Keith Harrington rescues a Mr. Whatmough from an attempted street robbery. Whatmough is the chief partner in the famous shipping line Whatmough, Duvant and Co and Keith is given his chance to become a cadet.
He makes friends with Peter Kelso and Dusty Miller and joins the Golden Effort - one of the famous Golden line.
They are shipwrecked on a desert island where they manage to ward off an attack by savages.