The hero of this story, an orphaned lad by the name of Stephen Embleton, joins the merchant marine to seek an adventure in the Malay archipelago. He accompanies the remarkable, trouble-magnet Cochrane as midshipman on journeys to South American, and ends up serving in the war between Chili and Peru. He has many exciting adventures in battles in the amazon region and ends up in Brazil, embroiled in the rebellion against Portugal.  He is taken prisoner and condemned to death by the Inquisition, but escapes by a long and thrilling flight across South America, piloted by two faithful Indians. His pluck and coolness prove him a fit companion to Cochrane the Dauntless, and his final success is well deserved.