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In the Footsteps of Crazy Horse: Chapters 7–8

Jimmy McClean takes a road trip with his grandfather and learns about his Lakota heritage.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Chapters 1–2, Chapters 3–4, Chapters 5–6, Chapters 7–8
30 words 102 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

  1. scenic
    having a beautiful natural appearance
    There was a scenic overlook.
  2. overlook
    a high place affording a good view
    There was a scenic overlook.
  3. critical
    forming or having the nature of a turning point or crisis
    “In May of 1877, after weeks of travel, they came that far,” Grandpa Nyles said. “I imagine from there they could look down into the valley and see Fort Robinson. That moment, when they were looking down, was a critical time.”
  4. welfare
    a contented state of being happy and healthy and prosperous
    In the end, Crazy Horse and the elders thought the welfare of the women, the children, and the old people was more important.
  5. bluff
    a high steep bank
    Several riders had stopped their horses at the edge of the bluff.
  6. retort
    answer back
    “We know the answers,” Crazy Horse retorted sadly.
  7. glare
    look at with a fixed or angry gaze
    He glared at the distant white-man buildings.
  8. stronghold
    a strongly fortified defensive structure
    Down in the valley was the Long Knife stronghold.
  9. arduous
    characterized by effort to the point of exhaustion
    But waiting, also, was a new and unknown way of life under the control of whites. That unknown made Crazy Horse’s people reluctant to finish their long and arduous journey.
  10. defiant
    boldly resisting authority or an opposing force
    His voice was loud, strong, and defiant.
  11. pace
    the distance covered by a step
    Crazy Horse dismounted and led his horse toward the Long Knife. A few paces from the man, he stopped.
  12. muzzle
    the open circular discharging end of a gun
    He was careful not to point the muzzle toward the Long Knife.
  13. apprehension
    fearful expectation or anticipation
    He gazed at them evenly, no anger or apprehension in his eyes, only a quiet calmness.
  14. falter
    speak haltingly
    The old man’s voice had faltered as he told the story.
  15. standstill
    a situation in which no progress can be made
    The whites were afraid of him. After all, he had fought the great General Crook to a standstill at Rosebud Creek, and he defeated Custer at the Greasy Grass.
  16. uprising
    organized opposition to authority
    They were afraid he would lead an uprising against them.
  17. intent
    an anticipated outcome that guides your planned actions
    “On the other hand, some of the Lakota leaders were jealous of him. They were afraid the Indian Bureau would make him chief over them. So basically someone decided to get him out of the way. I think the intent was to send him to Florida and put him in prison there.”
  18. notable
    worthy of attention or interest
    “Yeah, there were prisons there. Indians from various tribes were sent there, notably Cheyenne and Apache. Anyway, Crazy Horse knew there was trouble coming, so he wanted to talk to General Crook, the man in charge. He took Black Shawl to safety, to the village of his cousin Touch the Clouds, east of here.”
  19. escort
    accompany
    “They escorted him back here,” Grandpa Nyles continued.
  20. commotion
    a disorderly outburst or tumult
    But when all this commotion was happening, because people were yelling, a soldier came around the building.
  21. bayonet
    a knife fixed to the end of a rifle and used as a weapon
    He saw a Lakota fighting with the Indian policemen, so he thrust his rifle, with a long bayonet on the end of the barrel, at Crazy Horse.
  22. mortal
    causing or capable of causing death
    “The wound was serious—a mortal wound, as they say. He fell there, at that spot. Later he was taken to the post infirmary—the hospital, I guess. He finally slipped away around midnight. His father and his cousin Touch the Clouds were with him.”
  23. infirmary
    a health facility where patients receive treatment
    “The wound was serious—a mortal wound, as they say. He fell there, at that spot. Later he was taken to the post infirmary—the hospital, I guess. He finally slipped away around midnight. His father and his cousin Touch the Clouds were with him.”
  24. bound
    move forward by leaping
    Jimmy’s mom bounded out of the house when they pulled into the driveway.
  25. caress
    touch or stroke lightly in a loving or endearing manner
    It felt good to be home, to see his mom again, to hear her voice, to feel her hands caressing his face.
  26. visionary
    not practical or realizable; speculative
    “A very special journey, that’s what it was. The visionary journey of Jimmy McClean and his grandpa.”
  27. cocky
    overly self-confident or self-assertive
    Jesse Little Horse simply grinned in that cocky, mocking way he had.
  28. mocking
    expressing contempt or ridicule
    Jesse Little Horse simply grinned in that cocky, mocking way he had.
  29. chime in
    break into a conversation
    “Yeah,” chimed in Jesse. “Didn’t think we’d have to teach you a lesson on the first day of school.”
  30. endure
    face and withstand with courage
    After all, Crazy Horse, when he was Light Hair, had endured worse than Corky Brin and Jesse Little Horse.
Created on Sat Sep 15 21:13:29 EDT 2018 (updated Thu Sep 20 10:32:08 EDT 2018)

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