57 words to know before reading The Thirty-Nine Steps

1. Deeply loved or valued.
2. Protected or cared for affectionately.

To Thomas Arthur Nelson (Lothian and Border Horse) My Dear Tommy, You and I have long cherished an affection for that elemental type of tale which Americans call the “dime novel” and which we

1. To openly resist or refuse to obey authority.
2. To challenge someone to do something difficult.

call the “dime novel” and which we know as the “shocker”—the romance where the incidents defy the probabilities, and march just inside the borders of the possible. During an illness last

1. Opening the mouth wide due to tiredness or boredom.
2. A deep, involuntary inhalation often accompanied by stretching.

I, thirty-seven years old, sound in wind and limb, with enough money to have a good time, yawning my head off all day. I had just about settled to clear out and get back to the veld, for I was

1. A man or boy; informal term for a male friend.
2. The jaw or cheek of a person or animal.

I said. “That’s all I’ll promise.” I was getting worried by the antics of this nervous little chap. There was a tray of drinks on a table beside him, from which he filled himself a stiff

1. The capital city of Austria, known for its cultural heritage and historic landmarks.
2. A type of sausage, also called "Wiener," originating from Vienna.

my other clues in a fur-shop in the Galician quarter of Buda, in a Strangers’ Club in Vienna, and in a little bookshop off the Racknitzstrasse in Leipzig. I completed my evidence ten days

1. A person employed to carry luggage and other loads.
2. A dark brown beer brewed from malt.

I had no time to take a ticket, let alone that I had not settled upon my destination. A porter told me the platform, and as I entered it I saw the train already in motion. Two station

1. A long, continuous length of interlocked fibers, used in knitting or weaving.
2. A story or tale, often exaggerated or fanciful.

had wanted to get a location in my flat, and then cut my throat, he would have pitched a milder yarn. “Hand me your key,” I said, “and I’ll take a look at the corpse. Excuse my caution, but I’m

1. A surname of English origin.
2. A type of fish, also known as a sculpin.

of the American had gone out of his speech. “My hat! Mr. Scudder—” I stammered. “Not Mr. Scudder,” he corrected; “Captain Theophilus Digby, of the 40th Gurkhas, presently home on leave. I’ll

1. A small field or enclosure for horses or other livestock.
2. In motorsports, the area where race cars are kept and worked on before a race.

was not a great hand at valeting, but I knew I could count on his loyalty. “Stop that row, Paddock,” I said. “There’s a friend of mine, Captain—Captain” (I couldn’t remember the name) “dossing

1. Intelligence or sharp mental faculties.
2. Quick thinking or cleverness.

but I shuttered and bolted all the windows and put the chain on the door. By this time my wits were coming back to me, and I could think again. It took me about an hour to figure the thing

1. To prevent or stop something from happening.
2. A type of whisky made in Scotland.

entered upon my part. “The impidence o’ that gyaird!” said the lady bitterly. “He needit a Scotch tongue to pit him in his place. He was complainin’ o’ this wean no haein’ a ticket and her no

1. A breed of hardy, black, hornless cattle originating from Scotland.
2. A region in southwestern Scotland known for its cattle and rural landscape.

to be a Scot, and less in a line with what the police might know of my past. I fixed on Galloway as the best place to go. It was the nearest wild part of Scotland, so far as I could figure it

1. Movable covers for windows to control light or provide privacy.
2. Devices on cameras that open and close to expose film or sensor to light.

I went to bed and slept for two troubled hours. I got up at four and opened my bedroom shutters. The faint light of a fine summer morning was flooding the skies, and the sparrows had begun to

1. A strip of hair grown above the upper lip.
2. Facial hair between the nose and mouth, often styled.

gone out for an early ride. He was a young man about my own height, with an ill-nourished moustache, and he wore a white overall. On him I staked all my chances. I went into the darkened

1. A person who avoids work or is idle.
2. A type of slip-on shoe without laces or fastenings.

was nobody in the street. Then I caught sight of a policeman a hundred yards down, and a loafer shuffling past on the other side. Some impulse made me raise my eyes to the house opposite, and

1. A person who works on a ship or boat.
2. Someone skilled in navigating or operating vessels.

and her no fower till August twalmonth, and he was objectin’ to this gentleman spittin’.” The sailor morosely agreed, and I started my new life in an atmosphere of protest against authority. I

1. A person who owns or manages an inn or small hotel.
2. Someone responsible for lodging and hospitality services for travelers.

III The Adventure of the Literary Innkeeper I had a solemn time travelling north that day. It was fine May weather, with the hawthorn

1. A secret or disguised way of writing; a code.
2. A person or thing of no importance.

so easy. So I fastened on the printed words, for you can make a pretty good numerical cipher if you have a key word which gives you the sequence of the letters. I tried for hours, but none

1. Open, uncultivated land with poor soil, often covered with heather and peat.
2. A type of habitat characterized by wet, acidic conditions and low-growing vegetation.

from my bones, and I stepped out like a four-year-old. By-and-by I came to a swell of moorland which dipped to the vale of a little river, and a mile away in the heather I saw the smoke of a

1. A low-growing shrub with small pink or purple flowers, common in moorland.
2. A light purple or pinkish color resembling the heather plant.

waves of a tarn lapped on their grey granite beach half a mile away. I waited in the deep heather till I saw the smoke of an east-going train on the horizon. Then I approached the tiny

1. A small establishment providing lodging, food, and drink (often in a rural setting).
2. A tavern or pub.

smell of peat smoke and of some savoury roast floated to me from the house. “Is that place an inn?” I asked. “At your service,” he said politely. “I am the landlord, sir, and I hope you will stay

1. Relating to sexual or gender identities that are not heterosexual or cisgender.
2. Strange, odd, or unconventional.

market, and it suited the book of both classes to set Europe by the ears. He told me some queer things that explained a lot that had puzzled me—things that happened in the Balkan War, how one

1. A narrow valley, typically with a stream running through it.
2. A secluded or peaceful area, often surrounded by hills or woods.

that drummed on the table. I glanced out of the window and saw a big touring-car coming up the glen towards the inn. It drew up at the door, and there was the sound of people alighting. There

1. A fence or boundary formed by closely growing bushes or shrubs.
2. A means of protection or defense against financial loss.

would have been the deuce of a wreck. I did the only thing possible, and ran slap into the hedge on the right, trusting to find something soft beyond. But there I was mistaken. My car slithered

1. Wet, spongy ground with decaying vegetation (e.g., a marsh or swamp).
2. (Verb) To sink or become stuck in mud or wet ground.

peaceful sight in the world. Nevertheless I started to run. Crouching low in the runnels of the bog, I ran till the sweat blinded my eyes. The mood did not leave me till I had reached the rim of

1. A fastening made by tying a piece of string, rope, or similar material.
2. A tangled mass in hair, thread, etc.

was a glimpse of high heathery mountains, which I remembered from the map as the big knot of hill which I had chosen for my sanctuary. I was on the central boss of a huge upland country,

1. A small, simple house, typically in a rural or semi-rural area.
2. A vacation home, often in a scenic location.

By the way, you’ll find my godfather—his name’s Sir Walter Bullivant—down at his country cottage for Whitsuntide. It’s close to Artinswell on the Kenner. That’s done. Now, what’s the next

1. The act of gathering and moving livestock together.
2. Managing or controlling a group of animals or people.

I thought of the little white cottage as my home, I recalled the years I had spent herding on Leithen Water, I made my mind dwell lovingly on sleep in a box-bed and a bottle of cheap

1. A group of animals, especially hoofed mammals, living or moving together.
2. To gather, lead, or manage a group of animals.

made a more public departure if I had left with a bugler and a brass band. Happily the drunken herd provided a diversion. He and his dog, which was attached by a rope to his waist, suddenly

1. Small, soft baked bread rolls, often served with meals (UK).
2. Sweet, crisp baked goods similar to cookies (US).

to enjoy myself amazingly. As I went I breakfasted on the dusty remnants of the ginger biscuits. I knew very little about the country, and I hadn’t a notion what I was going to do. I trusted to

1. A long, narrow elevation of land.
2. The top edge of a roof where two slopes meet.

to feel careworn. Indeed I was in better spirits than I had been for months. Over a long ridge of moorland I took my road, skirting the side of a high hill which the herd had called Cairnsmore

1. An area of open, uncultivated land, often with poor drainage and covered with heather or grass.
2. To secure a boat or ship by attaching it to a fixed object with ropes or anchors.

high above the young waters of the brown river. From my vantage-ground I could scan the whole moor right away to the railway line and to the south of it where green fields took the place of

1. To load or burden something, especially a ship or vehicle.
2. To draw water or another liquid (archaic usage).

but I could move my limbs, and I staggered blindly forward away from the house. A small mill-lade ran in a wooden aqueduct at the other side of the yard, and into this I fell. The cool water

1. Gases or vapors, often harmful or unpleasant, released by burning or chemical reactions.
2. A state of anger or irritation (informal usage).

head and the sun glaring in my face. For a long time I lay motionless, for those horrible fumes seemed to have loosened my joints and dulled my brain. Sounds came to me from the house—men

1. A rough, woolen fabric, typically woven in a plain or twill pattern, used for clothing.
2. A type of clothing, especially suits or jackets, made from tweed fabric.

was the sound of people alighting. There seemed to be two of them, men in aquascutums and tweed caps. Ten minutes later the innkeeper slipped into the room, his eyes bright with excitement.

1. A sudden intense feeling of fear or alarm.
2. A person or thing that causes fear or shock.

neighbour for five miles. She was a decent old body, and a plucky one, for though she got a fright when she saw me, she had an axe handy, and would have used it on any evildoer. I told her that I

1. Washed or soaked in water or another liquid.
2. Covered or surrounded by something, like light or warmth.

I resolved not to puzzle my head but to take the gifts the gods had provided. I shaved and bathed luxuriously, and got into the dress clothes and clean crackling shirt, which fitted me not so

1. A pattern of colored stripes or bars crossing at right angles, typically seen in fabrics.
2. A type of cloth with such a pattern, often associated with Scottish tartans.

being—a cross between a farm-labourer and a vet—with a checked black-and-white plaid over his arm (for I did not dare to wear it south of the Border), descended at the little station

1. A day of religious observance and rest, typically Sunday for Christians and Saturday for Jews.
2. A period of rest or cessation from work.

Bible. At first he did not recognize me. “Whae are ye that comes stravaigin’ here on the Sabbath mornin’?” he asked. I had lost all count of the days. So the Sabbath was the reason for this

1. Converting coded or encrypted data into understandable form.
2. Interpreting symbols or signals to extract meaning.

to breakfast next morning, after eight hours of blessed dreamless sleep, to find Sir Walter decoding a telegram in the midst of muffins and marmalade. His fresh rosiness of yesterday seemed a

1. A message sent by telegraph and then delivered in written or printed form.
2. A popular messaging app known for its speed and security features.

next morning, after eight hours of blessed dreamless sleep, to find Sir Walter decoding a telegram in the midst of muffins and marmalade. His fresh rosiness of yesterday seemed a thought

1. Small, sweet, individual-sized baked goods, often similar to cupcakes but less sweet.
2. Savory versions may include ingredients like cheese or vegetables.

hours of blessed dreamless sleep, to find Sir Walter decoding a telegram in the midst of muffins and marmalade. His fresh rosiness of yesterday seemed a thought tarnished. “I had a busy hour on

1. A sweet preserve made from citrus fruits, especially oranges, with sugar and water.
2. A type of jam containing pieces of fruit peel.

dreamless sleep, to find Sir Walter decoding a telegram in the midst of muffins and marmalade. His fresh rosiness of yesterday seemed a thought tarnished. “I had a busy hour on the telephone

1. A pink or reddish color, like that of a rose.
2. A healthy, glowing complexion.

to find Sir Walter decoding a telegram in the midst of muffins and marmalade. His fresh rosiness of yesterday seemed a thought tarnished. “I had a busy hour on the telephone after you went to

1. Made less bright or shiny, often due to oxidation or dirt.
2. Damaged in reputation or honor; sullied.

in the midst of muffins and marmalade. His fresh rosiness of yesterday seemed a thought tarnished. “I had a busy hour on the telephone after you went to bed,” he said. “I got my Chief to speak to

1. The office or jurisdiction of an admiral.
2. The department of government in charge of naval affairs.

my Chief, and then comes to my house where four people will see him—Whittaker from the Admiralty, myself, Sir Arthur Drew, and General Winstanley. The First Lord is ill, and has gone to

1. A police officer of the lowest rank.
2. A peace officer with limited policing authority, often in small towns.

“Oh, damn it all,” I cried, “make the fellow shut up. I advise you to leave me alone, constable. Scotland Yard knows all about me, and you’ll get a proper wigging if you interfere with me.”

1. Barely; almost not at all.
2. Only just; by a very small margin.

blazing with hawthorn and yellow laburnum. The land was so deep in peace that I could scarcely believe that somewhere behind me were those who sought my life; ay, and that in a month’s time,

1. A small recessed section of a room or garden.
2. A sheltered space or niche in a wall.

the First Sea Lord, the man, they say, that made the new British Navy. He passed my alcove and was ushered into a room at the back of the hall. As the door opened I could hear the sound of

1. A female horse or other equine animal.
2. (Astronomy) A large, dark, flat area on the moon or Mars.

station, and to pass the time used to go fishing for big barbel in the river. A little Arab mare used to carry my luncheon basket—one of the salted dun breed you got at Timbuktu in the old

1. A heavy-duty waterproof cloth used for covering and protecting objects.
2. A sailor's waterproof hat or coat.

yards away. After a couple of hours I began to think of food. I collected my fish in a tarpaulin bag, and moved down the stream towards the mare, trolling my line. When I got up to her I flung

1. A place on the coast where ships can dock for shelter or loading/unloading.
2. To give refuge or shelter to someone or something.

think they would travel by a big boat from a regular harbour. So it must be some little harbour where the tide was important, or perhaps no harbour at all. But if it was a little port I

1. A major port town in southeastern England, known for its white cliffs.
2. The capital city of the U.S. state of Delaware.

and I, who was the cogwheel of the whole business, was out of it. Royer would be landing at Dover, Sir Walter would be making plans with the few people in England who were in the secret, and

1. A medium-sized sailboat used for racing or cruising.
2. A luxurious motor-driven boat used for pleasure trips.

the hotel porch, I perked up, for I saw the thing I had hoped for and had dreaded to miss. A yacht came up from the south and dropped anchor pretty well opposite the Ruff. She seemed about a

1. A decorative collar or frill of lace or fabric worn around the neck.
2. A fringe of feathers or hair around an animal's neck.

“We’re on the scent at last,” I cried excitedly. “How can I find out what is the tide at the Ruff?” “I can tell you that, sir,” said the coastguard man. “I once was lent a house there in this

1. A small house or cabin, often in a rural or natural setting.
2. A local branch of a society or organization.

in and planted with bushes, whence the staircases descended to the beach. I saw Trafalgar Lodge very plainly, a redbrick villa with a veranda, a tennis lawn behind, and in front the ordinary

1. Slightly fat in a pleasant or attractive way.
2. Full and rounded in shape.

at his plate and fumbling with a nut, the very model of innocent bewilderment. Then the plump one spoke up. He stammered a little, like a man picking his words. “Don’t get flustered, uncle,”