler rode at a snail-like pace.

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

From this reading The rider, a man weather-rusted to a drab monotone, slouched in his saddle with an apathetic droop which was almost stupor, permitting his reins to flap loosely.

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

From this reading Along a trail which wound itself in many tortuous twists across forested heights and dipped down to lose itself at intervals in the creek bed of Little Slippery, a mounted traveler rode at a snail-like pace.

express through a scornful smile

From this reading His face, under an unclean bristle of beard, wore a sleepy sneer and his eyes were bloodshot from white whiskey.

depleted of energy, force, or strength

From this reading The afternoon was half spent and the sun, making its way toward the purpled ridges of the west, was already casting long shadows athwart the valleys.

plural of “stairway” — a way of access (upward and downward) consisting of a set of steps

From this reading The horse was a lean brute through whose rusty coat the ribs showed in under-nourished prominence, but it went sure-footedly up and down broken stairways of slimy ledges where tiny waterfalls licked at its fetlocks and along the brinks of chasms where the sand shelved with treacherous looseness.

the feeling of distress and disbelief that you have when something bad happens accidentally

From this reading The rider, a man weather-rusted to a drab monotone, slouched in his saddle with an apathetic droop which was almost stupor, permitting his reins to flap loosely.

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

From this reading The afternoon was half spent and the sun, making its way toward the purpled ridges of the west, was already casting long shadows athwart the valleys.

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

From this reading The horse was a lean brute through whose rusty coat the ribs showed in under-nourished prominence, but it went sure-footedly up and down broken stairways of slimy ledges where tiny waterfalls licked at its fetlocks and along the brinks of chasms where the sand shelved with treacherous looseness.

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

From this reading The afternoon was half spent and the sun, making its way toward the purpled ridges of the west, was already casting long shadows athwart the valleys.

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading The horse was a lean brute through whose rusty coat the ribs showed in under-nourished prominence, but it went sure-footedly up and down broken stairways of slimy ledges where tiny waterfalls licked at its fetlocks and along the brinks of chasms where the sand shelved with treacherous looseness.

very small

From this reading The horse was a lean brute through whose rusty coat the ribs showed in under-nourished prominence, but it went sure-footedly up and down broken stairways of slimy ledges where tiny waterfalls licked at its fetlocks and along the brinks of chasms where the sand shelved with treacherous looseness.

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

From this reading Along a trail which wound itself in many tortuous twists across forested heights and dipped down to lose itself at intervals in the creek bed of Little Slippery, a mounted traveler rode at a snail-like pace.

highly complex or intricate and occasionally devious

From this reading Along a trail which wound itself in many tortuous twists across forested heights and dipped down to lose itself at intervals in the creek bed of Little Slippery, a mounted traveler rode at a snail-like pace.

in the direction of

From this reading The afternoon was half spent and the sun, making its way toward the purpled ridges of the west, was already casting long shadows athwart the valleys.

a track or mark left by something that has passed

From this reading Along a trail which wound itself in many tortuous twists across forested heights and dipped down to lose itself at intervals in the creek bed of Little Slippery, a mounted traveler rode at a snail-like pace.

a person who changes location

From this reading Along a trail which wound itself in many tortuous twists across forested heights and dipped down to lose itself at intervals in the creek bed of Little Slippery, a mounted traveler rode at a snail-like pace.

dangerously unstable and unpredictable

From this reading The horse was a lean brute through whose rusty coat the ribs showed in under-nourished prominence, but it went sure-footedly up and down broken stairways of slimy ledges where tiny waterfalls licked at its fetlocks and along the brinks of chasms where the sand shelved with treacherous looseness.

plural of “twist” — an unforeseen development

From this reading Along a trail which wound itself in many tortuous twists across forested heights and dipped down to lose itself at intervals in the creek bed of Little Slippery, a mounted traveler rode at a snail-like pace.

soiled or likely to soil with dirt or grime

From this reading His face, under an unclean bristle of beard, wore a sleepy sneer and his eyes were bloodshot from white whiskey.

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading His face, under an unclean bristle of beard, wore a sleepy sneer and his eyes were bloodshot from white whiskey.

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

From this reading The horse was a lean brute through whose rusty coat the ribs showed in under-nourished prominence, but it went sure-footedly up and down broken stairways of slimy ledges where tiny waterfalls licked at its fetlocks and along the brinks of chasms where the sand shelved with treacherous looseness.

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading The horse was a lean brute through whose rusty coat the ribs showed in under-nourished prominence, but it went sure-footedly up and down broken stairways of slimy ledges where tiny waterfalls licked at its fetlocks and along the brinks of chasms where the sand shelved with treacherous looseness.

plural of “valley” — a long depression in the surface of the land that usually contains a river

From this reading The afternoon was half spent and the sun, making its way toward the purpled ridges of the west, was already casting long shadows athwart the valleys.

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

From this reading The afternoon was half spent and the sun, making its way toward the purpled ridges of the west, was already casting long shadows athwart the valleys.

plural of “waterfall” — a steep descent of the water of a river

From this reading The horse was a lean brute through whose rusty coat the ribs showed in under-nourished prominence, but it went sure-footedly up and down broken stairways of slimy ledges where tiny waterfalls licked at its fetlocks and along the brinks of chasms where the sand shelved with treacherous looseness.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading The afternoon was half spent and the sun, making its way toward the purpled ridges of the west, was already casting long shadows athwart the valleys.

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

From this reading The rider, a man weather-rusted to a drab monotone, slouched in his saddle with an apathetic droop which was almost stupor, permitting his reins to flap loosely.

inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading The horse was a lean brute through whose rusty coat the ribs showed in under-nourished prominence, but it went sure-footedly up and down broken stairways of slimy ledges where tiny waterfalls licked at its fetlocks and along the brinks of chasms where the sand shelved with treacherous looseness.

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

From this reading His face, under an unclean bristle of beard, wore a sleepy sneer and his eyes were bloodshot from white whiskey.

the countries of (originally) Europe and (now including) North America and South America

From this reading The afternoon was half spent and the sun, making its way toward the purpled ridges of the west, was already casting long shadows athwart the valleys.

in or at the place that

From this reading The horse was a lean brute through whose rusty coat the ribs showed in under-nourished prominence, but it went sure-footedly up and down broken stairways of slimy ledges where tiny waterfalls licked at its fetlocks and along the brinks of chasms where the sand shelved with treacherous looseness.

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

From this reading Along a trail which wound itself in many tortuous twists across forested heights and dipped down to lose itself at intervals in the creek bed of Little Slippery, a mounted traveler rode at a snail-like pace.

a liquor made from fermented mash of grain

From this reading His face, under an unclean bristle of beard, wore a sleepy sneer and his eyes were bloodshot from white whiskey.

a Caucasian

From this reading His face, under an unclean bristle of beard, wore a sleepy sneer and his eyes were bloodshot from white whiskey.

belonging to which person

From this reading The horse was a lean brute through whose rusty coat the ribs showed in under-nourished prominence, but it went sure-footedly up and down broken stairways of slimy ledges where tiny waterfalls licked at its fetlocks and along the brinks of chasms where the sand shelved with treacherous looseness.

in the company of; together with

From this reading The horse was a lean brute through whose rusty coat the ribs showed in under-nourished prominence, but it went sure-footedly up and down broken stairways of slimy ledges where tiny waterfalls licked at its fetlocks and along the brinks of chasms where the sand shelved with treacherous looseness.

inflected form of “wear” — be dressed in

From this reading His face, under an unclean bristle of beard, wore a sleepy sneer and his eyes were bloodshot from white whiskey.

an injury to living tissue (especially an injury involving a cut or break in the skin)

From this reading Along a trail which wound itself in many tortuous twists across forested heights and dipped down to lose itself at intervals in the creek bed of Little Slippery, a mounted traveler rode at a snail-like pace.