Harvey Cheyne, Jr., the world’s second wealthiest individual, is a pampered orphan who experiences a life-changing journey while en route to a boarding school in England. After becoming seasick and falling overboard, he is saved by Dan Troop, a crew member on a Gloucester fishing vessel. Harvey spends three months at sea under the guidance of the strict yet just Captain Troop, who enforces a rule of earning $10.50 a month with the condition that no work means no food. This challenging and perilous lifestyle forces Harvey to mature significantly through adversity and sorrow.