7 A Shot from a Tree

CHAPTER 7 A Shot from a Tree David was the only one injured in the fight. Chingachgook remained at his post while Hawkeye laid on the ground in a safe, secluded place and watched the woods carefully. Shots could be heard in the distance. Uncas stood on guard. "Let them waste their bullets!" Hawkeye shouted. "We know we are safe." He laughed. Duncan lay beside Hawkeye. "I owe Uncas a great debt. Just as I left the caves, I was caught

off guard by one of our enemies. Uncas pulled me out of the way. He saved my life." Suddenly, Uncas appeared next to them. He clapped Duncan on the back, and said, "Friends?" Duncan nodded. "Of course!" Just then, a shot hit a rock beside them and Duncan jumped. Uncas put his hand over his mouth, indicating that they should be quiet. He pointed to an oak tree where one of their enemies was sitting and trying to hide. "Come, Uncas. We must be quick," Hawkeye whispered. Hawkeye and Uncas swiftly stood up and left the safety of their hiding place. Chingachgook joined them, and the three sped away toward the oak. The fighting continued until the man fell out of the tree. Afterward, Hawkeye said, "Uncas, make your way down to the canoes. We need more powder and supplies."

Hawkeye shook out his powder horn and pouch to make sure they were indeed empty, and the young Mohican raced off. Seconds later, Duncan and Hawkeye heard him shout—a signal of some new danger. They ran down the hill to see what was happening. Shots flew all around them. More of Magua's men had returned to fight! Uncas's cry brought Cora, Alice, and David down to the water's edge as well. The group watched as their canoe drifted by. One of their enemies had found it hidden in the bushes and pushed it into the river. "It's too late!" Hawkeye shouted, "It's all lost. All of our powder, all of our supplies." The Huron scout shouted his victory across the river. "What can we do?" Duncan asked. "What will become of us?" Hawkeye's face grew angry when he heard the Hurons across the river laughing at him, but he

said nothing. "Surely our case is not so desperate!" David insisted. "We can still fight!" Chingachgook took off his tomahawk and his eagle feather in defeat. Cora looked at the men and said, "Why must we all die? Take to the woods. Go, we owe you too much already." "And leave you here? We could never do that," Hawkeye answered. "Besides, there is no safe way out of the woods." "Then you must take to the river. Why stay behind and let them hurt more people?" Cora asked. "What would we tell your father, Cora?" Hawkeye said sharply. "What should we say when he asks us why we abandoned his daughters?" "You must go to him. Tell him we are here, about to be attacked by the Hurons, but that we've fled into the northern woods. Tell him that

his men can rescue us if they hurry." Hawkeye spoke to Chingachgook and Uncas. The elder Mohican listened carefully. After a moment, he waved his hands and said, "Good." He put his tomahawk back on his belt and his eagle feather back on his head. Chingachgook nodded to Uncas and Hawkeye, and then sped to the edge of the rocks and dropped into the water. Hawkeye looked at Cora. "You are very brave," he said. "If they do take you away, break small sticks along your path—that way we'll be able to find you." Then he turned and went the same way as Chingachgook. Only Uncas remained. "I will stay," he said in English. "It is not right to leave you here to your fate." "No," Cora said. "Please go and find my father. We are well hidden here, and will remain so until you return." Uncas looked unhappy for a moment, but then did as Cora asked. He, too, stood on the edge of

the rocks and jumped into the water. After one last look at Uncas, Cora turned to Duncan and said, "I know you can swim well, Duncan. It's your turn now." "It is my duty to protect you. And, I—" he stammered, "I can't leave Alice behind." "And you have done a good job. Now we need you to go and find our father. The worst they'll do is capture us. If you're here, they might kill us. You know I'm right! Please, Duncan, I will protect Alice." Duncan didn't say anything. He looked at the beautiful Alice and did not want to leave. "There are evils worse than being captured," he said. "I am not leaving you behind." After Hawkeye and the Mohicans left, Duncan stood watch outside the caves, while Cora and