Young Jimmy Nelson trudged along beside his father toward their mine, located about five miles outside of Dawson. It was late summer, and already the chill in the air predicted the long, cold winter that was to come. Jimmy was trying hard to match the long strides of his father, but he was small for thirteen years old, and his dad was a fast walker! Little Jimmy is desperate for his dad to buy him a dog, and his dad promises him that when they strike it rich, he will get him the finest dog in the Yukon.