&quot;Steer clear of that ship,&quot; warns the mysterious gentleman who shares a coach with John and his father. &quot;Death she'll bring you,&quot; says the man. &quot;It's the way of a ship that was christened with blood.&quot;<br><br>This is an ominous introduction to the schooner John is about to be entrusted with for a voyage to London. But he's too charmed by the pretty <i>Dragon</i> to heed the advice. The ship looks clever and quick, and John can hardly wait to sail her. She was a smugglers' vessel once, but now she's his Dragon, and she'll proudly carry wool for honest trade.<br><br>But soon John will be forced to consider the gentleman's warning. And to wonder what he really knows about his bonny crew.