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Frontispiece Edward Bok at the age of six Edward Bok's birthplace at Helder, Netherlands The grandmother The Dutch grandfather [Transcriber's note: missing from book] Where Edward Bok is happiest: in his garden AN INTRODUCTION.
OF TWO PERSONS IN WHOSE LIVES ARE FOUND THE SOURCE AND MAINSPRING OF SOME OF THE EFFORTS OF THE AUTHOR OF THIS BOOK IN HIS LATER YEARS Along an island in the North Sea, five miles from the Dutch coast, stretches a dangerous ledge of rocks that has proved the graveyard of many a vessel sailing that turbulent sea.

On this island once lived a group of men who, as each vessel was wrecked, looted the vessel and murdered those of the crew who reached shore.

The government of the Netherlands decided to exterminate the island pirates, and for the job King William selected a young lawyer at The Hague.
"I want you to clean up that island," was the royal order.