Uncas and Hawkeye have gone separate ways, each with a band of warriors who follow them as they prepare to fight the Huron. The narrator informs the reader that the woods are as silent as they might have been before man appeared on earth. However, Hawkeye, who is very knowledgeable in the ways of the Indians, knows that silence does not necessarily equate to an absence of men. So he moves forward cautiously.

As Hawkeye and his men progress, he senses that something is disturbing his warriors. When he turns, he notices David Gamut, who has been following them. Hawkeye, who is well aware that Gamut is not a fighting man, being untrained in warfare and without a weapon, talks to Gamut, informing him that they are about to confront Magua in a potentially fierce battle.

Gamut assures Hawkeye that he knows this and is determined in whatever way he can to  help them rescue Cora. He then pulls out a slingshot and tells Hawkeye that he is very adept at using this instrument as a weapon.   

As Hawkeye continues forward with his warriors, he comes to a clearing in the woods. They are near the beaver dam, where the animals have gnawed all the trees down to build their dens. As they stand on the edge of the clearing, the first shot is heard and a Delaware warrior falls to the ground. The first shot came from behind them, but more numerous volleys are heard coming from all sides as the Huron surround Hawkeye's group.

At this point, Hawkeye's men take cover behind trees, but Hawkeye is worried that they are trapped. Then Hawkeye hears a shout and another volley of gunshot comes from the direction of where Uncas has gone. With Uncas' help, the battle is turned in favor of the Delaware as the Huron are forced to retreat.

Chingachgook and Munro appear and eventually take over the leadership of the battle. This frees Uncas, Hawkeye, Heyward, and Gamut to pursue Magua, who is running toward the mountain with two of his Huron friends. Once they reach the cave, Magua pulls Cora from inside and they begin the ascent of the mountain.

Uncas quickly follows them along a treacherous trail. He drops his rifle so he can run faster. Hawkeye attempts to catch up with Uncas so he might protect him. When Cora hears Uncas and Hawkeye call out to her, she refuses to go any farther. Magua threatens her with his knife, but he hesitates when Cora goes down on her knees and prays. When Magua refuses to kill her, one of the Hurons stabs Cora to death.

A few seconds too late to save Cora, Uncas jumps from a rock above Magua's head. Uncas' fall was so fast that he stumbles to the ground, giving Magua an opportunity to slash Uncas' back with his axe and then stab him.

When Magua hears Hawkeye coming, he realizes his only escape is to make a dramatic leap across a wide chasm. Magua falls short of his goal and must hang on to a tree limb to keep from falling. This provides Hawkeye with a chance to kill his enemy. Hawkeye raises his rifle and shoots Magua.