6 The Sound Explained

CHAPTER 6 The Sound Explained "You two should stay here," Hawkeye said to the girls. "Duncan can come outside and watch the woods with us." "Are we in much danger?" Cora asked. "The one that made that sound is the only one who knows," Hawkeye answered. "What if it was not a man, but a ghost? Or maybe our enemies are making the awful sound just to scare us," Cora said. "No man-made sound can trick me. I know the

sounds of these woods like I know my own voice. And yet neither the Mohicans nor I can explain that noise." Duncan said, "It is extraordinary. Come, let's go and see what it could be." "We're going with you," Cora said, as she pulled Alice along behind her. "I insist you both stay here," Duncan said. "I am responsible for your safety, and I doubt your father would like it if I let you go out into the woods without knowing what made that noise." "But Duncan," Cora said, "would we not be safer with you and Hawkeye?" "Perhaps she is right," Hawkeye said. "Come, we shall go as a group." A heavy breeze blew across the evening. The air was cool, and it did everyone good to be outside. It was a still night. The streams and waterfalls were the only things moving in the forest. Every pair of eyes was looking toward the shore, trying to see if they could make out the

source of the terrible noise. "There's nothing here but the stream," Duncan said. "How we would love a night like this if it weren't for that sound. I wonder..." "Shhh!" Alice said. "Listen." Sure enough, the sound arose once more. "Show yourself!" Hawkeye shouted. "Show yourself now!" "Wait!" Duncan said, "I know that sound. It's the sound a horse makes when it's in trouble. I didn't recognize it before because it was echoing off the walls of the caves. I've heard it on the battlefield. One of the horses must be caught in something." Hawkeye spoke to Uncas and asked him to go check on the horses. "Make camp over there, under that tree," Hawkeye told the rest of the group. "We'll wait here for the first light of day." Hawkeye's worry had disappeared, now that the noise had been explained. Uncas returned

and told him that one of the horses had indeed caught its hoof on a root. The sisters laid down close to each other and fell right asleep. Hours went by. David and Duncan slept as well. Hawkeye, Chingachgook, and Uncas stayed awake, carefully watching the row of trees. Finally, a pale streak of light began to show itself. Hawkeye stood and shook Duncan. "Wake up Cora and Alice. Get them ready and meet us at the shore. I'll bring the canoes." "Sleep must have gotten the best of me," Duncan said. "I did try to stay awake." "We still have some darkness left. Be quick, and be quiet." Duncan lifted up the shawl that lay across Cora and Alice. Cora raised up her hand as if to stop him, and Alice mumbled in her sleep, "No, no, Father. Duncan was with us. We were not deserted." Duncan smiled, and then whispered, "Cora,

Alice, time to wake." Suddenly there were terrible whoops and cries all around them. Cora sat up quickly, and Alice screamed. David stood up and said, "What on earth could that be?" A shot rang out. It whizzed by and grazed David's ear. Luckily, Duncan caught him before he fell and pulled David and the girls back into the cave. "Stay here where it's safe." Hawkeye came running toward them and said, "He's lucky to be alive." "Will he be okay?" Cora asked. "Stay here with him," Hawkeye replied. "We'll be back as soon as we can. If you have a handkerchief, press it against his ear. He should wake up shortly. He wasn't hit very hard."

Cora pulled her kerchief from her waistband and did as she was told.