The story begins on the seventh day that the Robinsons spend confined to a wrecked ship. The father gathers together his wife and four young sons and starts planning their escape from the ship, which now rests on a reef. There is never any doubt that they will succeed.

Creature comforts come first: they must have a good supper. Then in a remarkably short time the father designs and builds a raft of half-tubs, and taking everything useful they can possibly carry from the wreck, the family sails from the reefed ship to the island paradise where they spend the next ten years.

Nature smiles upon the family from the very beginning. They find a natural harbor, where it is easy to beach their raft.

In no time at all they have pitched a comfortable tent, and the mother is once again busy preparing supper.

The island itself...