Lester and his father live in the Tennessee mountains, and when they are not working their land, they raise those remarkable hound dogs for which their region is famous. It is over one particularly sprightly pup that this story revolves. He is bought, but not paid for, kept tied to a short string, and after he is temporarily rescued becomes the victim of a dognapping. The story of Lester's love for the long-eared dog and his determination to free him of his unscrupulous oppressor appeals on many levels, as an adventure story, as a depiction of the habits and temperament of the hound dog, and as a rich portrayal of life among the Tennessee mountaineers.