<P>When Tom Chantry comes west to buy cattle he quickly runs into trouble. During a drunken scuffle in a bar Dutch Akin challenges Chantry to a gunfight. Leaving town rather than face Akin Chantry is quickly branded a coward.</p><P>Later when hiring men to take his herd to the railroad Chantry faces a dilemma: No one wants to make the long dangerous ride with a leader of questionable courage. So when French Williams a shrewd and ruthless cattleman makes Chantry an offer Tom reluctantly accepts his unusual terms: Tom must remain with the drive from start to finish. If he fails to do so the entire herd will belong to French.</P><P>Tom quickly learns that life is not going to be made easy for him. The first man French hires is Dutch Akin.</P>