When skydiving champion Jack Sheldon becomes nervous during the filming of a movie Billy, who has made 80 jumps, offers to take his place.

A social worker from New York City arrives at the Williams' lodge with a group of boys from the city slums. The toughest of the boys, Rico, causes trouble for Billy and Pete when they go to explore an abandoned mine.

Billy deals with a strange malady, bush panic, which fills him with fear and confusion.