[1][2] Author and gentleman Humphrey Van Weyden is shanghaied and wakes up aboard Captain Larsen's ship on a seal hunting voyage of indeterminate length.

Captain Larsen runs a tight ship using "hands on" techniques to quell on–board dissension.

With seamanship unknown to Humphrey, he is assigned to the ship's cook as a scullery maid.

The Captain informs Humphrey that the sea voyage will allow him to stand on his own two feet and not walk in his father's shoes.

Their ship also rescues three survivors from a steamship that has exploded, Maud Brewster and two stokers.