As the French and Indian War rages around them, Hawkeye, along with his Native American friends, Uncas and Chingachgook, attempt to lead Major Heyward and his two charges, Alice and Cora Munro, along with David Gamut through the woods and to safety at Fort William Henry, where the Munro sisters' father is waiting for them.

After having traveled down a treacherous section of the Hudson River, the young women and the two white men (Heyward and Gamut) think themselves abandoned when Hawkeye and his Indian friends disappear. It is not until Uncas raises a dark blanket from the mouth of a cave in the near distance that they realize that the two Indians and the scout, Hawkeye, have prepared a safe shelter for them.

As the major and the women walk toward the cave, the narrator describes the physique of Uncas, who is waiting for them at the mouth of the cave, as very powerful, suggesting that with Uncas as a friend, the white people should feel well protected from any possible enemies who might be nearby.

However, upon entering the  cave, Heyward remains tense. He believes that hiding in a cave is not a very good idea because if just one man were to appear at the mouth of the cave, that man could easily kill all of them; the cave would the become a trap.

As if to demonstrate the wisdom of the Native Americans, who know the forest so much better than the white soldier, upon hearing Heyward's concern, Chingachgook appears at the back of the cave. Standing there, Chingachgook lifts a second dark blanket that is draped across a second entrance that could easily be used as an emergency escape.

In this chapter, the author progresses the theme of possible friendship between white people and Native Americans. Although white people might have the advantages of formal education and more powerful weapons, it is Uncas and Chingachgook who know how to survive in the forest. The cave to which they have brought the white people is well camouflaged as well as sufficiently protected by its position in the rocks, which are in turn surrounded by the raging river.

As the women and Heyward are settling in the cave, they see that the Natives have prepared a meal for them. In addition, the Indians have gathered softly scented boughs upon which the women are invited to make their beds.

After they have eaten, Hawkeye teases Gamut about his profession as a teacher of psalms. Hawkeye does not understand how a man could waste his life merely teaching people to sing. Gamut has long legs, Hawkeye points out. Gamut could use his legs to carry messages between the various forts along Lake George and be a benefit to the army.

When Hawkeye asks Gamut if he at least knows how to hunt, Gamut confesses that he has never shot a gun. However, Hawkeye is also gentle with Gamut, knowing that Gamut is still bothered by having had to sacrifice his colt. So Hawkeye asks Gamut to sing for them. Hawkeye suggests that the singing might help to settle the women's nerves.

It is then that they all hear a loud, strange noise coming from somewhere outside the cave. Although Hawkeye and the Indians go out to investigate, the three men return without any answers. They say they have never heard such a sound before and could not tell if it came from an animal or a human. Before the women are able to fall asleep, the loud screaming sound is heard once again.