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 When consciousness returned, I felt on my face the warmth of a hot sunshine, and my first impulse was to strike out and swim, as if still in the ocean.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Then starting convulsively, I rose slowly and giddily to find that I had been lying on a dry shingly beach, about two yards from the verge of the sea, which was calm as a mirror, and rippled like an inland lake upon "the unnumbered pebbles" and thick layers of beautiful shells that lay along this unknown shore.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading Then starting convulsively, I rose slowly and giddily to find that I had been lying on a dry shingly beach, about two yards from the verge of the sea, which was calm as a mirror, and rippled like an inland lake upon "the unnumbered pebbles" and thick layers of beautiful shells that lay along this unknown shore.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Then starting convulsively, I rose slowly and giddily to find that I had been lying on a dry shingly beach, about two yards from the verge of the sea, which was calm as a mirror, and rippled like an inland lake upon "the unnumbered pebbles" and thick layers of beautiful shells that lay along this unknown shore.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading When consciousness returned, I felt on my face the warmth of a hot sunshine, and my first impulse was to strike out and swim, as if still in the ocean.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading When consciousness returned, I felt on my face the warmth of a hot sunshine, and my first impulse was to strike out and swim, as if still in the ocean.
beach
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then starting convulsively, I rose slowly and giddily to find that I had been lying on a dry shingly beach, about two yards from the verge of the sea, which was calm as a mirror, and rippled like an inland lake upon "the unnumbered pebbles" and thick layers of beautiful shells that lay along this unknown shore.
beautiful
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then starting convulsively, I rose slowly and giddily to find that I had been lying on a dry shingly beach, about two yards from the verge of the sea, which was calm as a mirror, and rippled like an inland lake upon "the unnumbered pebbles" and thick layers of beautiful shells that lay along this unknown shore.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Then starting convulsively, I rose slowly and giddily to find that I had been lying on a dry shingly beach, about two yards from the verge of the sea, which was calm as a mirror, and rippled like an inland lake upon "the unnumbered pebbles" and thick layers of beautiful shells that lay along this unknown shore.
BehindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading Behind me rose steep black rocks, covered with green waving woods that fringed their summits, and close by lay the spar, by clinging to which my life had probably been saved.
black
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Behind me rose steep black rocks, covered with green waving woods that fringed their summits, and close by lay the spar, by clinging to which my life had probably been saved.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Behind me rose steep black rocks, covered with green waving woods that fringed their summits, and close by lay the spar, by clinging to which my life had probably been saved.
calm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then starting convulsively, I rose slowly and giddily to find that I had been lying on a dry shingly beach, about two yards from the verge of the sea, which was calm as a mirror, and rippled like an inland lake upon "the unnumbered pebbles" and thick layers of beautiful shells that lay along this unknown shore.
clinging
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Behind me rose steep black rocks, covered with green waving woods that fringed their summits, and close by lay the spar, by clinging to which my life had probably been saved.
close
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Behind me rose steep black rocks, covered with green waving woods that fringed their summits, and close by lay the spar, by clinging to which my life had probably been saved.
consciousness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When consciousness returned, I felt on my face the warmth of a hot sunshine, and my first impulse was to strike out and swim, as if still in the ocean.
convulsively
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then starting convulsively, I rose slowly and giddily to find that I had been lying on a dry shingly beach, about two yards from the verge of the sea, which was calm as a mirror, and rippled like an inland lake upon "the unnumbered pebbles" and thick layers of beautiful shells that lay along this unknown shore.
covered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Behind me rose steep black rocks, covered with green waving woods that fringed their summits, and close by lay the spar, by clinging to which my life had probably been saved.
crawling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A few tortoises were crawling near it, on the shingle.
DESERT
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE DESERT ISLAND.
dry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then starting convulsively, I rose slowly and giddily to find that I had been lying on a dry shingly beach, about two yards from the verge of the sea, which was calm as a mirror, and rippled like an inland lake upon "the unnumbered pebbles" and thick layers of beautiful shells that lay along this unknown shore.
face
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When consciousness returned, I felt on my face the warmth of a hot sunshine, and my first impulse was to strike out and swim, as if still in the ocean.
felt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When consciousness returned, I felt on my face the warmth of a hot sunshine, and my first impulse was to strike out and swim, as if still in the ocean.
few
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A few tortoises were crawling near it, on the shingle.
find
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then starting convulsively, I rose slowly and giddily to find that I had been lying on a dry shingly beach, about two yards from the verge of the sea, which was calm as a mirror, and rippled like an inland lake upon "the unnumbered pebbles" and thick layers of beautiful shells that lay along this unknown shore.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading When consciousness returned, I felt on my face the warmth of a hot sunshine, and my first impulse was to strike out and swim, as if still in the ocean.
fringed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Behind me rose steep black rocks, covered with green waving woods that fringed their summits, and close by lay the spar, by clinging to which my life had probably been saved.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Then starting convulsively, I rose slowly and giddily to find that I had been lying on a dry shingly beach, about two yards from the verge of the sea, which was calm as a mirror, and rippled like an inland lake upon "the unnumbered pebbles" and thick layers of beautiful shells that lay along this unknown shore.
giddily
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then starting convulsively, I rose slowly and giddily to find that I had been lying on a dry shingly beach, about two yards from the verge of the sea, which was calm as a mirror, and rippled like an inland lake upon "the unnumbered pebbles" and thick layers of beautiful shells that lay along this unknown shore.
green
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Behind me rose steep black rocks, covered with green waving woods that fringed their summits, and close by lay the spar, by clinging to which my life had probably been saved.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Then starting convulsively, I rose slowly and giddily to find that I had been lying on a dry shingly beach, about two yards from the verge of the sea, which was calm as a mirror, and rippled like an inland lake upon "the unnumbered pebbles" and thick layers of beautiful shells that lay along this unknown shore.
hot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When consciousness returned, I felt on my face the warmth of a hot sunshine, and my first impulse was to strike out and swim, as if still in the ocean.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading When consciousness returned, I felt on my face the warmth of a hot sunshine, and my first impulse was to strike out and swim, as if still in the ocean.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading When consciousness returned, I felt on my face the warmth of a hot sunshine, and my first impulse was to strike out and swim, as if still in the ocean.
impulsenounUS /ˈɪmpʌls/
a sudden strong desire to act
From this reading When consciousness returned, I felt on my face the warmth of a hot sunshine, and my first impulse was to strike out and swim, as if still in the ocean.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading When consciousness returned, I felt on my face the warmth of a hot sunshine, and my first impulse was to strike out and swim, as if still in the ocean.
inland
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then starting convulsively, I rose slowly and giddily to find that I had been lying on a dry shingly beach, about two yards from the verge of the sea, which was calm as a mirror, and rippled like an inland lake upon "the unnumbered pebbles" and thick layers of beautiful shells that lay along this unknown shore.
ISLAND
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE DESERT ISLAND.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading A few tortoises were crawling near it, on the shingle.
lake
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then starting convulsively, I rose slowly and giddily to find that I had been lying on a dry shingly beach, about two yards from the verge of the sea, which was calm as a mirror, and rippled like an inland lake upon "the unnumbered pebbles" and thick layers of beautiful shells that lay along this unknown shore.
lay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then starting convulsively, I rose slowly and giddily to find that I had been lying on a dry shingly beach, about two yards from the verge of the sea, which was calm as a mirror, and rippled like an inland lake upon "the unnumbered pebbles" and thick layers of beautiful shells that lay along this unknown shore.
layers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then starting convulsively, I rose slowly and giddily to find that I had been lying on a dry shingly beach, about two yards from the verge of the sea, which was calm as a mirror, and rippled like an inland lake upon "the unnumbered pebbles" and thick layers of beautiful shells that lay along this unknown shore.
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Behind me rose steep black rocks, covered with green waving woods that fringed their summits, and close by lay the spar, by clinging to which my life had probably been saved.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then starting convulsively, I rose slowly and giddily to find that I had been lying on a dry shingly beach, about two yards from the verge of the sea, which was calm as a mirror, and rippled like an inland lake upon "the unnumbered pebbles" and thick layers of beautiful shells that lay along this unknown shore.
lying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then starting convulsively, I rose slowly and giddily to find that I had been lying on a dry shingly beach, about two yards from the verge of the sea, which was calm as a mirror, and rippled like an inland lake upon "the unnumbered pebbles" and thick layers of beautiful shells that lay along this unknown shore.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Behind me rose steep black rocks, covered with green waving woods that fringed their summits, and close by lay the spar, by clinging to which my life had probably been saved.
mirror
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then starting convulsively, I rose slowly and giddily to find that I had been lying on a dry shingly beach, about two yards from the verge of the sea, which was calm as a mirror, and rippled like an inland lake upon "the unnumbered pebbles" and thick layers of beautiful shells that lay along this unknown shore.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading When consciousness returned, I felt on my face the warmth of a hot sunshine, and my first impulse was to strike out and swim, as if still in the ocean.
near
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A few tortoises were crawling near it, on the shingle.
ocean
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When consciousness returned, I felt on my face the warmth of a hot sunshine, and my first impulse was to strike out and swim, as if still in the ocean.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading When consciousness returned, I felt on my face the warmth of a hot sunshine, and my first impulse was to strike out and swim, as if still in the ocean.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading When consciousness returned, I felt on my face the warmth of a hot sunshine, and my first impulse was to strike out and swim, as if still in the ocean.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When consciousness returned, I felt on my face the warmth of a hot sunshine, and my first impulse was to strike out and swim, as if still in the ocean.
pebbles
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then starting convulsively, I rose slowly and giddily to find that I had been lying on a dry shingly beach, about two yards from the verge of the sea, which was calm as a mirror, and rippled like an inland lake upon "the unnumbered pebbles" and thick layers of beautiful shells that lay along this unknown shore.
probably
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Behind me rose steep black rocks, covered with green waving woods that fringed their summits, and close by lay the spar, by clinging to which my life had probably been saved.
returnednounUS /ˈreturned/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading When consciousness returned, I felt on my face the warmth of a hot sunshine, and my first impulse was to strike out and swim, as if still in the ocean.
rippled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then starting convulsively, I rose slowly and giddily to find that I had been lying on a dry shingly beach, about two yards from the verge of the sea, which was calm as a mirror, and rippled like an inland lake upon "the unnumbered pebbles" and thick layers of beautiful shells that lay along this unknown shore.
rocks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Behind me rose steep black rocks, covered with green waving woods that fringed their summits, and close by lay the spar, by clinging to which my life had probably been saved.
rose
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then starting convulsively, I rose slowly and giddily to find that I had been lying on a dry shingly beach, about two yards from the verge of the sea, which was calm as a mirror, and rippled like an inland lake upon "the unnumbered pebbles" and thick layers of beautiful shells that lay along this unknown shore.
savednounUS /saved/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Behind me rose steep black rocks, covered with green waving woods that fringed their summits, and close by lay the spar, by clinging to which my life had probably been saved.
sea
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then starting convulsively, I rose slowly and giddily to find that I had been lying on a dry shingly beach, about two yards from the verge of the sea, which was calm as a mirror, and rippled like an inland lake upon "the unnumbered pebbles" and thick layers of beautiful shells that lay along this unknown shore.
shells
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then starting convulsively, I rose slowly and giddily to find that I had been lying on a dry shingly beach, about two yards from the verge of the sea, which was calm as a mirror, and rippled like an inland lake upon "the unnumbered pebbles" and thick layers of beautiful shells that lay along this unknown shore.
shingle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A few tortoises were crawling near it, on the shingle.
shingly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then starting convulsively, I rose slowly and giddily to find that I had been lying on a dry shingly beach, about two yards from the verge of the sea, which was calm as a mirror, and rippled like an inland lake upon "the unnumbered pebbles" and thick layers of beautiful shells that lay along this unknown shore.
shore
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then starting convulsively, I rose slowly and giddily to find that I had been lying on a dry shingly beach, about two yards from the verge of the sea, which was calm as a mirror, and rippled like an inland lake upon "the unnumbered pebbles" and thick layers of beautiful shells that lay along this unknown shore.
slowly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then starting convulsively, I rose slowly and giddily to find that I had been lying on a dry shingly beach, about two yards from the verge of the sea, which was calm as a mirror, and rippled like an inland lake upon "the unnumbered pebbles" and thick layers of beautiful shells that lay along this unknown shore.
spar
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Behind me rose steep black rocks, covered with green waving woods that fringed their summits, and close by lay the spar, by clinging to which my life had probably been saved.
starting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then starting convulsively, I rose slowly and giddily to find that I had been lying on a dry shingly beach, about two yards from the verge of the sea, which was calm as a mirror, and rippled like an inland lake upon "the unnumbered pebbles" and thick layers of beautiful shells that lay along this unknown shore.
steep
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Behind me rose steep black rocks, covered with green waving woods that fringed their summits, and close by lay the spar, by clinging to which my life had probably been saved.
stillnounUS /still/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading When consciousness returned, I felt on my face the warmth of a hot sunshine, and my first impulse was to strike out and swim, as if still in the ocean.
strike
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When consciousness returned, I felt on my face the warmth of a hot sunshine, and my first impulse was to strike out and swim, as if still in the ocean.
summits
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Behind me rose steep black rocks, covered with green waving woods that fringed their summits, and close by lay the spar, by clinging to which my life had probably been saved.
sunshine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When consciousness returned, I felt on my face the warmth of a hot sunshine, and my first impulse was to strike out and swim, as if still in the ocean.
swim
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When consciousness returned, I felt on my face the warmth of a hot sunshine, and my first impulse was to strike out and swim, as if still in the ocean.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Then starting convulsively, I rose slowly and giddily to find that I had been lying on a dry shingly beach, about two yards from the verge of the sea, which was calm as a mirror, and rippled like an inland lake upon "the unnumbered pebbles" and thick layers of beautiful shells that lay along this unknown shore.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE DESERT ISLAND.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Behind me rose steep black rocks, covered with green waving woods that fringed their summits, and close by lay the spar, by clinging to which my life had probably been saved.
Then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then starting convulsively, I rose slowly and giddily to find that I had been lying on a dry shingly beach, about two yards from the verge of the sea, which was calm as a mirror, and rippled like an inland lake upon "the unnumbered pebbles" and thick layers of beautiful shells that lay along this unknown shore.
thick
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then starting convulsively, I rose slowly and giddily to find that I had been lying on a dry shingly beach, about two yards from the verge of the sea, which was calm as a mirror, and rippled like an inland lake upon "the unnumbered pebbles" and thick layers of beautiful shells that lay along this unknown shore.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Then starting convulsively, I rose slowly and giddily to find that I had been lying on a dry shingly beach, about two yards from the verge of the sea, which was calm as a mirror, and rippled like an inland lake upon "the unnumbered pebbles" and thick layers of beautiful shells that lay along this unknown shore.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading When consciousness returned, I felt on my face the warmth of a hot sunshine, and my first impulse was to strike out and swim, as if still in the ocean.
tortoises
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A few tortoises were crawling near it, on the shingle.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then starting convulsively, I rose slowly and giddily to find that I had been lying on a dry shingly beach, about two yards from the verge of the sea, which was calm as a mirror, and rippled like an inland lake upon "the unnumbered pebbles" and thick layers of beautiful shells that lay along this unknown shore.
unknown
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then starting convulsively, I rose slowly and giddily to find that I had been lying on a dry shingly beach, about two yards from the verge of the sea, which was calm as a mirror, and rippled like an inland lake upon "the unnumbered pebbles" and thick layers of beautiful shells that lay along this unknown shore.
unnumbered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then starting convulsively, I rose slowly and giddily to find that I had been lying on a dry shingly beach, about two yards from the verge of the sea, which was calm as a mirror, and rippled like an inland lake upon "the unnumbered pebbles" and thick layers of beautiful shells that lay along this unknown shore.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Then starting convulsively, I rose slowly and giddily to find that I had been lying on a dry shingly beach, about two yards from the verge of the sea, which was calm as a mirror, and rippled like an inland lake upon "the unnumbered pebbles" and thick layers of beautiful shells that lay along this unknown shore.
verge
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then starting convulsively, I rose slowly and giddily to find that I had been lying on a dry shingly beach, about two yards from the verge of the sea, which was calm as a mirror, and rippled like an inland lake upon "the unnumbered pebbles" and thick layers of beautiful shells that lay along this unknown shore.
warmth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When consciousness returned, I felt on my face the warmth of a hot sunshine, and my first impulse was to strike out and swim, as if still in the ocean.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading When consciousness returned, I felt on my face the warmth of a hot sunshine, and my first impulse was to strike out and swim, as if still in the ocean.
waving
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Behind me rose steep black rocks, covered with green waving woods that fringed their summits, and close by lay the spar, by clinging to which my life had probably been saved.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading A few tortoises were crawling near it, on the shingle.
WhenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading When consciousness returned, I felt on my face the warmth of a hot sunshine, and my first impulse was to strike out and swim, as if still in the ocean.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Then starting convulsively, I rose slowly and giddily to find that I had been lying on a dry shingly beach, about two yards from the verge of the sea, which was calm as a mirror, and rippled like an inland lake upon "the unnumbered pebbles" and thick layers of beautiful shells that lay along this unknown shore.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Behind me rose steep black rocks, covered with green waving woods that fringed their summits, and close by lay the spar, by clinging to which my life had probably been saved.
woods
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Behind me rose steep black rocks, covered with green waving woods that fringed their summits, and close by lay the spar, by clinging to which my life had probably been saved.
yards
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then starting convulsively, I rose slowly and giddily to find that I had been lying on a dry shingly beach, about two yards from the verge of the sea, which was calm as a mirror, and rippled like an inland lake upon "the unnumbered pebbles" and thick layers of beautiful shells that lay along this unknown shore.
