The story begins with a group of children playing on the deck of a boat, which is travelling from India to England.
Lionel is one of the five children belonging to Mrs. March, and is aboard the ship because his father had deserted his mother for a native he had met while fighting in a war abroad.
Before she can get inside, however, a young sailor hops out of his cabin and draws a white line around her—which puts her in a state of mind where she cannot escape the circle that surrounds her.
He has grown into a handsome young man, with blonde hair, blue eyes, and broad shoulders.
Lionel is aboard a ship to India, where he is to meet up with Isabel, a girl who we assume he is to marry.
But because the ship is already full, and because he acknowledges that his prejudices are tribal, and not personal, he seemingly agrees to room with Cocoanut.
As Lionel was sitting on his top bunk, Cocoanut grabbed his leg, and began feeling up until he had reached his groin.
He then heads to the Purser's office, demanding that he have his room switched, without giving any reason whatsoever.
While at the front of the ship he runs into Captain Arbuthnot and his wife, and they form a group known as the Big Eight.
Feeling a little bit better, Lionel decides to go ahead and deal with Cocoanut being his roommate for the voyage, and tries to forget about the strange incident that had happened earlier.
The ship enters the Mediterranean Sea, and one night, after Lionel returns to his cabin, he is awaited by Cocoanut and a bottle of champagne.
At first he blames himself for being too careless, but then Cocoanut claims that it was partly his fault also, because he knew that the door was unlocked the entire time.
Lionel flashes back to the war and strangles Cocoanut, then kisses his eyelids tenderly, then commits suicide by throwing himself into the ocean.