Adam Ewing

Adam Ewing is a nineteenth century California notary, sent to the South Pacific to find the legatee of a will, probated in California. He is keeping a daily journal of his travels, of which the reader is permitted to read parts in the two "Adam Ewing" chapters. Mr. Ewing, on his return voyage from Australia, is marooned on one of the Chatham Islands while his ship, the "Prophetess" makes repairs. On the island, he meets an English doctor, Henry Goose, who ends up sailing with them once the ship is ready. He also encounters a Moriori native, named Autua, briefly when he spies the native being flogged by other natives. Autua later turns up in Ewing's cabin as a stowaway.

Ewing and Goose become friends and Goose treats him for a mysterious "ailment." The treatment turns out to be poison and the friend not truly a friend...