Kydd must pass a tough examination for his lieutenancy, but aboard the 64-gun Tenacious he faces a more daunting challenge—matching up to the high-born officers, who have spent a lifetime learning to be gentlemen. When Tenacious reaches the colonies, Kydd is caught up in the intrigue surrounding the birth of the American Navy. There, in uncharted waters, quick wits and superior seamanship once again make the difference between life and death.