A whaling voyage anchored off the icy coasts of Kamschatka becomes a test of seamanship and endurance as a captain, his young niece who wears a small golden harpoon, and the wary first mate confront drifting floes and a field of whales. A dangerous ice jam separates boats, leading to a stove boat, confinement on ice, makeshift barricades, and long periods adrift while crews pursue or evade whales. The narrative follows the sailors and the girl through frantic chases, a mysterious disappearance, and an unexpected encounter that ultimately resolves the immediate peril and brings the episode to a close.