Harvey Cheyne washed overboard from a transatlantic steamship and rescued by fishermen off the Grand Banks of Newfoundland, the young Harvey Cheyne can neither persuade them to take him quickly to port, nor convince them that his is the son of a wealthy railroad magnate.

Disko Troop, captain of the We're Here, offers him a job as part of the crew until they return to port.

With no other choice, Harvey accepts.