Chapter 1: The novel begins with two young boys, Prosper and Bo, running away from a home for orphans in Venice, Italy. They steal a boat, setting out for a mysterious destination known only as the “Island”. As they travel, they recall their experiences of life at the orphanage, where they endured mistreatment and deprivation alongside their fellow orphans.

Chapter 2: While on their journey, the boys meet a peculiar character known as “Scipio”. He introduces himself as the “Theif Lord”, and informs them of the mysterious gang he leads – consisting of other orphans who have escaped their plight. Scipio invites the boys to join their group and offers them the chance to use their gifts for the greater good.

Chapter 3: Prosper and Bo reluctantly agree to join Scipio’s gang, and they are taken to a hideout on an abandoned houseboat. There they meet the other members of the gang: Fu, Hornet, Riccio, and Moses. Each of them reveals the individual talents they possess and how they use them to aid Scipio in his thieving endeavors.

Chapter 4: Later, the gang discovers the hideout of their enemies, the dreaded police inspectors, and they launch an attack on it. After successfully stealing a valuable painting, they narrowly escape the police – their first successful mission as a team. Finally, the Thief Lord reveals his plan to use the stolen painting to fund the gang’s ultimate goal: to return to the Island and reunite with a mysterious benefactor.