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.