Waiting to cross the Colorado River, Shadrac Cain is approached by a young man with a mysterious mission. He had been sent by a rich and powerful man, who was willing to pay a large sum of money for Cain’s help. Since he wouldn’t have to go far out of his way to meet with the wealthy man, he chose to go along. Had the wealthy man known how little Cain cared about money, he could have offered him a spotted pup and Shad would have been just as likely to accept. The Railroad man’s grandson had been taken by the Apaches and they believed he was in the Sierra Madres below the border. The Mexican officials had no intention of going into the mountains looking for a towheaded gringo boy. Cain’s first thought was that the Apache way of life was a good way to live, and the boy would be just fine. But when the boy’s mother entered the room, he had no choice but to go get him. A man can refuse many things, but few can say no to a tearful mother.