The five shipwrecked children explore the island where they have been stranded. While sleeping, they are kidnapped by three bearded men: the evil Prime Minister and his two assistents: Quig and Quell. A man, Jeremiah Quizzel, tells them they are on the island 'Tambu' , which is ruled by 'he-who-lives-forever': The "Q" (all last names on the island start with a q). While the Prime Minister is planning on killing the children, a girl rescues them from their cell.