Eventually it is decided that one brother must join the Jacobites, but the other must remain loyal to the government so that, no matters who wins, the family's future will be safe.
In fact, exiled Jacobites living in France often received money from their relatives and friends in Great Britain and Ireland.
They make it to the coast, where they are captured by pirates ... but James' charm and cunning soon allow him to get the upper hand and he becomes their co-leader, alongside their skipper, Captain Teach (not to be confused with the real Blackbeard of that name).
Back home, brother Henry is held in contempt by his tenants and by James' sweetheart, their cousin Alison Graeme, who feel he should have joined the Jacobites.
Meanwhile the Master of Ballantrae and Colonel Burke leave the pirate ship and end up first in North America, then in Paris and then in India.
I played John Boy [on The Waltons] for five years and once that happened casting people weren't sending me a lot of heavies.
"[5] John Gielgud's performance earned him an Emmy nomination as Best Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Special.