Der Ich-Erzähler Charlie (vergleiche Karl May) alias Old Shatterhand arbeitet als Vermesser für die Eisenbahngesellschaft Great Western. Da seine Kollegen sehr träge und trunksüchtig sind, muss er alles alleine machen. Zum Glück stehen ihm die Westmänner Sam Hawkens, Dick Stone und Will Parker zur Seite. Die Eisenbahngesellschaft plant einen Gleisbau mitten durch das Gebiet der Apachen. Intschu-tschuna (Gute Sonne), der Häuptling aller Apachen, sein Sohn Winnetou (Brennendes Wasser) und der aus Deutschland stammende Klekih-petra (Weißer Vater) kommen, um die Eisenbahner friedlich darauf hinzuweisen, dass dies ihr Land sei.
Karl Friedrich May (also Karol May) was one of the best selling German writers of all time, noted mainly for books set in the American Old West, (best known for the characters of Winnetou and Old Shatterhand) and similar books set in the Orient and Middle East. In addition, he wrote stories set in his native Germany, in China and in South America.
May also wrote poetry and several plays, as well as composing music; he was proficient with several musical instruments. May's musical version of "Ave Maria" became very well known.