Even after Gamut leaves the cave, the bear remains, moving like an animal but acting strangely human. Every time that Heyward tries to proceed with the Indian ritual he is making up as he goes along, the bear makes such loud noises that Heyward must stop. Several times after the bear does this, the Huron people, who believe the conjuror is under the bear costume, decide that maybe the "spirit" (that made the woman sick) wants them to leave. So they go outside to wait, leaving Heyward alone with the dying woman and the bear.

Once the Huron people are outside of the cave, the bear moves as if in convulsion and slowly removes its head. To Heyward's surprise, he sees Hawkeye. Hawkeye explains that he stole the bear robe from a Huron conjuror who was preparing to perform a ritual ceremony for his people. Hawkeye knocked out the conjuror and stole the costume and was thus able to walk around the village unnoticed. Hawkeye continued to interrupt the healing ritual that Heyward was faking because Heyward was making serious mistakes, which could have proven he was a fake and thus ruined his disguise.

Hawkeye then interprets the message Gamut said to Heyward about the woman who was waiting for him. Hawkeye believes it must have something to with Alice, that she must be hidden somewhere in the cave.

After climbing a ladder to a higher quarters in the cave, Heyward finds Alice. He explains what has happened and also declares his love for her.

As Heyward talks to Alice, calming her nerves and preparing her for their escape, Magua appears from a hidden entrance to the cave. Fortunately, Hawkeye tricks Magua into thinking he is the conjuror in the bear costume and catches Magua off guard.

Hawkeye and Heyward tie Magua's hands and feet and secure the door. Before they exit the cave, they completely conceal Alice in a blanket.

Outside Heyward tells the people who are waiting that he is taking the sick woman to the woods and has exorcised the evil spirit making her ill. The spirit remains in the cave. If it should attempt to come out, the people are to force it back in, he tells them, or else that spirit will make all the villagers ill. In the meantime, he will take the woman to the woods where she will be safe until she regains her strength.

As this is happening, Hawkeye, still dressed in the bear skin, and Heyward and Alice flee to the woods. Once they are at a safe distance, Hawkeye tells the others that Alice's father and Chingachgook are safely hidden. Hawkeye also says he is going back to save Uncas.

Heyward pleads with Hawkeye not to attempt this as it will surely prove fatal for both him and Uncas. Hawkeye responds that Uncas has been a faithful friend, often risking his own life to save his, and he cannot abandon him. He then tells Heyward to take Alice to the nearby village of the Delaware, who are friends of Uncas and Chingachgook. They will be safe there until Hawkeye returns.