A rescued waif from a wreck is taken aboard fishing vessels and comes of age amid life on the banks. The narrative interweaves vivid descriptions of seine and trawl work with dramatic sea hazards — storms, ice entrapment, whale encounters, and a monstrous devil-fish — along with episodes of kidnapping, rescue, fogbound navigation, and voyages to northern coasts. Encounters with a steam yacht, geysers, and remote communities broaden the setting, while discoveries about the boy’s origins lead toward homecoming. The account emphasizes courage, loyalty, practical seamanship, and the close bonds formed among those who make their living at sea.