Summary
Mabel Dunham and her seafaring uncle, Charles Cap, embark on a journey to visit Mabel's father, Sergeant Thomas Dunham. Joining them are Arrowhead, a Tuscarora Indian, and his wife Dew of June. Upon reaching the Oswego River, they encounter Jasper Western and the renowned wilderness scout, Natty Bumppo, known as Pathfinder to the English and Hawkeye to the Mohicans. Pathfinder expertly leads the group down the river as they begin their adventure.
Encounter with Hostile Forces
Pathfinder's Mohican companion, Chingachgook, warns the travelers of hostile Indian presence nearby. They hide but are eventually discovered, managing a narrow escape. The sudden disappearance of Arrowhead and Dew of June raises suspicions of betrayal or capture. Vigilantly, the group presses on to the fort, guided by Jasper's adept navigation, and Mabel receives a warm welcome from her father.
Love and Intrigue
Sergeant Dunham hopes to kindle a romance between Mabel and Pathfinder, which was his underlying motive for bringing her to the frontier. However, Mabel’s heart already belongs to Jasper. When Major Duncan proposes Lieutenant Davy Muir as a match for Mabel, the sergeant informs him that she is promised to Pathfinder. Muir, though rejected, doesn't entirely abandon his aspirations.
Skills and Rivalries
To assess the shooting prowess at the post, a competition is organized. Jasper scores a perfect shot, while Muir claims to have hit Jasper's bullet, though few believe him. Using Jasper's rifle, Pathfinder too hits the embedded bullet. In a subsequent challenge to drive a nail into a tree with a bullet, Muir barely grazes it, Jasper nearly completes the task, and Pathfinder finishes it. When tasked with shooting a potato mid-air, Muir fails, but Jasper hits the target. Jasper tells Pathfinder he desires to win a silky calash for Mabel, prompting Pathfinder to intentionally miss, allowing Jasper to win. Grateful, Mabel gifts Pathfinder a silver brooch for his selfless act.
Suspicion and Loyalty
Preparations commence for an expedition to the Thousand Islands to relieve a garrison. The journey is to be undertaken aboard the Scud, Jasper's vessel. However, a letter to Major Duncan casts suspicion on Jasper as a potential French spy. Despite Pathfinder's faith in his friend, Jasper is placed under strict watch by the sergeant and Cap as they sail. Along the way, they encounter Arrowhead and his wife, who are taken aboard but later escape, causing rising suspicion. Jasper is relieved of his command, but when Cap struggles to navigate through a storm, Jasper's expertise is called upon to save the boat from French forces, ensuring its safe arrival at the garrison.
Love's Trials and Enemy Threats
Pathfinder, having developed feelings for Mabel, proposes to her, but she declines. Muir, persistent in his pursuit, reveals to Mabel his past marriages, which disgusts her. Jasper harbors his own affection for Mabel, yet remains silent about it. Sergeant Dunham plans an attack on French supply lines, leaving Muir and others to protect the women. Dew of June warns Mabel of an impending Indian attack led by the French. Mabel alerts Muir, who is indifferent, and when she informs Corporal M’Nab, he too is dismissive until he is shot dead, prompting Mabel to seek refuge in the blockhouse.
The Siege and Revelations
Mabel, Cap, and Muir face an assault by Arrowhead and his Indian allies, surviving due to Dew of June's intervention. Cap and Muir are later captured, while Mabel finds Chingachgook gathering intelligence around the garrison. Pathfinder arrives at the blockhouse, undeceived by the grisly scene staged by the attackers. Despite an ambush on Dunham’s soldiers, a wounded sergeant reaches the blockhouse, and Cap escapes to join...
(This entire section contains 723 words.)
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them. With Jasper's timely arrival and reinforcements aboard theScud, they fend off the Indians. Muir, still suspecting Jasper, orders his confinement. Arrowhead, frustrated, kills Muir before fleeing, pursued by Chingachgook who later exacts justice. Captain Sanglier, the French leader, reveals that Muir was the real spy.
Pathfinder's Sacrifice
As Sergeant Dunham lies dying, he mistakenly joins Mabel’s hand with Jasper’s, believing him to be Pathfinder. He blesses the union, passing away before anyone can correct the misunderstanding. Recognizing the genuine love between Mabel and Jasper, Pathfinder graciously steps aside. He vanishes into the wilderness with Chingachgook, only to be seen once by the couple. Over the years, Mabel cherishes mysterious gifts of furs, intuitively sensing their true sender.