Thirteen-year-old Joey Frank and Ernie are dirt-poor farmers' sons in rural Georgia in the early 1900's, but they each have something money can't buy: A best buddy. Ernie is eight days older, so he takes the lead when they decide where to go fishing, and what to do when they go to town, and when to skip a day from their one-room schoolhouse. On that day, they watch the town banker and his wife bury something in the woods. Ernie goads Joey Frank into questioning the banker about this strange episode, and Ernie has to take the lead once again to get them out of the terrible scrape, which ensues. But Joey Frank is strong willed too, and when Ernie's luck runs out, Joey Frank determines one thing: that no matter what he has to do to take care of Ernie, Ernie's buddy wont let him down.