- Hercules Napoleon Cameron, who finds his adventure in books, is searching the waterfront with Alice Winthrop for a friend's father when they are shanghaied and taken aboard "The Finn's" ship, bound for the South Seas. "The Finn" is a brutal captain who reinforces his authority with a caged, ape-like monster. "The Thing" escapes during a storm, destroys the captain and crew, then turns on Alice and Nap. Fearing that their last moment has arrived, they declare their love for each other, and Nap suddenly develops a heroic impulse. He holds off the monster for a time, Alice and Nap swim for shore closely followed by "The Thing," and Nap finally drowns the beast with the aid of a large abalone.—AFI
- Hercules Napoleon Cameron, "Nap," cannot live up to the name which his parents have given him. He is bashful, self-conscious, and turns to books to find the adventures which he cannot seek in real life. Nap is in love with Alice Winthrop. He befriends a crippled newsboy, son of a longshoreman whom Nap has frequently had to drag home from the waterfront where bootleg liquor is served to the sailors. One day, Alice decides to accompany Nap to the waterfront saloon, in search of the newsboy's father. She disguises herself as a youth by wearing a man's cap. Harry Gaines, strong and courageous, who is Nap's rival for Alice, assures Nap there will be no danger to Alice, since he will also accompany them. The proprietor of the saloon, resenting Nap's interference, has the three shanghaied on board a bootleg schooner commanded by "The Finn," a brutal sea captain. The Finn uncovers Alice's disguise and orders her to his cabin. When she refuses, he tells Alice and Nap to look through a small opening in a cage on the upper deck of the schooner. The pair are horror struck at "The Thing" inside. Finn tells Alice she can choose between his cabin or the cage. He gives her until nightfall to decide and locks her in the hold of the schooner. A tremendous storm breaks out, during which The Thing breaks from its cage and wreaks vengeance, one by one, upon the crew. Nap attempts to rescue Alice. Breaking free from The Finn, the pair spend a day and night of terror in the hold. Alice confesses her love for Nap, which fills him with courage. At dawn of the third day, an island is sighted and Alice jumps ship, followed later by Nap. The Thing jumps in after them and the time comes in which Nap must face "the last moment." He has read that a man can drown another if he locks him close in an embrace and goes down with him. He also believes it means death for him, but safety for Alice. So Nap turns and swims towards The Thing. During their battle, The Thing is seized by a huge abalone and is drowned. Nap is united with Alice on the island.
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