The Last of the Mohicans

The Last of The Mohicans

During the beginning of the novel, historical events surrounding the setting of the plot were given. These mainly explained the situation of the French and Indian War. The story then switches to a military base commanded by General Webb. An embodiment of reinforcements was dispatched from the base shortly after for Fort William Henry, commanded by Colonel Munro. Soon after, Heyward sets off from the base accompanied by Cora and Alice Munro. A man, David Gamut, joined their party and decided to follow them to their destination, seeing as he had lost his way. He was a Psalmist with no other talents.

With the help of a Native American by name of Magua, they navigate the trails of the wilderness under the eyes of the enemy's Indians. They soon find themselves lost, wandering the woods. They then come to find a group of hunters that are allied to the English king. Hawkeye, Uncas, and Chingachgook then confirm Heyward's suspicions that Magua his loyalties to the French. They then drive off Magua, although they had intended to kill him. They and the hunters then fled to a river island above a waterfall. There they were sieged and Gamut injured. Hawkeye and the two Indians escaped though the waterfall after it was made clear that they could no longer hold their ground. The girls, Heyward and David then hid in a side-cave covered by brush. They seemed to be saved from look beyond the debris. They were soon captured. The girls rode on horseback on a long trial moving steadily northward, towards the French Canadas.

Unknown to Heyward's party at the time, the hunters did not go to inform the British Army of what had passed. Instead, they had looped about and began to track the enemy as they left the river island. On the path, Cora tried to leave behind hints for anyone they may have been following their movements, to no avail. However, she did manage to break a branch, although the Indians saw this and tried to make it look as if an animal had done it. The hunters were not deceived, lucky for Heyward's party. The hunters, too, noticed that the ladies horses walked in the unnatural way the only trained beasts perform. In this fashion, they followed the enemy party to a sacred salt spring. Heyward's party was found in quite a dilemma when the hunter's arrived at the enemy's encampment.