Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell, Vocabulary List Chapters 11-15

a loud deep sound

Far off I could hear the bellow of a sea elephant.

a loud continuous noise (such as the noise made when many people are talking or shouting)

At dawn when the clamor started again I left and went back to the headland.

intelligent and able to learn things quickly

They were clever thieves and nothing I stored would be safe until I had built a fence.

extremely loud

On this morning the tide was low and most of the animals were far out, just hundreds of specks against the waves, yet the noise they made was deafening.

a quality that makes you continue trying to do or achieve something that is difficult

Yet the more I thought about it, the greater was my determination to try, for there was nothing to be found on the island that made such good spear points as the tusklike teeth of the bull sea elephant.

to make (someone) feel unhappy or annoyed

Some distance separated the bulls from each other, for they are bad-tempered, very jealous by nature and quick to fight over anything that displeases them.

tending to help

If I stopped it, they would surely fight again, perhaps at some other place less favorable to him.

a long, deep cut

Rontu had a gash on his nose from the giant’s beak, and I had many cuts and bruises.

to bite or chew (something) repeatedly

I would have used seal sinew to bind the ribs together, for this is stronger than kelp, but wild animals like it and soon would have gnawed the fence down.

to make (someone or something) healthy or well again

This bush has poisonous berries, yet its wood often heals wounds that nothing else will.

feeling a mean anger toward someone because he or she is more successful

Some distance separated the bulls from each other, for they are bad-tempered, very jealous by nature and quick to fight over anything that displeases them.

to put into good shape or working order again

Nothing had been harmed except the fence, which I mended, and in a few days the house was the same as before.

existing in large numbers

He was either sleeping in the shade of the canoe or running up and down the sandspit chasing the pelicans that roost there in great numbers because there are numerous fish nearby.

a particular smell

Sweet odors came from the wild grasses in the ravines and from the sand plants on the dunes.

to move quietly through an area while hunting

It went there early in the morning to sleep after it had spent the night prowling.

to argue about or disagree with something

The two gods quarreled about many things.

to shake because of fear, cold, nervousness, etc.

I was so close to him that I could see his nose quivering, but he did not see me until I raised my bow.

a person or thing that tries to defeat or be more successful than another

Quickly he overtook his rival and with a single thrust of his shoulders overturned him.

the state of being covered and protected from danger, bad weather, etc.

This part of the shore was sheltered from the wind and I found the canoes just as they had been left.

to go somewhere that is unknown, dangerous, etc.

I knew the wild dogs would come back and they did as night fell, stalking around in the brush until morning, but not venturing close.

to walk with short steps while moving from side to side like a duck

The sea elephant moves fast in spite of his size, waddling along on his great flippers which he uses like hands.