In this, the eighth book in Arthur Ransome's beloved SWALLOWS AND AMAZONS series for children, the five Walker children are left on a "desert island" by their parents with provisions for a long stay and a blank map to fill in. Like all of Ransome's books, this is at once a real adventure and a lesson in the practicalities of exploring - in this case, of surveying the inlets, coves, mudflats, and estuaries of "Walker Island." Naturally, there are enemies to overcome (another clan named "The Eels") and friends to meet (who else but the intrepid "Amazons"?). And, as always, the children do it all solo, with not a parent on the horizon. "Once more the Swallows and the Amazons have a magnificent exploring adventure; once more Arthur Ransome has kept a complete record of their experiences, terrors, triumphs and set it down with the cunning that casts a spell over new children and old." -Times Literary Supplement "This time the Walker children are `marooned' on an island somewhere in England, and for their adventures there is but one word enchanting!" -Sunday Times