Awasin, a Cree Indian boy, and Jamie, a Canadian orphan living with his uncle, the trapper Angus Macnair, are enchanted by the magic of the great Arctic wastes. When the boys have a chance to join a band of Chipeweyans on a trip to the remote Barrens, they jump at the opportunity. But when their canoe capsizes and they are separated from the group, it takes all their ingenuity to survive winter in the Barrens. Drawing on his knowledge of the ways of the wilderness and the implacable northern elements, Farley Mowat has created a memorable tale of daring and adventure.