The Last of the Mohicans

The Last of the MohicansA HISTORICAL NOVEL BY JAMES FENIMORE COOPERJames Fenimore CooperCora and Alice Munro daughters of Lieutenant Colonel Munro are traveling with Major Duncan Heyward from Fort Edward to Fort William Henry where Munro is in command and acquire another companion in David Gamut a naive singing teacher. They are guided through the forest by a native named Magua who leads them through a shortcut unaccompanied by the British militia. Heyward is dissatisfied with Magua's shortcut and the party roam unguided and finally join Natty Bumppo (known as Hawk-eye) a scout for the British and his two Mohican friends Chingachgook and his son Uncas. Heyward becomes suspicious of Magua and Hawk-eye and the Mohicans agree with his suspicion that Magua is a Huron scout secretly allied with the French. Upon discovery as such Magua escapes and in the (correct) belief that Magua will return with Huron reinforcements Hawk-eye and the Mohicans lead their new companions to a hidden cave on an island in a river. They are attacked there by the Hurons and when ammunition is exhausted Hawk-eye and the Mohicans escape with a promise to return for their companions.Magua and the Hurons capture Heyward Gamut and the Munro sisters and Magua admits that he is seeking revenge against Cora's father Colonel Munro for turning him into an alcoholic with whiskey (causing him to be initially cast out of the Hurons) and then whipping him at a post for drunken behavior. He then offers to spare the party if Cora becomes his wife but she refuses. Upon a second refusal he sentences the prisoners to death. Hawk-eye and the Mohicans rescue all four and lead them to a dilapidated building that was involved with a battle between the Indians and the British some years ago. They are nearly attacked again but the Hurons leave the area rather than disturb the graves of their own fellow-countrymen.The next day Hawk-eye leads the party to Fort Henry past a siege by the French army. The French general Montcalm invites Munro to a parley and shows him General Webb's letter in which the British general has refused reinforcements. At this Munro agrees to Montcalm's terms that the British soldiers together with their wounded women and children must leave the fort and withdraw from the war for eighteen months.