Set at the beginning of WWII. After his parents are killed in a fire, Stephen Hull runs away to the Solomon Islands to sign on as a deckhand on a boat ran by his late father's friend, Teddy "Skipper" Simms. In the beginning things run smooth until the niece of the island's wealthy owner shows up. Now Stephen has to face his feelings for the girl and the threat of war. On top of everything the Skipper is hiding a secret from his past; one Stephen is determined to find out.