Written the early 1907, this is a maritime mystery along the style of Jules Verne in writing and subject.

The Laughing Lass, an abandoned schooner, is found off the coast of a volcanic island in the South Pacific, by the U.S. cruiser Wolverine. There is no one aboard the ship, so the Wolverine’s captain puts a crew on board with the idea of bringing it back. The following day, that crew is missing.

The naval crew find a skiff with a survivor barely alive. He is brought aboard and the tale of the ship, its missing crew and all that happens is told by the survivor.

The tale is about the man who hired the ship for its mysterious voyage, the Laughing Lass crew of cutthroats and the fantastical happenings during the long months spent on the island. It is a tall tale that is told.

The style is verbose and liberally sprinkled with nautical terms. Someone up on old sailing vessels or has read books of this topic/style will understand them.

I did enjoy it and felt I had to finish it. Sometimes reading books from another era, on subjects I don’t normally read about, can make the little grey cells work a bit more. ( )