In the Sparkling Mountains, someone is killing miners and stealing their gold. All clues point to the Malecite Indians, led by Komotai, a violent and conceited chief. Zagor decides to find out what drove the Indians to such greed...
The Hidatsa tribe chooses a new chief between two rivals. According to an old tribal custom, rivals compete in a game with seven arrows, but one of them is wounded, so Zagor takes his place.
Zagor and Chico stop in the town of Goldridge on their way home. They find out that there someone is killing the miners in a cruel way, as if they were torn to pieces by some wild beast. The locals say it's the forest spirit Wendigo and Zagor decides to i