Halfhyde Line

St Vincent Halfhyde, now out of the Navy and master and owner of the elderly steamship TARONGA PARK, is on passage from Sydney to Queenstown in the south of Ireland. Whilst in the Pacific, his ship is taken over by the man from whom he obtained his cargo - Porteous Higgins. The ship's cargo, said to be machine parts, consists of guns destined for rebel enclaves in the West of Ireland. After the murder of his Chief Engineer, Halfhyde attempts to warn the British Government. But the Naval authorities fail to react in time and allow Higgins and his thugs to enter Cork harbour with the arms consignment. Halfhyde, determined to thwart Porteous Higgins' schemes, heads north with the loyal members of his crew to a confrontation with the rebels themselves in the wild, mountainous territory of Connemara. Philip McCutchan served on every type of warship during the Second World War. A prolific writer, he has over 60 novels to his credit, all meticulously researched, with naval details described with accuracy and atmosphere.