Ned Huddleston is a slave who accompanies his owner into the Civil War. When his owner is mortally wounded, he gives Ned a letter giving him his freedom and adds advice on a route to freedom from the Confederacy. Ned eventually arrives in Texas where he stands up to some town toughs which forces him into the life of an outlaw and the target of the Texas Rangers.

He eventually learns to live off the land and with various Indian tribes. After helping rustlers steal a herd of cattle and hiding them the charcoal Bottoms the supplied water, grass and protection from severe winter weather. There he met Tickup, an unattractive Shoshone Indian woman who had a daughter who was obviously fathered by an upper class white man. Discovering the little girl Missy was abused by Tickup's current partner, Ned steps in as Missy's protector and replacement father.

This leads to many dangerous adventures in which Ned escapes certain death a number of times. Constantly fighting racism and let downs by friends and partners, Ned eventually realizes that he will face more adventures as he moves west. ( )