This novel tells the tale of Prebble and Salis, who are attempting to find the North Pole. Their nemesis, Griffyn, flies overhead in a balloon, grabbing them & dropping them in a tropical land somewhere in the Arctic wasteland. Our explorers are surrounded by a group of creatures, man- like in appearance, but covered in long red hair. These barbarians are set to kill Prebble & Salis, when a beautiful woman, Princess Ylma, appears & saves their lives. This land they find themselves in is inhabited by two races of people, the Nylls & the Churs, the red-haired barbarians they first came into contact with, who are slaves to the Nylls Through Prebble & Salis' plight to escape, they unwittingly free the Churs, who go to invade the land where the elixir that Salis gives to the King is made by Griffyn. Salis saves all when he gives this elixir to the invaders & they are forced to return to their own land. The explorers return to civilization in Griffyn's balloon, bidding farewell the the Princess.