
Stranded on a jagged reef off a New Guinea shore, a small crew of sailors must grapple with a hostile jungle and the ghosts of a past wreck. The story opens with a tense escape from bound prisoners stumbling through a forest, instantly thrusting listeners into danger and uncertainty. As the battered schooner drifts against towering cliffs, the grizzled boatswain recounts a haunting episode from his younger days, hinting at the brutal survival tactics that shaped him.
At the heart of the tale are Grinson, a larger‑than‑life leader with a flair for daring, and the quick‑witted Ephraim, whose calm voice steadies the group. Together they confront a sudden rush of native warriors, a mysterious propeller‑driven craft, and the relentless roar of the sea. Their resourcefulness and courage set the stage for a high‑stakes adventure that will test loyalties, ingenuity, and the thin line between myth and reality.
Language
en
Duration
~6 hours (380K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
2012-07-28
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

Best remembered as the house name behind brisk, old-fashioned adventure stories for boys, these books mixed action, empire-era settings, and a strong feel for serialized storytelling. The name appeared on dozens of popular titles in the early 20th century and still turns up in classic children’s fiction collections.
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