Hupaisa Juttu

A novel written in the early 20th century. The story appears to be an adventure or light-hearted survival tale, focusing on a shipwreck and its aftermath. The main characters are two uniquely practical and spirited American widows, Mrs. Lecks and Mrs. Aleshine, along with a male narrator who becomes their companion. The narrative's tone suggests a blend of wit, humor, and resourcefulness as these characters navigate unexpected dangers and odd circumstances during their journey. The opening of the book introduces the narrator’s journey from San Francisco to Yokohama, where he becomes acquainted with Mrs. Lecks and Mrs. Aleshine, two middle-aged rural American women traveling together. The story quickly turns dramatic as their ship collides with another vessel and begins to sink, prompting an orderly but tense evacuation. Through a combination of quick thinking and stubbornness, the narrator and the two women escape in a lifeboat that unfortunately proves to be leaky. Their ordeal on the open sea is described with both tension and humor as they struggle with the leaking boat, rationing food, and using makeshift survival skills. Despite the danger, the women’s down-to-earth attitudes and resourcefulness stand out, especially when they finally reach an unfamiliar island that seems to have signs of human habitation but is, for the moment, abandoned. The opening effectively sets the tone for an amusing and character-driven adventure about resilience, wit, and unlikely companionship in the face of adversity.