Joshua Nash, the bastard son of Thomas by an aborigine woman, opts for a sailor's life on one of his father's ships – his ambition to become Commodore of the Fleet. He earns his right of passage, enduring gales, mutiny, disasters, and hunger. On a trip to the West Indies, by a trick in the fog, Joshua's crew is overpowered by the 'Scorpion' and her pirates. He is put overboard in a tiny coracle and set adrift to die. By drinking his own urine he lasts for several days, but is at the point of death when taken on board a Royal Navy ship. Joshua is insulted by the Fourth Mate and calls him out. In the dual his opponent tries a dirty trick that misfires, killing him. The Captain of the ship, impressed by Joshua, takes him on as a temporary Lieutenant. During the voyage he sees his old ship at anchor, but the RN ship can not approach.. They fight and capture French ships, and Joshua is given command of one to take back to England. There he is offered a permanent commission in the Navy, but declines. He rejoins his own fleet and they head for the West Indies again, where he retakes his ship and captures and imprisons the Scorpion. They fall in love. She is the daughter of a hidalgo, whose estate has been taken from him by an uncle. Together they go to Spain and win back the estate, though she is shot and almost dies. Joshua takes her back to Australia to meet the family and marry her, and to arrange a fantastic 65th birthday present for his father. But the best is yet to come...