Two English officers sail a moonlit canal in the north of China, where friendship is tested by debt, duty, and the shadow of a looming punishment. In a world where money and fate entwine, a bold plan and a steadfast resolve clash with the realities of imperial justice.

On the surface, this edition follows the relationship between Ralph Pennicuick, nicknamed Steel Pen for his will, and Captain Arthur Conway, a man of charm and struggle who carries a private burden. As their voyage unfolds, the stakes rise from personal ruin to a life-or-death crisis that touches families back home. The narrative blends sharp character study with atmosphere-filled scenes of travel, confinement, and the moral weight of a possible escape.

Meet two very different men whose past choices shape their present danger.
Observe the tension between wealth, honor, and the burden of obligation.
Feel the pull of a distant land where colonial duties meet intimate loyalties.
Follow the slow pressure of a verdict that could seal a man's fate.

Ideal for readers who enjoy classic adventure with political backdrop and deep personal stakes.

"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.

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We first started out as ?The Paperback Exchange,? a chain of physical bookstores where we would part exchange your beloved books for new stories to transport you to faraway places. However, as shopping started to evolve to online shops and marketplaces, we bid our stores goodbye to become ?PBShop.? This transition has only allowed us to blossom as we now ship thousands of titles to book lovers across the globe. We pride ourselves in being a community of local book lovers which allows our passion and devotion to shine in everything we do. In 2020 we not only celebrated our 20th birthday but our 1st birthday as being completely employee owned after becoming an E.O.T in September 2019. We are proud to be different and embrace standing apart on a book mountain by working from a virtual inventory which allows us to provide thousands of books that may be difficult to get for your bookshelf or your studies. Working with a number of different suppliers allows us to explore other avenues such as puzzles, sheet music and even stationery so we really do have something for everyone. Life is about being versatile in all realms of existence. If this is your first visit or you are a returning customer, we would like to welcome you to the PBShop family, for there is no friend as loyal as a book. We are a company who put our customers at the centre of everything we do as we understand the importance of reading because once you learn to read, you will forever be free. There are a whole lot of things in this world of ours that we are yet to explore, which is why we will forever inspire curious minds.

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We ask all customers to contact us for authorisation should they wish to return their order. Orders returned without authorisation may not be credited.
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