The Heathen

Pearl buyer Charley has just boarded Petite Jeanne, a ship that is supposed to sail from Rangiroa to Tahiti. Charley starts to worry when some of the passengers get a smallpox – and die because of it. Soon, however, smallpox doesn’t seem like such a big problem as there is a hurricane ahead.

Charley ends up in the sea with a Kanaka called Otoo – and their survival is a start of a beautiful friendship.

‘The Heathen’ is a short story by Jack London.



Jack London (1876–1916) was an American writer and social activist. He grew up in the working class, but became a worldwide celebrity and one of the highest paid authors of his time. He wrote several novels, which are considered classics today, among these 'Call of the Wild', 'Sea Wolf' and 'White Fang'.