Tintin buys a model ship for Captain Archibald Haddock, but the ship is stolen. Later, Tintin realizes that a piece of parchment was inside the mast, and it reveals the location of a sunken pirate treasure. But Tintin's wallet is stolen, which has the piece of paper in it. Later, The Bird Brothers kidnap Tintin for his parchment, but he does not have it. After a long car and plane chase, Max Bird and his brother are safely behind bars. The two detectives, Thompson and Thomson, retrieve Tintin's wallet, and the 4, with the help of Professor Cuthbert Calculus, leave to go find the treasure of Red Rackham the pirate.