Daniel agrees to a request of a friend to take his son, whom he regards as spoiled and irresponsible, and teach him the ways of the wilderness and learn something more manly than the painting the young man seems most interested in. Daniel and the young man both get more than they were bargaining for in the process.

While on a surveying mission for the Continental Congress, Daniel and David get caught in the middle of a dispute between two women and a man bent on destroying their salt mine operation.