A boy cannot sleep for thinking there are monsters under his bed, so his father with tired impatience tells him a story about Grandfather Selsim ("your great-great-great-grandfather Selsim"), who was the "first of our lot to come into this country." The father begins the tale of how their ancestor Selsim, a coppersmith with a desire for travel, sells most of what he owns and then sets off on a trek south to cross the mountains that are north of the boy and his father.

Little physical description of Selsim is provided other than his being short, but his personality draws itself plainly as the action of the adventure plays out. That Selsim has a stubborn resolve is shown by the continuation of his trek southward even after his money has run out, earning money by tinkering or by begging. "All we know, we mightn't...