Abbie Chipman is a 17 year old nature-loving tomboy from Eastham, Cape Cod when her father, the mysterious whaling Captain Barnabus Chipman is reported missing near the Galapagos Islands. In order to receive insurance from The Company death must be proven and Abbie decides to travel around South America to uncover the truth surrounding her father’s death. Aboard the famous scientist Louis Agassiz’s research vessel Hassler she has a number of adventures on her way to the Galapagos. Ultimately she discovers that her father was not the mean-spirited man she thought he was. Rather he died trying to prevent the Galapagos Islands being taken from Ecuador by the American government.