Elhau and Adar came from a long line of wealthy and powerful merchant ship-owners. But war, death, and greed had diminished the family fleet and fortune; and now poverty and separation faced the two young brothers from ancient Phoenicia.

The boys could see no way to improve their lives until a prince from a faraway land rich in silver arrived, seeking to pay a debt owed to their father and to reopen trade with the family. With the receipt of the debt money and the encouragement of the prince, the boys began planning to rebuild an old ship long abandoned by the family, so that they could sail to the prince's land and trade for its valuable silver.

But it is no easy task to bring life to a dead ship, and no easy voyage from the east Mediterranean to the west. The way is thick with dangers, and Elhau, Adar, and their friends must outwit and outfight both the boys' greedy guardian and a band of vicious pirates before reaching the Isle of Silver and making their fortunes.

Ages 10-13

From the dust jacket