Castaways of the Flying Dutchman

The Castaways of the Flying Dutchman is the first in a series of there books surrounding the adventures of Ben and Ned.

Summary
A mute teenage boy, fourteen to be exact, was oppressed by his step-father and his step-brothers. He finally gets opportunity to run away, and does so, with his brothers hard on his heels. He makes a last ditch effort and dives into the ocean, narrowly escaping his pursuers by hiding under a daok. Unfourtunatly, he is found by by Pedros, the cook of the Fleiger Hollander (or Flying Dutchman), who takes him captive and gives him the name Nebuchadnezzer. The Flying Dutchman was captained by Phillip Vanderdecken, and crewed by several dozen men from different countries and regions. It was on a mission to deliver a large amount of emeralds.