The seven missionaries

In Short

This brisk maritime thriller centers on a daring act of piracy in the Indian Ocean. When the S. S. Andaman departs with a shipment of gold and pearls, it attracts the attention of a group of men posing as pious missionaries. The story tracks the collision between these criminals and the ship’s secret protector, Jim Maitland. It is a quintessential adventure of the era, defined by its crisp pacing, understated British wit, and the satisfying reversal of a villainous trap. Its longevity lies in the cleverness of its central "cat and mouse" plot.

The Story

The S. S. Andaman, a cargo ship commanded by the devoted Captain James Kelly, departs for Colombo carrying a routine load of passengers, including seven quiet, Bible-toting missionaries and a secret, high-value consignment of gold and pearls. Jim Maitland, a seasoned adventurer and friend of the narrator, joins the voyage and quickly becomes suspicious of the missionaries. His instincts are piqued when he overhears them discussing him and notices they are far more interested in the ship’s wireless operations than in spiritual matters.

Jim and the narrator discover that the missionaries’ Bibles are a cover. With the captain’s reluctant permission, Jim conducts a clandestine search of the luggage hold, finding that the missionaries’ heavy crates contain not religious texts, but high-grade nitroglycerin rigged with clockwork timers. The villains clearly intend to rob the ship of its gold and then sink it with all hands on board, leaving no trace of the crime.

Jim devises a counter-plot: he and the captain secretly swap the contents of the crates. The gold is moved to the missionaries' explosive-laden boxes, and the deadly nitroglycerin is transferred into the crates the pirates expect to steal. The voyage continues until a small yacht approaches on the high seas. The "missionaries" reveal themselves as armed pirates, holding the crew at gunpoint and forcing them to load the "treasure" chests onto their yacht. The pirates, led by a man calling himself the Reverend Samuel Longfellow, depart with their supposed prize, feeling triumphant.

As the yacht pulls away, the pirates begin to inspect their haul on the deck. Suddenly, the yacht vanishes in a massive, shattering explosion. Jim Maitland, having spent the morning disguised as an elderly, hysterical female passenger to avoid suspicion, had positioned himself in the bow of the Andaman. Using an Express rifle concealed inside a pink parasol, he had triggered the catastrophe from a distance, effectively destroying the pirates and their vessel. The Andaman continues safely to its destination, the incident recorded only as an unexplained tragedy. Jim, ever the quiet operator, later admits to the narrator that he intentionally destroyed the parasol to hide his unorthodox methodology, leaving the world to wonder at the "divine retribution" that befell the thieves.

How It Unfolds

The voyage begins The S. S. Andaman sets sail from Colombo with a group of seven seemingly devout, reclusive missionaries on board. Captain Kelly remains focused on his cargo and his beloved ship, unaware that his passengers are observing the ship’s wireless operations with intense, suspicious interest.

The plot thickens Jim Maitland notices the missionaries’ odd behavior and overhears them discussing his own reputation. A suspicious wireless message from a "brother" on a nearby yacht confirms his fears that the missionaries are not who they claim to be.

The secret discovery Jim and the captain investigate the luggage hold and discover the nitroglycerin hidden in the crates. They execute a dangerous switch, placing the ship’s gold into the explosive boxes and loading the volatile chemicals into the chests the pirates expect to steal.

The confrontation The pirates reveal their true nature, holding the crew at gunpoint and forcing the transfer of the crates. They depart, believing they have successfully robbed the ship of its gold while planting the means to destroy it.

The final explosion The pirates are vaporized when their own stolen cargo detonates. Jim Maitland, revealed to have been watching from the bow disguised as an elderly woman, confirms that he triggered the blast to ensure the safety of the ship.

The People

Jim Maitland is the story’s agile, observant force. He is a man who knows the world’s darker corners and possesses the rare ability to remain calm under extreme pressure. He drives the narrative by refusing to accept the "missionaries" at face value, using his guile to turn the villains' trap back on them.

Captain James Kelly is the proud, stubborn master of the Andaman. He loves his ship with a protective intensity and is initially reluctant to believe his vessel is a target for modern piracy. His transformation from a skeptical, law-abiding captain to a man willing to engage in a lethal gamble with Jim marks his growth.

The Reverend Samuel Longfellow serves as the primary antagonist. He is a cold, calculating criminal who hides behind a mask of piety. He is defined by his arrogance and his belief that he has outsmarted the crew, a hubris that leads directly to his downfall.

The Narrator acts as the reader’s surrogate, recording the events with a sense of wonder. He is loyal to Jim but often finds himself one step behind, highlighting Jim’s superior intellect and situational awareness.

In Its Own Voice

"There was not the slightest doubt in my mind that it was one of them who had spoken."

The narrator recounts the chilling moment he heard a "devout" missionary curse near the deck chairs.

"I don’t think that I have ever seen a man in quite such a dreadful rage as Kelly was."

Jim describes the captain’s reaction upon discovering that his ship had been rigged with explosives.

"The muzzle of an Express rifle stuck out through a hole that had been split in the silk near the ferrule; the stock was hidden by the material."

Jim explains how he used a lady’s parasol to conceal his weapon and execute his plan.

What It's Really About

This story explores the thin veil between civilization and lawless violence, even in the modern age of wireless technology. It poses the question of whether a man’s reputation or "tough" exterior is an asset or a target when faced with cold-blooded, calculated enemies. More specifically, it examines the ethics of "extra-legal" justice; when faced with criminals who intend to commit a mass murder for profit, the narrative argues that standard protocol is secondary to the immediate protection of the innocent. The story champions individual ingenuity over rigid institutional order, suggesting that in the vast, unpoliced reaches of the sea, one must be prepared to defend oneself with both wit and steel.

Why Read It Today

Readers who enjoy the brisk, no-nonsense storytelling of early 20th-century adventure fiction will find this a rewarding experience. It captures the spirit of a time when the world felt both vast and interconnected by new technologies, yet still dangerous enough for hidden, high-stakes piracy. The prose is lean and efficient, prioritizing the mechanics of the plot—the "how" of the heist and the "how" of the counter-heist—over unnecessary exposition.

The book is a classic example of the "gentleman adventurer" genre, where wit, cool nerves, and a bit of moral ambiguity are the primary tools of survival. Modern readers may notice the period-specific attitudes, particularly the caricatured descriptions of the passengers, which reflect the era in which it was written. However, the central mystery remains compellingly structured. The payoff—a satisfying, explosive reversal of fortune—is executed with a sense of humor that balances the tension of the piracy plot. If you appreciate a story where the hero is constantly two steps ahead of the villain, and where the solution to a life-threatening crisis is as clever as it is audacious, this tale will satisfy. It is a quick, punchy read that leaves you with a lingering, wry smile at the sheer efficiency of its protagonist.