Red by W. Somerset Maugham. Short summary

5 seconds

Skipper goes to the island where he has lived for 31 years. He is met by Neilson, a Swede. Red first came to these places when he was 20 years old and fell in love with a native girl, Sally. The couple married, but Red later sailed away from these places.

1 minute

The skipper sails a schooner into a small cove. On shore he is met by Neilson, a Swede. He brings the skipper to his home. Neilson tells him that he has lived in this place for 25 years. The skipper says he has lived here for 31 years. On the islands, everyone called him Red.

When he was 20 years old, Red landed in the same cove where the sailing schooner anchored today. He served as a sailor on an American warship, but one day he deserted. A beautiful 16-year-old girl came out of a hut on the shore of the lagoon to him. The heroes fell in love with each other at first sight.

Before Red appeared, an epidemic broke out on the island, killing a third of the islanders. The girl lost her parents and lived with her relatives. The young men settled away from the shore, near a river with a bridge. Although the girl had a native name, Red called her Sally.

One day the heroes learned that an English whaling ship had appeared near the shore. Red took the shuttle to the ship to trade fruit for tobacco. Sally never saw him again.