Sold by his father for four guineas, Patrick Devlin knows just how cheap life is in a world of slavery, violence and greed. Devlin is taken as a servant by Captain John Coxon of the Royal Navy, whose job in this uneasy peace time is to protect the stupendous wealth of the East India Trading Company. But when pirates sink Coxon's ship, Devlin willingly trades his servile existence for their life of dangerous liberty. And when he sets off in pursuit of a secret cargo of French bullion, it is Coxon - disgraced and hungry for revenge - who is despatched to bring his former dog to heel.