The action of this story moves from the teeming streets of Calcutta, to the dark world of the jungle, to the stark beauty of the Himalayan Mountains, and to the fields of France at the time of World War I. The reader learns of street life in Calcutta, the daily habits and customs of the people, and how every young boy raises pigeons on the roof of his house and trains them for sport. With the introduction of Ghond, the reader is carried into the jungle, where the birds and animals provide a new education for the young boy. The reader is exposed to the harsh realities of war in France, where the Indian soldiers are fighting for the British army. Finally, the characters return to the sanctuary of the Himalayan Mountains, where they find wisdom and spiritual healing.