Once Upon an Island

By Doug Cariou

The year is 1896 at Victoria on Vancouver Island in the newly formed colony of British Columbia. An animated, young Thadeus Matoe, a.k.a., Toadmatoe, comes to Professor Krokonals house seeking his wisdom about a mysterious gift he has just received from his friend Froglit Brar for his third-month birthday.

Mystified, the Professor sends for the frog to question him. Toadmatoe returns with his friend, and just as the Professor is questioning him the police burst in and arrest Froglit Brar on suspicion of stealing a priceless heirloom. In their haste to haul him off to prison, the police fail to seize the alleged contraband. Convinced of Froglits innocence and with gift in hand, the Professor, Toadmatoe, and Ursula, his faithful Salamander, give chase.

By a strange twist of fate, Froglit escapes his captors and is reunited with his friends. Now accomplices-at-large, the three fugitives meet some interesting characters who aid them on their way as they are providentially led through a series of mishaps and miraculous escapes from the pursuing long arm of the Victoria Constabulary. They leap-frog on traversing rapids and waterfalls, oer field and fen, as the gift choreographically draws them on, revealing keys to unlock its mystery.

In the course of events the true villain is apprehended and the three friends reach the place where the gift finally reveals its secrets in a providentially synchronized moment in time.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Sep 17, 2014
• ISBN: 9781490846439

Doug Cariou

Doug Cariou is a locally renowned commercial artist, musician, poet, and author. An ardent lover of nature and the mysteries of creation, Doug has spent much time with friends and family exploring and researching the wonders of Vancouver Island. He lives in Mission, British Columbia, where he owns Cyrus Art Co. www.cyrusart.com

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