When Gilliat sees Deruche writing his name in the snow, he falls in love – one day, he must have this magical young woman as his bride. The chance to win Deruche's heart comes, however, in a surprising way. Deruche's uncle owns the first steamship of the island. When the steamship gets wrecked, Deruche is ready to marry the person who has the skills to fix the ship and set it free – and Gilliat is ready to have a try. 'Toilers of the Sea' is Victor Hugo's novel first published in 1866.