When his parents die David Balfour goes to live with his Uncle Ebenezer Balfour. While there David discovers that his uncle robbed his father of his inheritance. After confronting his Uncle, David is sent on a task that appears to be a lightly veiled attempt to cause David’s death by accident. When this fails David is lured upon a ship where he is knocked out and held captive. The plan is to take David to the Americas and sell him into servitude. There follows many many adventures for David Balfour.