Although there is reason for a victory celebration as the Delaware have either slaughtered or frightened away the Huron, there is no sign of gaiety in the Delaware camp. Rather, the mood is somber and humble. Warriors have returned from the battlefield, but their emotions are calmed by the scene that lays in front of them.

Everyone of the Delaware tribe is standing outside of their huts, crowded around the center of their encampment. All eyes are on two central points: on one side are the remains of Cora and on the other side is the body of Uncas.

A group of young Delaware girls are strewing wildflowers on the funeral pyre upon which Cora has been lain. She has been covered with Indian blankets and lies with her eyes closed. Munro, her father, is seated at Cora's feet, lost in his despair. Gamut stands at Munro's side. Heyward is not far away, leaning against a tree, attempting to hide his sorrow.

Uncas' body, in honor of his position as chief as well as out of the respect the Delaware feel toward him, has been placed in a sitting position, in the tradition of the Indians. Uncas' body is decorated with special garments and medals.

Chingachgook stares at his son in a deathlike focus, so serious in his manner that it is difficult for those standing nearby to distinguish between the dead figure of Uncas and the living body of Chingachgook.

On the other side of the field, according to Indian ceremony, several Delaware women take turns chanting either individually or within a group as they state the gifts and strengths of the two people who are deceased. They praise Cora's beauty and courage and her adaptability in living in the wild forests, as they themselves do.

Although they did not know Cora for long, they note the differences between Cora and her sister, Alice. Although Alice also has beauty, the women state, she is frail and as susceptible to change as snow in the summer. Not so with Cora, who was as dark skinned as many of the Delaware women. Cora was not afraid of anything.

While these chants are being expressed, Alice is off by herself inside one of the Indian huts, crying over the loss of her sister.

The scene then returns to the body of Uncas. The people standing around the body wait for Chingachgook to say something about the death of his son.

Up until this point, Chingachgook has been completely silent, showing no emotion except that of complete detachment, as if he were in a trance. However, now Chingachgook speaks. He tells the people that they should not mourn. His son had a good life. Uncas demonstrated great courage and nobility as a deserving chief. Uncas has now gone to his Maker and is at peace. In contrast, Chingachgook continues, he is now alone.

As soon as Chingachgook says this, Hawkeye interrupts him. Hawkeye tells Chingachgook that even if they have different colors of skin, he will always remain with Chingachgook. Hawkeye does this in honor of Uncas, who was always at his side in all the battles that Hawkeye fought. Hawkeye will never leave Chingachugook, he says.

As the novel ends, the eldest Delaware chief, Tamenund, steps to the front of the crowd, telling the Delaware that it is time to bury Uncas. As Uncas' body is carried away, Tamenund refers to Uncas as the last of the noble tribe of Mohicans.