Beginning of the XX century. In the wild Siberian taiga, a group of convicts escapes, among them the young revolutionary Pavel Nechaev. A bounty has been placed on their heads, and a group of mercenaries led by the cruel Kudim immediately sets off in search of them. Having caught up with the fugitives, the hunters brutally crack down on the convicts, but Pavel manages to escape. Fleeing from reprisals, he takes refuge in the mine and meets Ustya, whom the owner of the mine took pity on and sheltered many years ago. The hunters find Pavel here too. The mute Ustya deftly leads Pavel out of these places, taking some of the master's gold. Thus begins the long and dangerous path of Pavel and Ustya to salvation...