James and Albert are responsible for bringing yellow fever into Liverpool. They are shocked to learn that the enquiry into the outbreak will be headed by Albert's father...

Sailing from Foochow in his chartered clipper Osiris, James picks up the lone survivor of a wrecked ship. The survivor has a strange story to tell...

James has an uneasy feeling about the Pibroch and her curious cargo. But he discovers the secret of the vessel's voyage too late. For James is aboard her-and in grave danger.