Miner Jim Mann is indifferent to the new baby and sees him as nothing more than an additional burden. His wife Lucy looks after the baby and is unable to help much with the work, and Jim's dinner is often late. He grows to dislike the child and refuses to hold or pet him. Dawson, another miner, and his wife and their small baby occupy the cabin on the adjacent claim.

Billy is playing in his backyard with his dog and baby sister, Mary. A ball from the neighboring yard hits him on the head, leading to a fight with the ball's six-year-old owner, Jack. Billy loses the fight and sends his dog to avenge him, which scares Jack. Later on the beach, Jack leaves his four-year-old sweetheart, Olive, to buy ice cream. Billy approaches Olive and she leaves with him, his dog, and baby Mary. When Jack returns, Olive tells him she prefers Billy, making Jack angry and eager to get Billy "in wrong at home". Jack finds an opportunity when baby Mary crawls away near some rocks, and he hides her.