Sandokan

Sandokan and Yañez are in a room at the fort listening carefully to a pirate deciphering signs written on a palm leaf. These signs will tell them how to get to the land of Sandokan’s ancestors. Just then, Sambigliong comes in. Sambigliong has discovered that Nasumbata is hiding among the Dayakos. Nasumbata is a spy of the Rajah of Lake Kin-Bally, who with much bloodshed, seized the throne rightfully belonging to SANDOKAN’s parents.

Sandokan and his pirates head for Kin-Bally, following the instructions given to them by Nasumbata before he died, but when they sight the coasts of Kin-Bally they are warned off by cannon shots. The pirates make ready to face the enemy ships belonging to the Rajah of Sarawak, which have discovered them and are about to launch an attack. The attack on the paraos captained by Sandokan and Yañez is a furious one. Due to the superiority of the Rajah’s ships with their great size and guns, Sandokan’s parao is sunk. In the heat of the battle it is not possible to see what fate has befallen Yañez’s vessel.

Sandokan comes round and finds himself in a comfortable, luxurious room in the house belonging to Lord James Guillonk. He is captivated by the sweet music of a mandolin coming from the garden. A gentleman comes into the room. It is Lord James, who tells Sandokan how he has come to his house. Sandokan tells Lord James that he is a Malayan prince and asks him where the music is coming from. Lord James sends for a young woman, his niece Mariana. Sandokan immediately falls in love with her.

Lord James Guillonk travels to Victoria, the capital of Labuan, where the Baronet’s suspicions as to Sandokan’s true identity are confirmed. On his return he tells his niece of his intention to take Sandokan prisoner. As Mariana is in love with Sandokan, she warns him of her uncle’s plans, telling him to expect betrayal. Lord James’ men try to capture him, but he escapes, first swearing to Mariana that he will return for her. He flees through the jungles and hides in a tree, where he overhears the conversation of those pursuing him. This helps him to decide on the best route of escape from the fort.

Back in Mompracem, Sandokan tells Yañez of his adventures since the time when the parao was sunk, of how he had reached Labuan, his meeting with Giro-Batol and, specially, of his great love for Mariana and his intention to return for her. Yañez, who had thought that Sandokan was gone forever, tells him how they had managed to save themselves after the attack by the Rajah of Sarawak’s men. Forever true to Sandokan’s desires, Yañez sets about making the ships ready to leave for Labuan as soon as possible in search of Mariana. Sandokan has nightmares about Mariana in which he chases his rival, Baronet Roshental, with his sabre to keep him for trying to woo her.

Having escaped from Mompracem, Sandokan and Yañez make for Pangutarang with the remaining men and ships.

Led by Sandokan and Yañez, the fleet sails for Labuan to take Mariana away. During the voyage the sky turns a menacing colour and there is a terrible hurricane. Two of the ships are lost in the storm.

Having tricked Lord Guillonk’s soldiers, Sandokan and Yañez have managed to get into the grounds to the house and remain hidden. Seeing and hearing what is going on inside.

Sought by the soldiers, Sandokan and Yañez have spent the night near Lord Guillonk’s mansion. At daybreak, they wait for an opportunity to jump over the palisade and escape.

Everything goes according to plan. Yañez volunteers to make sure there are no pirates around the house and grounds. He takes this opportunity to seek out Sandokan (who is waiting by the side of the road) and tell him the time when Lord James’ group will be leaving the house.

With Mariana safely aboard, Sandokan and his men head for Mompracem. On the way they stop off at a small island inhabited by fishermen who are allies of the Tiger of Malaysia. A fisherman asks them to follow him and takes them to his house, where he briefs them on the situation in Mompracem: the island has been occupied by an enemy garrison who have taken the pirates prisoner and are closely watching their positions. Sandokan decides to set off for Mompracem without delay.

Sandokan explains his plan to his men. It is a rearguard offensive. At night, Yañez (still dressed up as a high ranking officer) makes good use of the arrival in the bay of a large number of small boats which are sending up signal flares to make the soldiers believe that a large fleet is approaching Mompracem.

The liberation of Mompracem is celebrated by all at a great feast. Sandokan takes advantage of the occasion to introduce Mariana to all. All the pirates swear to defend the Pearl of Labuan with their lives.

Just as peace seems to have settled over the island, Tangusa, Tremal-Naik’s quartermaster, arrives to ask for the pirates’ help.

With their men, Sandokan, Yañez and Tremal-Naik enter the jungle where they will face countless dangers. Among other things, they are attacked by an enormous rhinoceros. The battle is terrible and Sandokan almost loses his life, but thanks to the aid of a young woman called Surama with her two elephants, they win through.

Surama leads Sandokan, Yañez, Tremal-Naik and the men across the dangerous marsh. They reach the pagoda in which Suyodhama is holding the girl. They manage to get in through a skylight, climbing down from a light. There they are disturbed by the Thugs, who give battle to the Tigers of Malaysia. The Tigers win but there is no trace of Damna.

Sandokan, Yañez, Tremal-Naik and some of the men head for Delhi, in search of Suyodhama’s trail. On the way they come across burned-down hamlets and villages destroyed in an uprising. Their greatest worry is how to cross the rebel lines without arousing suspicion. On the outskirts of Delhi they are stopped by the men of Abu-Assam, who is one of the rebel leaders. While they are being held at the rebel camp, Tremal-Naik learns that an old friend of his, Bedar, is also there. He asks him for help and if he has any news of his daughter. Bedar warns them of the danger of revealing their true identity.

Sandokan and his friends are locked in a prison cell waiting for a chance to escape. The position is difficult as the cell is in a tower. Several guards stand watch over the door and two Thugs are positioned outside to stop them from trying to escape through the windows of the tower.

Happy than Damna is finally safe and to have finished with Suyodhama once and for all, Sandokan, Yañez and Surama take their leave of Tremal-Naik and head for the “Mariana” in order to return to Mompracem. Surama has stolen Yañez’s heart and decides to go with them.

The Tigers of Malaysia are back in Mompracem. News from Labuan has reached the island. Lord Guillonk is making the arrangements for the wedding between his niece and Baronet Roshental. Sandokan is furious and can think of nothing but rescuing Mariana, which will be extremely difficult. Aware of this, Yañez is trying to think of a trick to get to Mariana without having to face the Baronet’s fleet. Surama has a marvellous idea: since Mariana is popular and held in great esteem by the natives, who call her the “Pearl of Labuan”, why no have them pay tribute to her in a celebration in honour of her forthcoming wedding? It would be ease for the pirates to disguise themselves as natives.