thus they were driven back to the shore , where they were confronted by an even more petrifying sight : the sea , its turquoise waters calm as a lullaby so little ago , raged now black and blue , while tall waves like rabid frothing mouths agape crashed brutally against the beach , so that they had to scramble up the palm trees , lest they be dragged in and drowned and high above the sky , dim as dusk in the burning stones dark shadow , yet moonless and starless as if put out , extinguished , dead .