While Anash seeks spiritual help on a mountain ledge, Kole discovers slavers taking captives south to the Russian settlement at Yu Tatoosh. Anash and Kole disagree on whether to resort to violence or to plan to out-smart those at the Russian settlement. Instead, posing as criminals, the boys infiltrate the slavers camp and bide their time for a chance to free the captives as they travel to Yu Tatoosh.