
CHAPTER I--The Admiral's Sixpence
CHAPTER II--In Defiance of Authority
CHAPTER III--The World Plot
CHAPTER IV--Shadowed
CHAPTER V--Dropping the Pilot
CHAPTER VI--Captain Crouch
CHAPTER VII--In the Hold
CHAPTER VIII--A False Witness
CHAPTER IX--The "Dresden"
CHAPTER X--The Mysterious Message
A weather‑worn tale of naval legend begins with Admiral “Swiftsure” Burke, whose life was spared by a dented sixpence during the Crimean War. The coin, twisted beyond recognition, becomes a family talisman, whispered about in London clubs as proof that fate can hinge on the smallest of objects.
Fast forward to 1914, when the admiral’s great‑grandson, Jimmy Burke, is left an orphan at seventeen. His father’s dying words—honour to God, memory of a lost mother, and the pride of being an English gentleman—drive Jimmy from a grieving Dublin home to the restless streets of New York, where he confronts poverty and the ruthless world of finance.
In this first act, Jimmy’s struggle to honor his heritage sets the stage for a journey that will take him far from the city’s bustle and back toward the sea, where his ancestors once forged their reputation.
Language
en
Duration
~7 hours (412K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
2012-03-05
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1878–1943
A British army officer turned prolific storyteller, he wrote fast-moving adventure, science fiction, and historical tales for young readers. His books capture the energy of early 20th-century boys' fiction, from lost worlds and wartime exploits to sweeping imperial adventures.
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