The trip down the Yukon River from Lake Bennett to Dawson City is exciting and dangerous, but Davey's adventures don't end once he arrives at the bustling mining town. Dawson is overrun with sad-looking, abandoned dogs Davey longs to help, but what can a twelve-year-old boy do? And how will he ever find his uncle Walt among the thousands of people who have flocked to the Klondike in search of gold? Even more important, what will happen to him if he can't?

But Davey's problems are forgotten when fire threatens to destroy the town. Will Dawson survive? And will Davey find what he's looking for among the ashes?