It’s the 1840’s along the Mississippi River and Mike Fink must live in the shadow of his infamous father, with no one giving him a fair shake. Mike and a black slave, Cletus, believing they will be charged for two murders on the riverboat, escape capture through the backwoods of Illinois, down the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, heading as far away from Cairo as they can. Being chased by the law and outlaws too, will Mile and Cletus finally make it to Memphis and freedom?