Wednesday the Tenth, A Tale of the South Pacific

"Wednesday the Tenth, A Tale of the South Pacific" by Grant Allen is a novel written during the late 19th century. Set against the backdrop of the South Pacific Islands, the story is narrated by Julian Braithwaite, the commander of a steam yacht named "Albatross", who undertakes adventures in pursuit of health and trade. The plot revolves around Julian's encounter with two English boys adrift at sea and the urgent need to rescue their family, caught in a dangerous situation with local savages on the island of Tanaki. At the start of the narrative, Julian and his crew, including a Polynesian boy named Nassaline, spot a distressed boat on the horizon that turns out to carry two starved English boys, Martin Luther and John Knox Macglashin. The boys recount their horrific escape from the island of Tanaki after their family was captured by the islanders, who plan to sacrifice them in a ceremony. As Julian and his crew race against time to save the Macglashin family, they navigate the vast and treacherous Pacific waters, driven by a sense of duty and compassion to intervene in the brutal fate awaiting the family. The opening portion sets a gripping tone for the unfolding adventure and moral dilemmas the characters will face amidst the perils of the sea and savage customs of the islanders.