Tom Masters, a nineteenth century naval officer, is a round peg in a square hole.

A tantalising glimpse of a stranger leads him to jump ship on a quest to find her. His adventures, interwoven with the life of a young Robert Louis Stevenson, take Tom from the Isle of Skye to Canada. There he encounters others who have been jettisoned by society, including Silent Owl, a Native American who becomes his soulmate. But, danger and exposure threaten Tom's every move as he is forced to continue on his journey...