When Heyward recognizes Magua (who was supposed to lead Heyward and the Munro sisters to Fort William Henry, where the girls' father was waiting for them) in the group of the Iroquois who have captured them, he asks Magua to interpret what the other Indians are saying. The Indians have tied Heyward's hands, so the major is defenseless. However, Heyward needs to know what the Indians are looking for and hopes to find out what they plan to do with him and the others.

Magua confirms what Heyward suspected: the Indians want Hawkeye. When Heyward tells them that Hawkeye has escaped, they can barely believe it. Magua in particular is disappointed because he is seeking revenge; Hawkeye shot Magua in the shoulder when Hawkeye realized that Magua was not taking Heyward and the young women to Fort William Henry but rather was leading them to their deaths.

Heyward learns very little from Magua and must submit to the Indians' demands that he and the women follow them to the canoe the Indians confiscated. Heyward obeys and encourages the women to do the same.

Once in the canoe, the Indians row the boat over to the opposite side of the river, where they all get out. It is there that the Indians tied the horses they stole from Heyward and his group.

The chief of the Indian group selects some of the younger Indians and motions to them to follow him. Magua is left behind and is now in charge of the hostages. After putting the women on two of the horses, Magua signals that Heyward and Gamut must follow them on foot as they traverse the forest.

Before they begin their journey, Heyward takes Magua to the side and attempts to make a deal with him. Heyward wants to convince Magua that he and Hawkeye actually were acting as Magua's friend when Hawkeye shot him.

Heyward explains that he and Hawkeye knew they had been surrounded by the Iroquois Indians and were worried that the Iroquois might not only kill them but also Magua. So they made it look as if Magua was an enemy by shooting him in the shoulder, hoping to save Magua's life.

Heyward points out that Hawkeye is an excellent shot and would have shot Magua in the chest if he really wanted to kill him. Heyward then suggests that if Magua helps him provide a safe journey of the young women to their father, Mague would not only be granted great honors and medals but might be rewarded with riches.

Magua does not tell Heyward whether he has accepted Heyward's version of the story and believes Heyward's promise of rewards. Magua merely tells Heyward to do as he tells him and to stop talking to him so the other Indians do not suspect that they are sharing a conspiracy. 

Then Magua leads the captives on a long journey. As they travel, Cora attempts to leave signs along the trail, as Hawkeye asked her to do should they be captured. Hawkeye wanted her to break small limbs along the way to mark the way. Cora tries to do this, but there are several Indians riding behind her and they see what she is attempting to do, so they warn her that she must stop.