
A battered barkentine pursues a desperate crew across storm‑tossed seas, finally forcing them to abandon ship and cling to a lonely, sun‑blazed beach. Exhausted and wary, the survivors—led by a stoic captain and a conflicted servant—begin to assess their new world while the ghostly hull of their vessel fades into the night. The immediate danger of the sea gives way to an uneasy calm, but the island itself is anything but tranquil.
Beyond the shoreline rise dense, fruit‑laden forests and towering headlands, home to a hulking, enigmatic figure whose blank stare hints at deeper mysteries. As the castaways encounter a regal yet savage presence and a strange girl who foretells their fate, old friendships are tested and new bonds begin to stir. The first act sets the stage for a tale of survival, intrigue, and the fragile bloom of love amid an unknown colony.
Language
en
Duration
~6 hours (390K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by David Widger from page images generously provided by the Internet Archive
Release date
2016-05-01
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects

1854–1923
A journalist-turned-storyteller of the American West, known for vivid short fiction that often blends frontier realism with the eerie and uncanny. His work appeared in popular magazines of the late 19th century and helped build his reputation as a memorable voice in early California literature.
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