This adventure story of a dog on a sea voyage is the sequel to Jerry of the Islands.

Jack London wrote this book on his second trip to Hawaii in late 1915 "to bring to the public's attention the inevitable and eternal cruelty which is the only way animals can be compelled to perform before paying audiences," and it has an introduction which condemns the cruelty of trained animal acts. So effective was his indignation that hundreds of London clubs, dedicated to ending the trade in performing animals, sprang up on the publication of the book.

Jack London (1876-1916), an American novelist and short-story writer whose works deal romantically with elemental struggles for survival. At his peak, he was the highest paid and the most popular of all living writers. Because of early financial difficulties, he was largely self educated past grammar school.

London draws heavily on his life experiences in his writing. He spent time in the Klondike during the Gold Rush and at various times was an oyster pirate, a seaman, a sealer, and a hobo. His first work was published in 1898. From there he went on to write such American classics as Call of the Wild, Sea Wolf, and White Fang.