AbabyisleftontheBrimecomb`syacht,whiletheyweresailinguptheHudsonRiver,andtheyadopthimandnamehimEverett.TheyareneighborsofGovernorFloydVandecarwhosetwinchildren,FloydJr.andFledra,werekidnappedinearlyinfancy.TheirabductorwasLonCronk,amansenttoprisonbyVandecarwhenthelatterwasadistrictattorneyofthecounty.ThetwinsgrowupinCronk`sshackas"Flea"and"Flukey."DespiteherroughsurroundingsFledra/FleagrowsintolovelyyoungwomanhoodandsheandherbrotherrunawayfromCronk`scruelty.TheyreachTarrytownandpeerintothelightedwindowsofHoraceShellington`shomewhereheliveswithhissister,Anne.Annebringsthetwoyoungvagrantsintothehouseandultimatelyadoptsthem.ButCronk,aidedbyEverett,wagesalong,evilcampaigntoregainpossessionofthechildren.