w of seventy boys in the art of seamanship, as well as to give them a
foundation knowledge in the arts and sciences.

On board they became intimate with a gray-haired Professor, who became
very ill. They were particularly attracted to him, and waited upon him,
until they reached the Pacific Ocean, where, for some reason the ship
met a catastrophe, and the crew were compelled to take to open boats.

The two boys, with several companions, and the Professor, were together
in one of the life boats, and after leaving the sinking ship a terrific
gale, one of the great monsoons, separated them from the companion
boats, and for six days they were driven about in the vast ocean,
absolutely helpless. During this time all their young companions were
washed overboard, and they were driven to the point of despair, when
they were cast ashore on an island.

They were thus placed on an unknown land, with nothing but their scanty
clothing, and devoid even of a knife. There is no indication that the
land was inhabited, and for the first three months, while recuperating,
they had no opportunity to go far from the spot where they landed.

After the Professor had regained his health, they began to make a few
necessary things, and hunt for the food which was necessary to preserve
life. As they grew bolder, however, they fashioned crude implements,
like bows and arrows, and primitive articles of utility.

They made a few trips into the interior, and then saw the first
indications which pointed to the presence of inhabitants. From some of
the traces it was evident that the people must be savages, and then they
saw the necessity of preparing themselves to meet hostile neighbors.

Then began the most remarkable series of adventures on the part of the
boys, under the instruction of the Professor, to provide not only the
necessaries of life, but many of the luxuries. While engaged in the
different enterprises they undertook numerous excursions, all of which
confirmed them in the first intimations that they had landed on an
island, and that it contained one or more savage tribes.

To recount all that the boys did, even in the briefest space, would be
impossible in this book, and it is not necessary, in order to relate the
happenings from this time on; but some things are necessary, because we
shall have to deal with incidents which took place during their
adventures, and this volume also brings into the scene several
characters, in addition t