When 12-year old Tom York's mother dies, he discovers that she was the wild and daring highwayman Swiftnick a title which now passes to him. Tom loves the fame and glory that come with the title ˜Swiftnick', but isn't so keen on the dangerous highway stuff. Tom's vanity is coupled with an overblown sense of his ability as a highwayman: his vanity and over-confidence regularly land his gang in trouble.