Smugglers of Death

It is 1948. Life as a border guard on the Czechoslovak state border in the Šumava Mountains is not easy. Despite the presence of dangerous swampland near the border, secret border crossings continue, even after the death of the smuggler Kilián, known as the King of the Šumava Mountains. He alone was reported to have crossed the swamps. The new arrival, guards chief Karel Zeman, has fallen in love with Marie Rysová, a shop assistant. Marie lives alone, her husband having fled across the border to escape punishment. Karel and Marie become lovers. One day Marie's husband, Rys, steals into the village. He kills the staff sergeant Cigánek and forces Marie to leave with him. An unknown man leads them across the swamp. Marie tries to escape but falls into the mire. Karel, who is following the group, can only look on helplessly as Marie disappears below the surface. The unknown man shoots Rys and flees. Karel needs to take revenge for Marie's death and doggedly seeks a guilty party. He discovers the madman Galapetr to be a saboteur who, after his arrest, betrays the identity of the new King of the Šumava Mountains – the forester Paleček who is planning another crossing of the swamp and border. The border guards reach him in time and capture the saboteur.