In 1774, Richard Bolitho is a newly appointed Third Lieutenant, joining the 28-gun frigate Destiny. Dispatched on a secret mission, Destiny and her company face the hazards of conspiracy, treason, and piracy. It is amidst the broadside battles and clashes of swords that Bolitho learns to accept his new responsibilities as a King's officer.

In the early 20th century the US "International Code of Signals" was a very progressive way for vessels to communicate important messages regarding matters of safety and navigation. The edition of 1907 contained three sections: the first part depicts urgent and important signals and all the tables of money, weights, barometric heights, etc., together with a geographical list and a table of phrases formed with the auxiliary verbs. The second part is an index. It consists of a general vocabulary and a geographical index. The third part gives lists of the United States storm-warning, life-saving, time-signal, and wireless telegraph stations, and of Lloyd's signal stations of the world. It also contains semaphore and distant signal codes and the United States Army and Navy and Morse Wigwag Codes. Reprint of the original edition.