James Wellman was conducting a seismic survey for World Oil in an area called the Reed Table Mount. It is across the ocean deep Palawan Trough from Palawan Island of the Philippines. A typhoon destroyed their ship and it was thought all was lost until they received a demand for ransom from a pirate who claimed to have a "round-eye" for trade in return for platinum bars to buy him a metal ship. Rescue efforts led to island confrontations, and finally to Bugsuk Island where a love affair between the Indonesian seismic boat steersman and the pirate's daughter added to their deepening conflict.