New York gangster Riley Ferguson shoots a henchman who tried to double-cross him in a Los Angeles jewel robbery, and Ramirez offers him a hideout until things quiet down, as the jewels are registered in the U.S. and will have to be sold in Europe. Police reporter Keat Shevlin gets a tip and heads south by motor boat to a small, out-of-the-way port in Lower California. On the way, he rescues Barbara “Buff” Andrews, pilot of a forced-down racing plane and daughter of Senator Andrews, who demands he take her back to San Pedro harbor. He explains who he is and what he is up to, and she insists on tagging along. At the port, Ferguson recognizes Keat and he and Buff are forced to accompany the gang. Ferguson plans on getting $50,000 from the Senator for his daughter’s release, and he plans on using the money to finance the European sale of the jewels. Keat, knocked out while trying to escape, awakens to find himself tied on a horse being taken, with Buff, back into the mountains. Ferguson, not wishing to cut Ramirez in on the deal, bribes Pancho, a Ramirez henchie, to guide them to another hideout. Ramirez trails them and forces Ferguson to cut him in in return for safe conduct across the waterless desert. Buff’s father, thinking Keat is the kidnapper, has the money dropped by airplane over a desert spot. Ferguson instructs one of his henchmen to kill Keat at the rendezvous spot but Keat is saved by Pancho, who disappears. Ferguson is about to shoot Ramirez, until the latter points out that he is their only guide out of the desert - and their water is about out.