The narrative follows a young Native American boy, son of a chieftain, exploring the New England woods and learning the habits of birds and animals through village festivals, hunting, and play. Vignettes mix close-natural observation with encounters with settlers, a recluse, and missionaries, depicting everyday rituals like clambakes and games. As tensions rise, the story shows how escalating hostilities disrupt village life, leading to separation and eventual deportation, while also recording moments of cross-cultural kindness and loss during the region's painful transition from forest life to colonial conflict.