From the book jacket: Cumsee (short for Tecumseh, but no one remembers that) lives with his grandmother, Mom Patience, on Marse Tom's plantation down in Alabama. There is never a dull or idle moment in Cumsee's life - if he isn't fishing with his friends Zeb and Nace, or losing boats or hunting Indian relics, he is being trapped in a cave.

The high point in Cumsee's colorful career comes when, marooned by a storm in a haunted house, he makes the exciting discovery which solves Marse Tom's difficulties and smoothes things out for everyone.

The happy simple life of plantation negroes is the background on this story. The author knows her scene and in refreshing style skilfully, with humor and understanding, depicts a gentle, kindly people.