The old man Sage taught Maurice Farinet many things and one of them was the location of a secret vein of gold. After Sage died, Farinet began to make coins. This story commences with Farinet's second escape from prison, hiding from the police in his beloved mountains, aided and abetted by the locals, in particular the waitress Josephine. It was she who smuggled file and rope into prison for him. But the law closes in and Farinet understands he cannot stay an outlaw forever. When a local offical brings him an offer from the government - to turn himself in and serve just six months Farinet has to consider. Based on a true story, Ramuz tells an extraordinary tale of mountains and villages, of independence and the price of freedom.