The narrative follows Ben O’Dell, a youth who discovers a large red pirogue lodged at a salmon net and its grave, resourceful occupant, a young girl arriving with a letter of introduction; their meeting draws them into a series of riverine adventures and community crises. Episodes range from drifting fires and mysterious changes in animal and human behavior to confrontations with the law and furtive visitors at the French River, hunting and tracking scenes, traps and working dogs, and a desperate sick-man rescue resolved in the nick of time. Themes include survival, loyalty, and practical courage in a rugged riverside landscape.