3 Hawkeye and the Last Mohican

CHAPTER 3 Hawkeye and the Last Mohican A few miles away, two men sat talking beside a small stream deep in the forest. One, a strong, dark-haired man, sat on a mossy log. His name was Hawkeye. He wore an old, dark green hunting shirt and gray moccasins on his feet. In his belt he carried a sharp hunting knife. His rifle rested against a tree next to him. He and Chingachgook, the chief of the Mohican tribe, were deep in conversation about how quickly the world around them was

changing. "My son, Uncas, is the last of our kind," Chingachgook said. "He is the last of the Mohicans. When he is gone, our tribe will exist no more." At that moment, a young warrior raced between the two men and sat down beside Chingachgook. "Here I am," Uncas said. "What are you discussing?" "Hawkeye and I were talking about the past and the future," Chingachgook answered.

The young warrior fell to the ground and listened. "I hear horses," he said. "Perhaps it is wolves," Hawkeye suggested. "No," Uncas answered. "They are your people, the English, from the fort. You must go speak to them." "I would if I heard anything!" Hawkeye said and smiled. "But I can't hear a single hoof!" Uncas motioned for him to be quiet. A dry stick cracked. "There," Hawkeye whispered. "I mistook them for the waterfalls. I hear them now. For

their own good, I hope the Hurons can't hear them. I should go and warn them that the woods are not safe." But before Hawkeye could set out to find the men on horses, Duncan and the girls appeared before him. "Who are you?" Hawkeye asked. "What are you doing in this part of the forest?" "I am a soldier, charged with taking these girls to Fort William Henry," Duncan said. "We've been traveling most of the day." "Are you lost?" Hawkeye asked. "I believe we are. Do you know how far we are from the fort?" Duncan asked. Hawkeye laughed, and then grew quiet, afraid that the Hurons might hear him. "You are going in the wrong direction. You'd be better off heading to Fort Edward, where the army is, and speaking with General Webb. He's in charge there." David came up beside them and said, "We left

Fort Edward this morning. How far are we from Fort William Henry?" "You must have lost your eyesight before you lost your way," Hawkeye replied. "There's a road that takes you right to Fort William Henry." "It is an excellent road," Duncan replied. "But to stay away from the French and to be safe, we hired an Indian guide, Magua, to show us a different way. Now we are lost." Hawkeye looked at the soldier. "An Indian, lost in the woods? That seems strange. Is he a Mohawk?" "I think he was born to the North. A Huron, perhaps?" At that, Chingachgook and Uncas rose and stood beside Hawkeye. "It sounds as if you shouldn't have trusted this scout," Hawkeye said. "Oh, don't be silly. He is our friend, of that I am sure. Now—how far to Fort William Henry? We could reward you well to take us there. I am Major Duncan Heyward, and these are General

Munro's daughters, who are trying to get home." He pointed to Cora and Alice, who were waiting patiently for him. Hawkeye looked surprised. "Yes, I heard a party was leaving this morning for Fort William Henry. I am the scout Hawkeye. It seems strange to me that your guide would desert you." "I think he has gone too far ahead," Duncan said. "Fort William Henry is just an hour's ride from here," Hawkeye said. "I can show you, but it is a rough ride, not meant for women." Cora and Alice did not hear him say this, or they would have protested. Instead, Duncan told Hawkeye that although they were tired, they could certainly ride for another hour. Then he whispered, "I started to suspect our guide was leading us astray, so I sent him ahead. But now I am convinced that he will not return." "You wait here. We'll soon find him—and the truth." Then Hawkeye stepped away to speak