Madge Sterling arrives at Cheltham Bay to spend a few weeks with her friend, Enid Burnett, and her father on their yacht, The Flora. Much to Madge's surprise, no one meets her at the dock. Madge hires a man to row her out to the yacht which appears to be deserted. Madge finds that Mr. Burnett's room has been ransacked and then discovers Enid a prisoner in the closet. Enid reports that her father has been abducted by several men.

A ransom note is found the next day, requesting that Enid deliver Mr. Burnett's Zudi Drum Bowl to a location approximately 50 miles up the coast. Madge and Enid wonder why the kidnappers want the bowl instead of money. Enid is determined to take the bowl to the requested meeting place, but Madge and Enid's friend, Rex Stewart, are unconvinced of the wiseness of the mission. They follow Enid on her journey so that they can help her if something goes wrong.