The Coral Island - A Tale of the Pacific Ocean -opens with the shipwreck on a Pacific island of the young friends Ralph Rover, Jack Martin and Peterkin Gay. Despite the pleasurable presence on their island of delicious breadfruit, coconuts and succulent oysters, the intrepid trio are not alone and they soon witness a battle between rival bands of cannibals and encounter a distinctly hostile pirate band led by 'Bloody Bill'. Their lives are placed in serious peril from which only courage and determined pluck can save them.