Steve Andrews had it made, a successful law practice in Miami, a young, beautiful wife and a sailboat to enjoy his leisure time. Then one day he woke up to find his world turned upside down. His law practice was failing and he was informed his wife was not legally his wife. To make matters worse, his wife had emptied all of his escrow and trust accounts, turned the money over to her real husband who had exchanged the funds for gold, and the authorities wanted to talk with him. In a desperate attempt to recover some money, Steve contracted to sell his sailboat to a buyer in Key West. The adventure begins when Steve decides to deliver the boat to Key West by sailing down the Intercoastal Waterway, passing through the protected area known as the backcountry on the Gulf side of the Florida Keys. Beginning his journey, Steve meets Shoestring, a common cormorant who stands as sentry on the bow of his sailboat. As he passes through natures country, Steve shares his desires and fears with Shoestring. Complicating his goal to reach Key West safely and transfer ownership of his cherished sailboat, he is informed that the missing gold is hidden on his sailboat and his wifes real husband is tracking him to recapture the missing gold.