The Last of the Mohicans

After all the action, things are strangely quiet, but Uncas has disappeared. The narrator describes the quiet landscape and peaceful animals. Gamut, who is agitated, begins to play the song “Isle of Wight” on his pipes, while Alice and others listen. They hear the noise of Magua’s group approaching. Following on Cora’s plan laid at the end of Chapter 8, Bumppo and the Mohicans escape and leave the others; they realize that Magua will not kill Heyward, Gamut, Alice, and Cora instantly, as he would Bumppo, Chingachgook, and Uncas.

Native American warriors, including Magua, are looking for Bumppo, whom they call “La Longue Carabine” (French for “The Long Rifle”). Heyward explains that Magua must have betrayed them. The warriors capture Heyward, Cora, Alice, and Gamut, leading them away from William Henry. Cora attempts to leave a trail for Bumppo, Chingachgook, and Uncas to follow by breaking branches as she passes them. However, she is caught and forced to stop.

The captives watch a group of Native Americans eat raw deer. The narrator explains that Magua became an alcoholic after being introduced to it by white people, and that