As the Mayflower sets sail, William Small, the ship's apprentice, looks back sadly as he leaves his family behind in England. He has never crossed the sea before, and truth be told, he is fair excited, and a bit afraid. Still, he works hard belaying the lines, learning to use a quadrant, and helping to chart the ship's course.

Soon Will meets Ellen Moore, a young passenger girl who, like himself, is traveling without her family. The two form a bond that sustains them through what becomes a grueling and harrowing journey. Halfway across the sea, the winds begin to lash fiercely, and an angry storm descends. The endless pitching and rocking of the ship causes leaks and terrible seasickness. The cold, damp conditions add to their misery in the many dark days that follow. And they are blown off course when the sails are furled and the ship is left to drift in the hands of God.  Who knows if they will ever see dry land again.

Photographed in full color on board the Mayflower II, a reproduction of the original Mayflower, here is a dramatic and accurate portrayal of the voyage that left an indelible mark on American history.

From the dust jacket