A nineteenth-century boy, floating down the Mississippi River on a raft with a runaway slave, becomes involved with a feuding family, two scoundrels pretending to be royalty, and Tom Sawyer's aunt, who mistakes him for Tom.
When young Edward VI of England and a poor boy who resembles him exchange places, each learns something about the other's very different station in life.
The story of a fourteen-year-old runaway boy and an escaped slave in 19th century Missouri, and their adventures as they float down the Mississippi River.