Malcolm Magnusson is a Senator from Boston whose son, Marcus, has been kidnapped and is being held captive in Mexico. His first thought is to get hold of Tovar Cooke who has protected him in the past. Tovar is a young student from a local college, Massachusetts Arts and Engineering, who is a tough transplanted blacksmith from the rugged Dakota Territory and has provided effective protection for the Magnusson family in the past. Tovar readily agrees to undertake this mission as it would be a relatively easy accomplishment. However, immediately obstacles crop up. Everyone wants to go along. These greenhorns obviously don't understand the many and varied dangers associated with the area they would have to enter. The environment will be hostile to these city people. The Mexican culture is so far different that it wouldn't take long for a novice to get into trouble. The 'authorities' would not be any help and in fact could be downright contentious. A group this size could not go covert. But it is not long before they have Tovar concede, however, only if he can get some folks from back home to accompany them. Together they ride off into certain disaster.