Outside Death Valley, prospector Leatherface Bates reveals to his partner, Ford Smith, that he recently spotted three Arab men on camels and drunkenly informed them about Ford's recent gold strike. Ford, who gathered the gold solely to woo his girl friend, Betsy Blake, is happy to use this as an excuse to return to his hometown of San Bernardino, California to see her. Before he leaves the camp, however, the prospectors receive a visitor, Mary Smith, a former blackjack dealer who is returning to San Bernardino after being falsely accused of cheating in Carson City. Although Ford is at first reluctant to travel with a woman, he eventually insists that she join him for her own safety. Immediately after they leave camp, the Arabs--Hassan, Ghazili and Kafan--kill Leatherface while searching for the gold. Finding none, they follow Ford and Mary's tracks into the desert, heedless of the fact that they are out of ammunition. That night, Mary impresses Ford with her ability to start a fire and cook appetizing camp food. When Ford mentions his girl friend, Mary hesitantly informs him that she grew up with Betsy and recently attended her wedding. Ford hides his grief and they retire to bed. By morning, the Arabs catch up with them and Kafan offers to sell them his camel. Ford and Mary run, but Ford is soon slowed by his horse, which is overburdened by gold. Ford then walks alongside the horse, which slows them enough to allow the Arabs to continually catch and torment them, although with no bullets, the thieves are not seriously threatening. At a watering hole, Kafan grabs Mary's unloaded pistol, but as they flee, Hassan drops his rifle and Ford takes it. When Ford and Mary stop for the night, they kiss before going to sleep. The next day, Ford is forced to put his horse down. They trudge across the desert for days, hallucinating about water until they finally find an actual water source. There, Ford notices camel tracks, and instructs Mary to continue on with the horse and gold while he diverts the Arabs on a separate path. The plan works, and when the thieves follow Ford into the mountains, he fights them off by throwing rocks and shooting at them. Along the way, however, Ford drops a handful of bullets, which Kafan uses to load his rifle. Ford eventually escapes over the mountain and meets a relieved Mary on the other side. Soon after, they stumble onto an Indian village. Although there is a language barrier, Mary sees the tribe holding a Catholic service and realizes it is Christmas Eve. The mass is interrupted by the Arabs on camels, whom the Indians mistake for the Three Wise Men. The next day, however, the chief brings back a brave who speaks English, and Ford explains his predicament. In exchange for some gold, the Indians send a brave to show Ford and Mary a shortcut to San Bernardino. On the way, the thieves track them down again and a gunfight breaks out. With the brave helping, Ford throws both Kafan and Hassan off the cliff, and Ghazili flees. The brave then leads them to the shortcut, and as Ford and Mary take off down the trail together, he remarks how lucky it is that she will not have to change her name when they marry.