
A daring expedition leads two intrepid explorers into the remote islands of the South Pacific, where myth and reality blur beneath swaying palms. From the sleepy streets of Levuka to the enigmatic Isle of Tears, they encounter crumbling stone structures that hint at a forgotten civilization, and hear whispered legends of a “Centipede” ritual that still haunts the islands’ hidden groves.
As the duo navigates treacherous reefs and dense jungles, they are drawn into the fierce customs of a native tribe that tests its warriors in a brutal pit called the Vermilion Pit. Their curiosity soon puts them in the path of ancient rites and mysterious dances, forcing them to confront both the beauty and the darkness that linger in these secluded lands. The story combines vivid travelogue detail with pulse‑quickening suspense, inviting listeners to experience an adventure where every rustle of leaves might conceal a secret waiting to be uncovered.
Language
en
Duration
~5 hours (339K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Harold Lawson and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team
Release date
2004-01-01
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1874–1952
An Australian-born writer of adventure fiction, he built a lively international career and became especially well known for colorful stories set in the South Seas. His work reached readers through both novels and popular magazines, giving his tales a fast, vivid style that still feels made for storytelling aloud.
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