Martin Stockley at 12 years old was underfed and undersized as the youngest of nine in a Dorset clay miner's family. But he had a sharp mind, had learned to read, write and do his numbers and had a fascination for maps. A stroke of good fortune sees him taken in as a Ship's Boy and Under Steward to the Captain in the Falcon Frigate. Gibraltar, the siege of Toulon and Barbary pirates all feature in this tale of growing up. Luck and a lot of Dorset courage sees him at the centre of a series of adventures. Blood, guts, a beautiful Contessa and prize money. What more could a young lad from Dorset ask for.