Jean-Joseph Ginetta, famous mountain guide, accompanies the Englishman Wattson, whom he has known for some time, to the Breithorn. In the ascent, the tourist dies, and both are suspended in the void. Jean-Joseph can not move the corpse either up or down, or free himself from the rope. Finally he cuts the rope, as it is the only way to escape. Accused of the death of the tourist, he is separated from the company of guides, and this forces him to survive as a smuggler, even though his daughter is courted by an Italian customs officer.