The Island of Yellow Sands

Chapter V

Chapter 5 of The Island of Yellow Sands is here in full — 413 sentences across 83 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Ethel C. (Ethel Claire) Brill • Curated US English Learning Edition

Cover illustration for The Island of Yellow Sands

English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5

Etienne shook his head.

"That I cannot tell you, little brother," he replied.

"My grandfather told of nothing but the beach with the yellow sands and the waves rolling high upon it.

Whether the island was large or small, high or low, wooded or barren, I do not remember that he said.

In some of the tales, it is said that fierce beasts came out of the woods to attack the braves who tried to carry away the sand, but whether those tales are true or are only told to frighten the white man and keep him away from the gold, I do not know."

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 V Reading 1/82

The Island of Yellow Sands Ethel C. (Ethel Claire) Brill

Chapter V

Chapter 5 of The Island of Yellow Sands is here in full — 413 sentences across 83 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Etienne shook his head. "That I cannot tell you, little brother," he replied. "My grandfather told of nothing but the beach with the yellow sands and the waves rolling high upon it. Whether the island was large or small, high or low, wooded or barren, I do not remember that he said. In some of the tales, it is said that fierce beasts came out of the woods to attack the braves who tried to carry away the sand, but whether those tales are true or are only told to frighten the white man and keep him away from the gold, I do not know."

The Island of Yellow Sands

Chapter V

Chapter 5 of The Island of Yellow Sands is here in full — 413 sentences across 83 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/82 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1

Etienne shook his head.

Line 2

"That I cannot tell you, little brother," he replied.

Line 3

"My grandfather told of nothing but the beach with the yellow sands and the waves rolling high upon it.

/maɪ ˈɡrændfɑːðər toʊld ʌv ˈnʌθɪŋ bʌt ðə biːtʃ wɪð ðə ˈjeloʊ sændz ənd ðə weɪvz ˈroʊlɪŋ haɪ əˈpɑːn ɪt/

Line 4

Whether the island was large or small, high or low, wooded or barren, I do not remember that he said.

/ˈweðər ðə ˈaɪlənd wɑːz lɑːrdʒ ɔːr smɔːl haɪ ɔːr loʊ ˈwʊdɪd ɔːr ˈbærən aɪ duː nɑːt rɪˈmɛm.bər ðæt hiː sed/

Line 5

/ɪn sʌm ʌv ðə teɪlz ɪt ɪz sed ðæt fɪrs biːsts keɪm aʊt ʌv ðə wʊdz tuː əˈtæk ðə breɪvz huː traɪd tuː ˈkæri əˈweɪ ðə sænd bʌt ˈweðər ðoʊz teɪlz ɑːr truː ɔːr ɑːr ˈoʊnli toʊld tuː ˈfraɪtən ðə waɪt mæn ənd kiːp hɪm əˈweɪ frʌm ðə ɡoʊld aɪ duː nɑːt noʊ/

Learner Dictionary

These definitions explain words found in the current reading and keep every example grounded in its original sentence.

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, and audio.

barren adjective US /ˈbærən/

providing no shelter or sustenance

From this reading “Whether the island was large or small, high or low, wooded or barren, I do not remember that he said.”

beasts noun US /biːsts/

plural of “beast” — a living organism characterized by voluntary movement

From this reading “In some of the tales, it is said that fierce beasts came out of the woods to attack the braves who tried to carry away the sand, but whether those tales are true or are only told to frighten the white man and keep him away from the gold, I do not know."”

braves noun US /breɪvz/

plural of “brave” — a North American Indian warrior

frighten verb US /ˈfraɪtən/

cause fear in

rolling adjective US /ˈroʊlɪŋ/

uttered with a trill

From this reading “"My grandfather told of nothing but the beach with the yellow sands and the waves rolling high upon it.”

sands noun US /sændz/

the region of the shore of a lake or sea or ocean

From this reading “"My grandfather told of nothing but the beach with the yellow sands and the waves rolling high upon it.”

tales noun US /teɪlz/

plural of “tale” — a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program

wooded adjective US /ˈwʊdɪd/

covered with growing trees and bushes etc

From this reading “Whether the island was large or small, high or low, wooded or barren, I do not remember that he said.”

Word partnerships in these lines

English keeps certain words together, and knowing the pair is worth more than knowing each word alone. Every partnership below was counted across our whole published library, and earns its place by appearing far more often than two unrelated words of the same frequency would.

Shown as this reading writes them, with the form the library counts, what kind of pairing it is, and how often it occurs.

yellow sands adjective + noun

In this reading “"My grandfather told of nothing but the beach with the yellow sands and the waves rolling high upon it.”

fierce beasts adjective + noun counted as “fierce beast”

In this reading “In some of the tales, it is said that fierce beasts came out of the woods to attack the braves who tried to carry away the sand, but whether those tales are true or are only told to frighten the white man and keep him away from the gold, I do not know."”

carry away verb + particle

remove from a certain place, environment, or mental or emotional state; transport into a new location or state

white man noun + noun

a man who is White

came out verb + adjective counted as “come out”

appear or become visible; make a showing

little brother adjective + noun

a younger brother

In this reading “"That I cannot tell you, little brother," he replied.”

All words in this reading · 72

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.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading "My grandfather told of nothing but the beach with the yellow sands and the waves rolling high upon it.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading In some of the tales, it is said that fierce beasts came out of the woods to attack the braves who tried to carry away the sand, but whether those tales are true or are only told to frighten the white man and keep him away from the gold, I do not know."

attacknounUS /əˈtæk/

(military) an offensive against an enemy (using weapons)

awayadverbUS /əˈweɪ/

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

barrenadjectiveUS /ˈbærən/

providing no shelter or sustenance

From this reading Whether the island was large or small, high or low, wooded or barren, I do not remember that he said.

beachnounUS /biːtʃ/

an area of sand sloping down to the water of a sea or lake

From this reading "My grandfather told of nothing but the beach with the yellow sands and the waves rolling high upon it.

beastsnounUS /biːsts/

plural of “beast” — a living organism characterized by voluntary movement

bravesnounUS /breɪvz/

plural of “brave” — a North American Indian warrior

brothernounUS /ˈbrʌðər/

a male with the same parents as someone else

From this reading "That I cannot tell you, little brother," he replied.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading "My grandfather told of nothing but the beach with the yellow sands and the waves rolling high upon it.

cameverbUS /keɪm/

inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

cannot

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

From this reading "That I cannot tell you, little brother," he replied.

carryverbUS /ˈkæri/

move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading Whether the island was large or small, high or low, wooded or barren, I do not remember that he said.

Etienne

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

From this reading Etienne shook his head.

fierceadjectiveUS /fɪrs/

marked by extreme and violent energy

frightenverbUS /ˈfraɪtən/

cause fear in

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

goldnounUS /ɡoʊld/

coins made of gold

grandfathernounUS /ˈɡrændfɑːðər/

the father of your father or mother

From this reading "My grandfather told of nothing but the beach with the yellow sands and the waves rolling high upon it.

hepronounUS /hiː/

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading "That I cannot tell you, little brother," he replied.

headnounUS /hed/

the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains

From this reading Etienne shook his head.

highadjectiveUS /haɪ/

greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount

From this reading "My grandfather told of nothing but the beach with the yellow sands and the waves rolling high upon it.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Etienne shook his head.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading "That I cannot tell you, little brother," he replied.

InprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

islandnounUS /ˈaɪlənd/

a land mass (smaller than a continent) that is surrounded by water

From this reading Whether the island was large or small, high or low, wooded or barren, I do not remember that he said.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading "My grandfather told of nothing but the beach with the yellow sands and the waves rolling high upon it.

keepverbUS /kiːp/

cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”

knowverbUS /noʊ/

be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/

above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading Whether the island was large or small, high or low, wooded or barren, I do not remember that he said.

littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/

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

From this reading "That I cannot tell you, little brother," he replied.

lowadjectiveUS /loʊ/

less than normal in degree or intensity or amount

From this reading Whether the island was large or small, high or low, wooded or barren, I do not remember that he said.

mannounUS /mæn/

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

MydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading "My grandfather told of nothing but the beach with the yellow sands and the waves rolling high upon it.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Whether the island was large or small, high or low, wooded or barren, I do not remember that he said.

nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading "My grandfather told of nothing but the beach with the yellow sands and the waves rolling high upon it.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading "My grandfather told of nothing but the beach with the yellow sands and the waves rolling high upon it.

onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/

and nothing more

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Whether the island was large or small, high or low, wooded or barren, I do not remember that he said.

outadjectiveUS /aʊt/

not allowed to continue to bat or run

rememberverbUS /rɪˈmɛm.bər/

To recall to mind.

From this reading Whether the island was large or small, high or low, wooded or barren, I do not remember that he said.

repliedverbUS /rɪˈplaɪd/

inflected form of “reply” — react verbally

From this reading "That I cannot tell you, little brother," he replied.

rollingadjectiveUS /ˈroʊlɪŋ/

uttered with a trill

From this reading "My grandfather told of nothing but the beach with the yellow sands and the waves rolling high upon it.

saidadjectiveUS /sed/

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading Whether the island was large or small, high or low, wooded or barren, I do not remember that he said.

sandnounUS /sænd/

a loose material consisting of grains of rock or coral

sandsnounUS /sændz/

the region of the shore of a lake or sea or ocean

From this reading "My grandfather told of nothing but the beach with the yellow sands and the waves rolling high upon it.

shooknounUS /ʃʊk/

a disassembled barrel; the parts packed for storage or shipment

From this reading Etienne shook his head.

smalladjectiveUS /smɔːl/

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

From this reading Whether the island was large or small, high or low, wooded or barren, I do not remember that he said.

someadjectiveUS /sʌm/

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

talesnounUS /teɪlz/

plural of “tale” — a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program

tellverbUS /tel/

express in words

From this reading "That I cannot tell you, little brother," he replied.

ThatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading "That I cannot tell you, little brother," he replied.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading "My grandfather told of nothing but the beach with the yellow sands and the waves rolling high upon it.

thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

toldverbUS /toʊld/

inflected form of “tell” — express in words

From this reading "My grandfather told of nothing but the beach with the yellow sands and the waves rolling high upon it.

triedadjectiveUS /traɪd/

tested and proved useful or correct

trueadjectiveUS /truː/

consistent with fact or reality; not false

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading "My grandfather told of nothing but the beach with the yellow sands and the waves rolling high upon it.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Whether the island was large or small, high or low, wooded or barren, I do not remember that he said.

wavesnounUS /weɪvz/

plural of “wave” — one of a series of ridges that moves across the surface of a liquid (especially across a large body of water)

From this reading "My grandfather told of nothing but the beach with the yellow sands and the waves rolling high upon it.

WhetherconjunctionUS /ˈweðər/

used to introduce two or more possibilities

From this reading Whether the island was large or small, high or low, wooded or barren, I do not remember that he said.

whitenounUS /waɪt/

a Caucasian

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading "My grandfather told of nothing but the beach with the yellow sands and the waves rolling high upon it.

woodedadjectiveUS /ˈwʊdɪd/

covered with growing trees and bushes etc

From this reading Whether the island was large or small, high or low, wooded or barren, I do not remember that he said.

woodsnounUS /wʊdz/

the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area

yellowadjectiveUS /ˈjeloʊ/

of the color intermediate between green and orange in the color spectrum; of something resembling the color of an egg yolk

From this reading "My grandfather told of nothing but the beach with the yellow sands and the waves rolling high upon it.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "That I cannot tell you, little brother," he replied.

Chapter 5 of The Island of Yellow Sands by Ethel C. (Ethel Claire) Brill holds 413 sentences, grouped into 83 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the source edition, 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 5 of The Island of Yellow Sands contain?

Chapter 5 holds 413 sentences of The Island of Yellow Sands, unabridged, divided into 83 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 5 of The Island of Yellow Sands by Ethel C. (Ethel Claire) Brill exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 413 sentences, grouped into 83 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 5 of The Island of Yellow Sands?

Work through the 83 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 83 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 5 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 5 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 Island of Yellow Sands

Common questions about reading The Island of Yellow Sands by Ethel C. (Ethel Claire) Brill on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Island of Yellow Sands?

Yes. All 4045 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #46271 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Island of Yellow Sands is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #46271, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Island of Yellow Sands take to read?

About 337 minutes of reading across 809 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Island of Yellow Sands section by section

How to work through The Island of Yellow Sands section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

Open a chapter

Choose one of the 10 chapters of The Island of Yellow Sands 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 Island of Yellow Sands

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Island of Yellow Sands, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Large: A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Island of Yellow Sands; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Cloth: A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Island of Yellow Sands; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Illustrated: A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Island of Yellow Sands; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
White: A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Island of Yellow Sands; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.

Chapter V

What does chapter 5 of The Island of Yellow Sands contain?

How do I study chapter 5 of The Island of Yellow Sands?

Can chapter 5 be read aloud to me?

Questions about reading The Island of Yellow Sands

How to read The Island of Yellow Sands section by section

Open a chapter

Read one section

Listen and tap

Vocabulary met early in The Island of Yellow Sands