[3] Baillie Island is located just off the coast of Cape Bathurst, separated from the peninsula by a 2 mi (3.2 km) shallow strait.
A Hudson's Bay Company expedition is ordered to establish a fort above the 70th parallel north to support fur trapping.
The expedition leaders are misled by the appearances of Cape Bathurst into thinking it is a favorable place for settlement.
For all intents the cape appears to be very suitable since it has fresh water and is well wooded, with rich soil, vegetation, and abundant wildlife.
During the winter, a volcanic eruption occurs nearby, and unknown to the settlers, the link to the continent is broken and the iceberg "Cape Bathurst" floats into the Arctic Ocean, carrying away the novel's protagonists.