After the events of Apachen (1973), Native American warrior chief Ulzana has found a place for his Apache tribe in Arizona. The local merchants hire Burton, a corrupt army officer lusting after Ulazana's Mexican wife, to kick them out.
The Apaches have a ceremony where they proudly show off their irrigation systems to friendly General Crook. However, these are a thorn in the side of the local farmers, who are losing their profits from trade with the Indians. They secretly send out a group of men to blow up the dam, completely destroying the irrigation systems. General Crook is soon recalled to Washington, and this allows the farmers to act - they get the Indians drunk and the dam blows up. In addition, a detachment of troops led by the treacherous Burton raids an Indian village. The badly wounded Ulzana manages to get his Mexican wife, Leona, to a doctor. After he recovers, he discovers that his tribe has been relegated to an inhospitable reservation where they are in danger of starving to death, and decides to leave it with everyone. Meanwhile, Captain Burton tricks Leona into leaving with him - convincing her that she is the only one who can help Ulzan's people. He imprisons her, but the coachman secretly takes her away. On the way, they are ambushed by Ulzana, who has come for his wife. Burton, however, recaptures Leona and takes her back to the fort. There is a confrontation between the soldiers and the Indians, a Mexican patrol shows up at the last moment, and the Americans have to leave with the uninjured woman. Leona, however, is still in Burton's hands...