Sandokan and Yanez De Gomera, the protagonists of The Tigers of Mompracem, are back, righting injustices and fighting old foes.

Wrongfully imprisoned, the great hunter has been banished from India and sentenced to life in a penal colony.

Knowing his master is innocent, Kammamuri dashes off to the rescue, planning to free the good hunter at the first opportunity.

But in order to succeed, Sandokan and Yanez must lead their men against the forces of James Brooke, "The Exterminator", the dreaded White Rajah of Sarawak.

Salgari used as a source the book A Visit to the Indian Archipelago in H.M. Ship Maeander: With Portions of the Private Journal of Sir James Brooke, K.C.B.