In Newport, the young seaman James Wilder becomes fascinated by a mysterious vessel and gradually realizes that its remarkable commander is the notorious pirate known as the Red Rover, drawing him into a dangerous relationship with the outlaw. Assisted by his loyal companions Dick Fid and Scipio Africanus, Wilder watches the Rover's movements while trying to warn Gertrude Grayson and her governess, Mrs. Wyllys, of an approaching danger that he cannot fully explain without revealing his own secret mission. He eventually takes command of the merchant ship Royal Caroline and sails from Newport, carrying the central characters directly into the maritime conflict surrounding the Rover.
