Terence, Jack, and Alick met as boys at a boarding school, and later entered the Navy together. While sailing with different ships, their paths have interwoven and they have had many adventures together: first as midshipmen, then as Lieutenants. In this volume, we see the young men rise to the rank of Commanders. But along with the fame and responsibility, the perils waiting for them increase, too. In this way, we see Terence, Jack, Alick, and their young companions chase slavers around the coast of Africa, saving and freeing as many enslaved people as possible, going through fierce sea battles, and finally heading toward Russia to fight in the Crimean War.