This short novel is one of the famous short novels written by a great literary figure, Ogai Mori. Haneda Shobe who sends criminals to a distant island by Takasebune has a question to an attitude of a criminal, Kisuke, who kills a younger brother. Shobe wonders whether his charge is right or not while listening to his talks why Kisuke kills his brother. This masterpiece's theme is a mercy killing and is worth reading still now.