He discovered several serials that ran to seven instalments, and decided to write one of that length.
He had been on a whaling voyage in the Arctic, once--a voyage that was to have been for three years and which had terminated in shipwreck at the end of six months.

While his imagination was fanciful, even fantastic at times, he had a basic love of reality that compelled him to write about the things he knew.

He knew whaling, and out of the real materials of his knowledge he proceeded to manufacture the fictitious adventures of the two boys he intended to use as joint heroes.

It was easy work, he decided on Saturday evening.

He had completed on that day the first instalment of three thousand words--much to the amusement of Jim, and to the open derision of Mr.Higginbotham, who sneered throughout meal-time at the "litery" person they had discovered in the family.
Martin contented himself by picturing his brother-in-law's surprise on Sunday morning when he opened his Examiner and saw the article on the treasure-hunters.