Astoryofcastaways,similartoRobinsonCrusoeandTheSwissFamilyRobinson,thisbookdetailstheescapefromCivilWar-eraRichmond,Virginia,offiveNorthernmenwhodaredtogoaloftinaballooninthemidstofahurricane.DepositedonalonelyislandinthePacific,theymakedowithYankeeingenuitywhereChancehasleftthemnothing.Onlylaterdotheyfindtheyhaveahiddenbenefactor:CaptainNemo,of20,000LeaguesUndertheSea,whoresides,alone,secretlyontheisland.Intime,thetinycolonybecomessoprosperousthatitisabletorescueanothercastawayfromanislandahundredmilesaway.Butalltheirworkwillcometonaught-theirisland'svolcanoisabouttoawake!