The story chronicles the travels of three people across the Northland Trail in the Yukon, as they try to reach civilization before spring.
As the story begins, Mason, Ruth and the Malemute kid are on the Yukon Northland trail, the temperature is colder than −50 degrees, and they are trying to reach civilization before the spring.
Malemute kid and Ruth chop away the tree, build a fire and wrap Mason in furs.
With only five pounds of flour remaining for the 200 miles of wilderness in front of them, Malemute kid and Ruth have no choice but to continue on their journey without Mason, who has fallen into a coma.
Ruth, a native who is not accustomed to showing grief, kisses Mason and blindly takes off on her sled towards civilization.
As Malemute kid waits for Mason's death, "the White Silence seemed to sneer, and a great fear came upon him."
Mason's heart stops beating, and Malemute kid races in his sled across the snow with Ruth.