John knows that he’s lucky to be working up on deck, in the fresh air. He’s still a convict boy, but at least he’s not chained in the ship’s hold, with all the adult convicts. He feels even luckier when he is put in charge of looking after all of the animals on board. But when the convict ship strikes a reef under the water, John doesn’t know if he’ll even be able to keep himself safe ‘ let alone all of the animals.