When a rancher is deserted by his regular cattle drivers for the gold mines, he (Wayne) is forced to take on a collection of young boys as his drivers in order to cross the 400 treacherous miles to get his herd to market in time to avoid financial disaster. The boys learn to do a man's job under his tutelage, however, neither he nor the boys are aware that a gang of cattle thieves is stalking them.

"Chester Graham, Jr., the spoiled teenage son of a railroad tycoon, gets lost in the desert but is rescued by Dan Matthews, a cattle herder on his way to San Diego. As they head toward civilization together, the young greenhorn gets an education in the value of hard work and survival tactics from his experienced guide"--Container.