The story begins in July of 1864. While on boardthe Duncan, a yacht, Lord Edward Glenarvan, LadyHelena Glenarvan, and Major McNabbs, LordGlenarvan's cousin, find a bottle and break it opento retrieve the notes inside which inform them that,two years ago, Native Americans took CaptainGrant of the ship, Britannia, and two sailorsprisoners and they request assistance or they willperish.Mary and Robert Grant, Captain Grant's children,who are orphans in Scotland, meet with LadyHelena to find out if they can make an appointmentwith the Queen to organize a ship to search fortheir father and the sailors. After being denied aship, Helena proposes she, her husband, Mary,and Robert board the Duncan to look for CaptainGrant and the sailors. The yacht first stops inGlasgow to make plans for a voyage to theSouthern Seas and possibly the rest of the world.Guided by only the latitude of Captain Grant'slocation and a few words recorded on the notes inthe bottle written in three languages, the rescuemission travels to South America, Australia, andNew Zealand as the notes are reinterpreted andtheir destinations change. Each place they travel,in an effort to find Captain Grant, brings its ownexcitement and struggles to the search party.