Halfhyde and the Chain Gangs

Murder and chicanery involving a consignment of gold bullion stalk St Vincent Halfhyde as he takes the square-rigged ship Glen Hallandale on govenment service from Devonport dockyard to Cape Town. His "cargo" consists of a large draft of convicts from Dartmoor Prison, volunteers for the fight against the Boers in South Africa - volunteers who travel in chain gangs and under strong escort or armed warders in Halfhyde's hastily converted holds. The voyage proves a turbulent one through bad weather and the temper-inflaming heat and stickiness of the Doldrums. Vicious fighting develops when a party from a mysterious steam yacht attempts to board the Glen Hallandale and seeks to make contact with a gentleman convict. Conditions in the hold are appalling and the chain gangs are stirred to riot by their murderous ringleaders.


Genre: Historical