They were miles wide$$$ apparently not breakers or the banked ridges of shallow water. They travelled the length of the island with an air of disregarding it and being set on other business; they were less a progress than a momentous rise and fall of the

They were miles wide$$$ apparently not breakers or the banked ridges of shallow water. They travelled the length of the island with an air of disregarding it and being set on other business; they were less a progress than a momentous rise and fall of the whole ocean. Now the sea would suck down$$$ making cascades and waterfalls of retreating water$$$ would sink past the rocks and plaster down the seaweed like shining hair: then$$$ pausing$$$ gather and rise with a roar$$$ irresistibly swelling over point and outcrop$$$ climbing the little cliff$$$ sending at last an arm of surf up a gully to end a yard or so from him in fingers of spray.Wave after wave$$$ Ralph followed the rise and fall until something of the remoteness of the sea numbed his brain. Then gradually the almost infinite size of this water forced itself on his attention. This was the divider$$$ the barrier. On the other side of the island$$$ swathed at midday with mirage$$$ defended by the shield of the quiet lagoon$$$ one might dream of rescue; but here$$$ faced by the brute obtuseness of the ocean$$$ the miles of division$$$ one was clamped down$$$ one was helpless$$$ one was condemned$$$ one was . . .