The story of the capture of the two Lamars (reincarnated natives), as the white boys were called, is one that has been handed down in legend among the Torres Strait islanders.

After Idriess, years later, learned in civilised society the other part of the story - that the two boys, Jack Ireland and Will D'Oyly, were survivors from the wreck of the Charles Eaton on the Barrier Reef in 1834 - he sets it down in story form. It is a most entertaining yarn, the greater part of which comes from the Torres Strait islanders themselves. It deals with the many and varied adventures experienced by the boys before their eventual rescue. It tells how they were brought up with the native lads, learnt from them to work on the island, and to fight, and later how, when they had 'won their spurs', they accompanied the men on the long fishing trips...

'It is one of the best Australian adventure stories yet issued.' - Adelaide Mail