In the middle of the 18th Century, the Ruster family immigrates to the United States. The father, a former farm laborer, leads a hard life as a settler along with his family. One day the nine year-old George, his second-youngest son, is kidnapped by Iroquois. He is taken in by an Indian family in the place of a deceased son and receives the name "Blue Bird." The boy has homesickness and difficulties accustoming to the customs of the Indians. But gradually he begins to feel at home with them, and advances to a full-fledged member of his new community. As the regular white settlers are attacked, he feels more associated with the Indians than with his former people. After the victory of the English over the French in 1763, all of the captured white settlers are to be exchanged for the captured Indians, including George/Blue Bird. He decides to remain with the Indians.