Young Frederick Musgrave was never more agile than when navigating his sculler across the waters of the Tyne between the busy seaports of North & South Shields in 1843. Already his services were in demand as a carrier of messages & certain small packages for those whose activities made them the target of the Customs & Excise men. As well as agile Freddie was also reckoned to be lucky but on such a night as brought him to The Towers the home of Mr Roderick Gallagher both luck & courage were to be tested to the limit. From that night on things really began to happen to Freddie & the best of them came when he gained the friendship & patronage of Miss Maggie Hewitt who was to play a major role in shaping his life & fortunes. But he would still need all his luck & resourcefulness to escape the long shadow cast by Roderick Gallagher whose power & influence threatened all who crossed his path.. .