VELMORA ACADEMY

Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies

Menu Close

The Coral Island: A Tale of the Pacific Ocean

Chapter XXI · Chapter 21

Chapter 21 of The Coral Island: A Tale of the Pacific Ocean is here in full — 104 sentences across 21 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By R. M. (Robert Michael) Ballantyne • Curated US English Learning Edition

Cover illustration for The Coral Island: A Tale of the Pacific Ocean

English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5

Sagacious and moral remarks in regard to life--A sail!--An unexpected salute--The end of the black cat--A terrible dive--An incautious proceeding and a frightful catastrophe.

Life is a strange compound.

Peterkin used to say of it, that it beat a druggist's shop all to sticks; for, whereas the first is a compound of good and bad, the other is a horrible compound of all that is utterly detestable.

And indeed the more I consider it the more I am struck with the strange mixture of good and evil that exists not only in the material earth but in our own natures.

In our own Coral Island we had experienced every variety of good that a bountiful Creator could heap on us.

Narrator

Speed 0.75x

AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English

LEARNER DICTIONARY

Archivist

/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/

Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Chapter XXI Reading 1/20

The Coral Island: A Tale of the Pacific Ocean R. M. (Robert Michael) Ballantyne

Cover illustration for The Coral Island: A Tale of the Pacific Ocean

Chapter XXI

Chapter 21

Chapter 21 of The Coral Island: A Tale of the Pacific Ocean is here in full — 104 sentences across 21 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Sagacious and moral remarks in regard to life--A sail!--An unexpected salute--The end of the black cat--A terrible dive--An incautious proceeding and a frightful catastrophe. Life is a strange compound. Peterkin used to say of it, that it beat a druggist's shop all to sticks; for, whereas the first is a compound of good and bad, the other is a horrible compound of all that is utterly detestable. And indeed the more I consider it the more I am struck with the strange mixture of good and evil that exists not only in the material earth but in our own natures. In our own Coral Island we had experienced every variety of good that a bountiful Creator could heap on us.

The Coral Island: A Tale of the Pacific Ocean

Chapter XXI · Chapter 21

Chapter 21 of The Coral Island: A Tale of the Pacific Ocean is here in full — 104 sentences across 21 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/20 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1

Sagacious and moral remarks in regard to life--A sail!--An unexpected salute--The end of the black cat--A terrible dive--An incautious proceeding and a frightful catastrophe.

Line 2

Life is a strange compound.

Line 3

Peterkin used to say of it, that it beat a druggist's shop all to sticks; for, whereas the first is a compound of good and bad, the other is a horrible compound of all that is utterly detestable.

Line 4

And indeed the more I consider it the more I am struck with the strange mixture of good and evil that exists not only in the material earth but in our own natures.

Line 5

In our own Coral Island we had experienced every variety of good that a bountiful Creator could heap on us.

All words in this reading · 77

Every word in these five lines is listed here, and every one of them can be played on its own.

Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

A

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

From this reading Sagacious and moral remarks in regard to life--A sail!--An unexpected salute--The end of the black cat--A terrible dive--An incautious proceeding and a frightful catastrophe.

all

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

From this reading Peterkin used to say of it, that it beat a druggist's shop all to sticks; for, whereas the first is a compound of good and bad, the other is a horrible compound of all that is utterly detestable.

am

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

From this reading And indeed the more I consider it the more I am struck with the strange mixture of good and evil that exists not only in the material earth but in our own natures.

An

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

From this reading Sagacious and moral remarks in regard to life--A sail!--An unexpected salute--The end of the black cat--A terrible dive--An incautious proceeding and a frightful catastrophe.

and

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

From this reading Sagacious and moral remarks in regard to life--A sail!--An unexpected salute--The end of the black cat--A terrible dive--An incautious proceeding and a frightful catastrophe.

bad

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

From this reading Peterkin used to say of it, that it beat a druggist's shop all to sticks; for, whereas the first is a compound of good and bad, the other is a horrible compound of all that is utterly detestable.

beat

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

From this reading Peterkin used to say of it, that it beat a druggist's shop all to sticks; for, whereas the first is a compound of good and bad, the other is a horrible compound of all that is utterly detestable.

black

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

From this reading Sagacious and moral remarks in regard to life--A sail!--An unexpected salute--The end of the black cat--A terrible dive--An incautious proceeding and a frightful catastrophe.

bountiful

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

From this reading In our own Coral Island we had experienced every variety of good that a bountiful Creator could heap on us.

but

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

From this reading And indeed the more I consider it the more I am struck with the strange mixture of good and evil that exists not only in the material earth but in our own natures.

cat

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

From this reading Sagacious and moral remarks in regard to life--A sail!--An unexpected salute--The end of the black cat--A terrible dive--An incautious proceeding and a frightful catastrophe.

catastrophe

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

From this reading Sagacious and moral remarks in regard to life--A sail!--An unexpected salute--The end of the black cat--A terrible dive--An incautious proceeding and a frightful catastrophe.

compound

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

From this reading Life is a strange compound.

consider

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

From this reading And indeed the more I consider it the more I am struck with the strange mixture of good and evil that exists not only in the material earth but in our own natures.

Coral

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

From this reading In our own Coral Island we had experienced every variety of good that a bountiful Creator could heap on us.

could

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

From this reading In our own Coral Island we had experienced every variety of good that a bountiful Creator could heap on us.

Creator

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

From this reading In our own Coral Island we had experienced every variety of good that a bountiful Creator could heap on us.

detestable

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

From this reading Peterkin used to say of it, that it beat a druggist's shop all to sticks; for, whereas the first is a compound of good and bad, the other is a horrible compound of all that is utterly detestable.

dive

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

From this reading Sagacious and moral remarks in regard to life--A sail!--An unexpected salute--The end of the black cat--A terrible dive--An incautious proceeding and a frightful catastrophe.

druggist's

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

From this reading Peterkin used to say of it, that it beat a druggist's shop all to sticks; for, whereas the first is a compound of good and bad, the other is a horrible compound of all that is utterly detestable.

earth

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

From this reading And indeed the more I consider it the more I am struck with the strange mixture of good and evil that exists not only in the material earth but in our own natures.

end

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

From this reading Sagacious and moral remarks in regard to life--A sail!--An unexpected salute--The end of the black cat--A terrible dive--An incautious proceeding and a frightful catastrophe.

every

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

From this reading In our own Coral Island we had experienced every variety of good that a bountiful Creator could heap on us.

evil

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

From this reading And indeed the more I consider it the more I am struck with the strange mixture of good and evil that exists not only in the material earth but in our own natures.

exists

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

From this reading And indeed the more I consider it the more I am struck with the strange mixture of good and evil that exists not only in the material earth but in our own natures.

experienced

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

From this reading In our own Coral Island we had experienced every variety of good that a bountiful Creator could heap on us.

first

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

From this reading Peterkin used to say of it, that it beat a druggist's shop all to sticks; for, whereas the first is a compound of good and bad, the other is a horrible compound of all that is utterly detestable.

for

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

From this reading Peterkin used to say of it, that it beat a druggist's shop all to sticks; for, whereas the first is a compound of good and bad, the other is a horrible compound of all that is utterly detestable.

frightful

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

From this reading Sagacious and moral remarks in regard to life--A sail!--An unexpected salute--The end of the black cat--A terrible dive--An incautious proceeding and a frightful catastrophe.

good

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

From this reading Peterkin used to say of it, that it beat a druggist's shop all to sticks; for, whereas the first is a compound of good and bad, the other is a horrible compound of all that is utterly detestable.

had

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

From this reading In our own Coral Island we had experienced every variety of good that a bountiful Creator could heap on us.

heap

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

From this reading In our own Coral Island we had experienced every variety of good that a bountiful Creator could heap on us.

horrible

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

From this reading Peterkin used to say of it, that it beat a druggist's shop all to sticks; for, whereas the first is a compound of good and bad, the other is a horrible compound of all that is utterly detestable.

I

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

From this reading And indeed the more I consider it the more I am struck with the strange mixture of good and evil that exists not only in the material earth but in our own natures.

in

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

From this reading Sagacious and moral remarks in regard to life--A sail!--An unexpected salute--The end of the black cat--A terrible dive--An incautious proceeding and a frightful catastrophe.

incautious

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

From this reading Sagacious and moral remarks in regard to life--A sail!--An unexpected salute--The end of the black cat--A terrible dive--An incautious proceeding and a frightful catastrophe.

indeed

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

From this reading And indeed the more I consider it the more I am struck with the strange mixture of good and evil that exists not only in the material earth but in our own natures.

is

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

From this reading Life is a strange compound.

Island

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

From this reading In our own Coral Island we had experienced every variety of good that a bountiful Creator could heap on us.

it

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

From this reading Peterkin used to say of it, that it beat a druggist's shop all to sticks; for, whereas the first is a compound of good and bad, the other is a horrible compound of all that is utterly detestable.

life

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

From this reading Sagacious and moral remarks in regard to life--A sail!--An unexpected salute--The end of the black cat--A terrible dive--An incautious proceeding and a frightful catastrophe.

material

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

From this reading And indeed the more I consider it the more I am struck with the strange mixture of good and evil that exists not only in the material earth but in our own natures.

mixture

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

From this reading And indeed the more I consider it the more I am struck with the strange mixture of good and evil that exists not only in the material earth but in our own natures.

moral

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

From this reading Sagacious and moral remarks in regard to life--A sail!--An unexpected salute--The end of the black cat--A terrible dive--An incautious proceeding and a frightful catastrophe.

more

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

From this reading And indeed the more I consider it the more I am struck with the strange mixture of good and evil that exists not only in the material earth but in our own natures.

natures

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

From this reading And indeed the more I consider it the more I am struck with the strange mixture of good and evil that exists not only in the material earth but in our own natures.

not

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

From this reading And indeed the more I consider it the more I am struck with the strange mixture of good and evil that exists not only in the material earth but in our own natures.

of

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

From this reading Sagacious and moral remarks in regard to life--A sail!--An unexpected salute--The end of the black cat--A terrible dive--An incautious proceeding and a frightful catastrophe.

on

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

From this reading In our own Coral Island we had experienced every variety of good that a bountiful Creator could heap on us.

only

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

From this reading And indeed the more I consider it the more I am struck with the strange mixture of good and evil that exists not only in the material earth but in our own natures.

other

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

From this reading Peterkin used to say of it, that it beat a druggist's shop all to sticks; for, whereas the first is a compound of good and bad, the other is a horrible compound of all that is utterly detestable.

our

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

From this reading And indeed the more I consider it the more I am struck with the strange mixture of good and evil that exists not only in the material earth but in our own natures.

own

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

From this reading And indeed the more I consider it the more I am struck with the strange mixture of good and evil that exists not only in the material earth but in our own natures.

Peterkin

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

From this reading Peterkin used to say of it, that it beat a druggist's shop all to sticks; for, whereas the first is a compound of good and bad, the other is a horrible compound of all that is utterly detestable.

proceeding

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

From this reading Sagacious and moral remarks in regard to life--A sail!--An unexpected salute--The end of the black cat--A terrible dive--An incautious proceeding and a frightful catastrophe.

regard

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

From this reading Sagacious and moral remarks in regard to life--A sail!--An unexpected salute--The end of the black cat--A terrible dive--An incautious proceeding and a frightful catastrophe.

remarks

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

From this reading Sagacious and moral remarks in regard to life--A sail!--An unexpected salute--The end of the black cat--A terrible dive--An incautious proceeding and a frightful catastrophe.

Sagacious

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

From this reading Sagacious and moral remarks in regard to life--A sail!--An unexpected salute--The end of the black cat--A terrible dive--An incautious proceeding and a frightful catastrophe.

sail

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

From this reading Sagacious and moral remarks in regard to life--A sail!--An unexpected salute--The end of the black cat--A terrible dive--An incautious proceeding and a frightful catastrophe.

salute

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

From this reading Sagacious and moral remarks in regard to life--A sail!--An unexpected salute--The end of the black cat--A terrible dive--An incautious proceeding and a frightful catastrophe.

say

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

From this reading Peterkin used to say of it, that it beat a druggist's shop all to sticks; for, whereas the first is a compound of good and bad, the other is a horrible compound of all that is utterly detestable.

shop

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

From this reading Peterkin used to say of it, that it beat a druggist's shop all to sticks; for, whereas the first is a compound of good and bad, the other is a horrible compound of all that is utterly detestable.

sticks

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

From this reading Peterkin used to say of it, that it beat a druggist's shop all to sticks; for, whereas the first is a compound of good and bad, the other is a horrible compound of all that is utterly detestable.

strange

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

From this reading Life is a strange compound.

struck

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

From this reading And indeed the more I consider it the more I am struck with the strange mixture of good and evil that exists not only in the material earth but in our own natures.

terrible

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

From this reading Sagacious and moral remarks in regard to life--A sail!--An unexpected salute--The end of the black cat--A terrible dive--An incautious proceeding and a frightful catastrophe.

that

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

From this reading Peterkin used to say of it, that it beat a druggist's shop all to sticks; for, whereas the first is a compound of good and bad, the other is a horrible compound of all that is utterly detestable.

The

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

From this reading Sagacious and moral remarks in regard to life--A sail!--An unexpected salute--The end of the black cat--A terrible dive--An incautious proceeding and a frightful catastrophe.

to

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

From this reading Sagacious and moral remarks in regard to life--A sail!--An unexpected salute--The end of the black cat--A terrible dive--An incautious proceeding and a frightful catastrophe.

unexpected

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

From this reading Sagacious and moral remarks in regard to life--A sail!--An unexpected salute--The end of the black cat--A terrible dive--An incautious proceeding and a frightful catastrophe.

us

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

From this reading In our own Coral Island we had experienced every variety of good that a bountiful Creator could heap on us.

used

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

From this reading Peterkin used to say of it, that it beat a druggist's shop all to sticks; for, whereas the first is a compound of good and bad, the other is a horrible compound of all that is utterly detestable.

utterly

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

From this reading Peterkin used to say of it, that it beat a druggist's shop all to sticks; for, whereas the first is a compound of good and bad, the other is a horrible compound of all that is utterly detestable.

variety

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

From this reading In our own Coral Island we had experienced every variety of good that a bountiful Creator could heap on us.

we

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

From this reading In our own Coral Island we had experienced every variety of good that a bountiful Creator could heap on us.

whereas

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

From this reading Peterkin used to say of it, that it beat a druggist's shop all to sticks; for, whereas the first is a compound of good and bad, the other is a horrible compound of all that is utterly detestable.

with

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

From this reading And indeed the more I consider it the more I am struck with the strange mixture of good and evil that exists not only in the material earth but in our own natures.

Chapter 21 of The Coral Island: A Tale of the Pacific Ocean by R. M. (Robert Michael) Ballantyne holds 104 sentences, grouped into 21 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the public-domain source, unabridged, and the chapter records which sentences cover which part of the work so that nothing is dropped. Every word can be tapped for its pronunciation and dictionary entry.

What does chapter 21 of The Coral Island: A Tale of the Pacific Ocean contain?

Chapter 21 holds 104 sentences of The Coral Island: A Tale of the Pacific Ocean, unabridged, divided into 21 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 21 of The Coral Island: A Tale of the Pacific Ocean by R. M. (Robert Michael) Ballantyne exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 104 sentences, grouped into 21 sections of at most 5 sentences so that a reader can take the chapter in steady, finishable pieces. The chapter also stores a coverage record mapping every one of its sentences to a part of the work, which is how the edition demonstrates that no line was dropped.

How do I study chapter 21 of The Coral Island: A Tale of the Pacific Ocean?

Work through the 21 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 21 sections in this chapter is short enough to read once, hear once, and then re-read with the vocabulary in view. Tapping a word plays it alone and opens its dictionary entry with IPA, part of speech and meaning, so the reader is never forced to guess a pronunciation from spelling. Working section by section keeps a long chapter from becoming an undifferentiated wall of text, which is the usual reason a reader abandons a work of this period.

Can chapter 21 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 21 can be played aloud in United States English.

Audio covers the whole chapter: any sentence can be played, and any single word within it can be played on its own. The voice uses United States English. For a work of this period that matters, because spelling is an unreliable guide to pronunciation for vocabulary that has fallen out of daily use, and a learner who guesses wrong tends to keep the error. Hearing the word in its own sentence, and then alone, settles it.

Questions about reading The Coral Island: A Tale of the Pacific Ocean

Common questions about reading The Coral Island: A Tale of the Pacific Ocean by R. M. (Robert Michael) Ballantyne on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Coral Island: A Tale of the Pacific Ocean?

Yes. All 3900 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #646 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Coral Island: A Tale of the Pacific Ocean is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #646, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Coral Island: A Tale of the Pacific Ocean take to read?

About 325 minutes of reading across 780 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Coral Island: A Tale of the Pacific Ocean section by section

How to work through The Coral Island: A Tale of the Pacific Ocean section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

Open a chapter

Choose one of the 35 chapters of The Coral Island: A Tale of the Pacific Ocean to begin.
Read one section

Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.
Listen and tap

Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.

Vocabulary met early in The Coral Island: A Tale of the Pacific Ocean

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Coral Island: A Tale of the Pacific Ocean, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Beginning--my: A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Coral Island: A Tale of the Pacific Ocean; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Early: A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Coral Island: A Tale of the Pacific Ocean; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Character--i: A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Coral Island: A Tale of the Pacific Ocean; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Thirst: A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Coral Island: A Tale of the Pacific Ocean; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.