This is the disclaiming first sentence of the sea tale par excellence which evolved from a passage in The Moon and Sixpence,written twelve years before. On his way home from a remote Pacific island,Dr Saunders meets the treacherous Captain Nichols,who is carrying Fred Blake from Australia,where he has committed murder.Sheltering from a storm on the island of Kanda,the trio are befriended by the good-natured Erik Christessen.But once they encounter the cool and beautifil Louise their story becomes one of love,jealousy murder and suicide.