Set in 1939 immediately prior to the onset of World War II, an American couple, James Kingstreet and his wife make their home and manage a wildlife preserve located between Italian-governed Abyssinia and British Kenya as war approaches. Kingstreet's sole assistant is a native and his one-eyed brother. Kingstreet and his spouse will not accommodate either the English or Italians threatening their spread, antagonizing the commanding major of the latter group and prepare to halt the invasion of their property.