The first edition of this book is dated 1880. The edition used is dated 1880. The publisher was Gall & Inglis, 25 Paternoster Square, London & Edinburgh. The number of pages is 440.

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General information

This is quite a difficult book to get the gist of. It is a tale of inheritance. A family inhabiting a castle in Shetland, a group of islands to the north of Scotland, is also apparently entitled to a title and lands in Spain and elsewhere. But who of the Shetland family is the rightful heir? The Spanish usurpers are well aware that the true heir is in Shetland, and their agent is a priest who appears several times in the book.

Apart from all this there is a background of seamanship and sailing vessels, for the time is just after the Napoleonic War with France. This of course is the setting in which Kingston excels as an author.

You will probably need a pencil and paper when you are working out who Ronald Morton really is, but the story is a fascinating one, and you will enjoy the task. It’s about fourteen hours as an audiobook. NH.

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Contents

Chapter I.
The Spanish Man-of-war off Shetland—A Calm—The “Saint Cecilia” in Danger—The Pilot—Brassay Sound.

Chapter II.
Lunnasting Castle—The Stranger Ship—Sandy Redland, The Factor—Archy Eagleshay—Miss Wardhill’s Visitors—The Disappearance of the Heir.

Chapter III.
Lawrence Brindister visits the Spanish Ship—Don Hernan invited to the Castle—Surly Grind, Lawrence’s Dog.

Chapter IV.
Hilda’s first meeting with Don Hernan—Hilda on board the Corvette—Rolf Morton pilots the ship—Cruise in the “Saint Cecilia.

Chapter V.
Lawrence’s expedition—Hilda’s marriage in the old Chapel—A Storm.

Chapter VI.
Rolf Morton’s history—Don Hernan and Hilda in the Morton’s house—Morton dispatched to the corvette.

Chapter VII.
Don Hernan and Hilda at the Castle—The Spanish Officers on Shore—Don Hernan ordered to quit Shetland.

Chapter VIII.
Rolf Morton’s Expedition—Watches the corvette—Hilda’s marriage discussed—The storm—A ship seen driving towards shore.

Chapter IX.
Navie Grind described—The Wreck on shore—The Ship Dashed to Pieces—The Rescued.

Chapter X.
Guests at the Castle—The Heir of Lunnasting—Lawrence Brindister’s Cave.

Chapter XI.
Father Mendez in Spain—The Marquis and his old Shipmates—Captain Tacon the ex-Pirate.

Chapter XII.
A Strange Schooner appears off Lunnasting—The Castle attacked—The Pirates enter the Castle—Young Hernan carried off.

Chapter XIII.
Arrival of Sir Marcus—Hilda and her Sister—A Brig of War appears—Edda’s Marriage—Rolf Morton sails on a long Voyage.

Chapter XIV.
The Fleet at Spithead—Rolf Morton’s Visit to Shetland—Rolf takes Ronald to Sea—The Thisbe and French Frigate—Ronald Morton’s first Battle—The Enemy strikes.

Chapter XV.
Morning after the Battle—Ronald placed on Quarterdeck—Ronald sent on Board the Prize—A Suspicious Sail in Sight—Gallant Defence of the “Thisbe”—Night closes on the Fight.

Chapter XVI.
The “Thisbe’s” Crew prepare for a Fresh Fight.

Chapter XVII.
The “Concorde” recaptured by the “Atalante”—The Ships in a Gale—The “Atalante” wrecked—Ronald swims ashore—Communication established—The English shut up in a Tower.

Chapter XVIII.
Job’s Plan for escaping—A Hint from Gerardin—A Rope brought in a Basket—Descent from the Tower—The Guard made Prisoner—Get on board a Fishing-boat.

Chapter XIX.
A Sail in sight—A Gale comes on—Reach the Frigate—Ronald rejoins the “Thisbe”—Made Lieutenant.

Chapter XX.
Ronald Second Lieutenant of the “Thisbe”—a Ball at Calcutta—Ronald’s Gallantry—A Challenge—His Reply.

Chapter XXI.
Party at Mrs. Edmonstone’s—Introduction to Colonel Armytage—Visit to the “Osterley”—The “Thisbe” Ordered to Bombay.

Chapter XXII.
“Thisbe” in search of the “Osterley”—A Chase—The “Osterley” overtaken—Found in possession of the French—Retaken—The Passengers not on board—Morton placed in command of the “Osterley”—The unknown Island—Old Doull acts as Pilot.

Chapter XXIII.
What had befallen the “Osterley”—Had been taken by the Enemy and carried into Port—Passengers kept Prisoners on the Island.

Chapter XXIV.
The “Thisbe” approaches the Island—Old Doull’s Revelations as to the “Osterley’s” Passengers—The Frigate put under French Colours—Expedition in the Boats—Attack on the Forts—“Osterley’s” Passengers carried off.

Chapter XXV.
Difficulty of Navigation—An old Enemy appears—Enemy chases the “Osterley”—The “Thisbe” Appears.

Chapter XXVI.
Ronald joins Lord Claymore’s Ship—The “Pallas” at sea—A Chase—Enemy’s Fleet in sight—“Pallas” chased by Enemy—Lord Claymore’s Manoeuvre—Escape of “Pallas.

Chapter XXVII.
Lord Claymore and the Fire Ships—“Pallas” Engages Black Frigate—Colonel Armytage in the Peninsula.

Chapter XXVIII.
Ronald joins the “Imperious”—Chase of a Felucca—The Marquis de Medea—The Spanish Priest—Ronald astonishes the Priest.

Chapter XXIX.
Ronald meets his Father—Old Doull recognises Rolf Morton—Morton recognises Father Mendez—Rolf Morton’s Diplomacy—A Fort attacked—Blue Jackets on Shore.

Chapter XXX.
Lord Claymore on Shore—Morton again meets Edda—Ronald’s new Friend, Don Josef.

Chapter XXXI.
A Spanish Inn—The Spaniards aroused to Arms—Ronald heads a Guerilla Band—Edda rescued by Ronald.

Chapter XXXII.
Colonel Armytage wounded—Crossing the Bay of Biscay—Chased during a Gale—The Brig dismasted—Captured.

Chapter XXXIII.
The “Imperious” homeward bound—The Fire-Ships are prepared—The French Fleet in Basque Roads—Ronald conducts a Fire-Ship—General Explosion of Fire-Ships.

Chapter XXXIV.
Edda in Gerardin’s Power—The Frigate steers for Rochelle—Captain Tacon—Pedro Altarez and Father Mendez—Tacon betrays Lord Claymore’s Plans.

Chapter XXXV.
The Frigate attempts to escape from the Fire-Ship—The Burning Frigate—Danger of the Passengers—Escape from the Burning Ship—On board the “Scorpion”—Lord Claymore ill supported—The “Scorpion” sent to the North Sea.

Chapter XXXVI.
Lunnasting Castle—Lawrence Brindister—Lawrence’s mysterious sayings—Unpleasant Announcement to Sir Marcus—Arrival of the “Scorpion”—The Priest’s Visit to Hilda.

Chapter XXXVII.
Ronald visits Lunnasting Castle—Legal Visitors arrive at Lunnasting—The rightful Heir discovered—The Prince has got his ain again.

Chapter XXXVIII.
The Priest goes in search of Hernan—The “Scorpion” engages a French Ship—The Victor’s Return.

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