In 1871, professional gambler John Devlin elopes with Sandra"Sandy" Poli, daughter of Marko Poli, a person who has climbed to railroad tycoon. Sandy, knowing that the railroad must be extended into Dakota, plans to use their nestegg that is 20,000 to purchase land choices to market to the railroad at a profit. On the point trip to Ft. Abercrombie, their fellow passengers are Jim Bender and Bigtree Collins, that almost have town of Fargo and Devlin is aware they are well prepared to guard the tiny empire... attempting drive the farmers out by burning their land, ruining their wheat, and attributing the devastation on the Indians. Continuing their travel north on the river aboard the"River Bird','' Sandy and John meet Captain Bounce, an irascible older seafarer. Two of Bendender's henchmen, Slagin and Carp, board the boat and relieve John of the $20,000 in gun point. Captain Bounce, chasing the robber's dinghy. .