Professor Bhaer's nephew Emil becomes a sailor, encouraged by Mr. Bhaer, and works hard before being promoted and taking off on his first voyage as second mate, and gets a chance to shows his true strength when he is shipwrecked and the captain becomes badly injured, as he encourages and helps the sailors and the sick captain until they find refuge on a passing ship. Dan, after wandering as a sheep herder in Australia and such, and still having the ever-present admiration of Teddy, he seeks his fortune in the West, but when Dan ends up committing the one sin he and Jo always feared he would, though it was in defense of both self and a younger boy, Blair, when he kills a man who cheats Blair in gambling, Dan is sentenced to a year in prison with hard labor, and resists a prison escape and perseveres.
Professor Bhaer's nephew Emil becomes a sailor, encouraged by Mr. Bhaer, and works diligently before being promoted to second mate on his first voyage. He demonstrates his strength when shipwrecked, aiding the sailors and the injured captain until they find refuge on another vessel. Dan, after wandering as a sheep herder in Australia, continues to be admired by Teddy, seeking his fortune in the West. However, he commits a sin that both he and Jo feared, defending Blair against cheating in gambling, leading to a year of hard labor in prison.