Guest, I am so glad that I have found another someone who enjoys The Last of the Mohicans! Of course I will continue, as you probably read at the very beginning, I am quite put out about the lack of book based stories in this fandom. I have a few more ideas for when I finish this.

Bold is English, regular is Delaware.

As I stood so I heard a shot from the woods and my senses, ever alert, directed my gaze to a Delaware boy atop the hill. The child bore both Killdeer and my own rifle, one to a hand as he leapt from forest to turf. The boy answered the report with a feeble but contemptuous shout; and immediately a second bullet was sent after him from another quarter of the trees. As he came once more into the circle of dwellings I marked his face in my mind. One day he would be a leader, in a few years he would be fighting at my side...

At some point in time, between Magua's departure and then, I had resolved to make my home amongst my people. I was a sagamore, it was only fitting.

Seeing fifteen or so men unoccupied with any task I sent them out to 'rout the sulkers' as Hawkeye would have said. The rest, led by myself, followed when all preparations had been finished.

We had gone but a little ways when a man at the front of the ghostly procession called a halt, apprehensive of being led into an ambush.

As we now had met up with the first smaller party I collected my chiefs, and divided my authority.

I presented Hawkeye to my kinsmen as a warrior, often tried, and always found deserving of confidence. They looked at the grey haired, leather clad, armed warrior with respect. Apparently he had taken his chance to show off his shooting skills. Then I gave him the command of twenty men, each of them active, skillful, and resolute. I then began to speak of the Major and his standing among the troops of the Yengeese, and I would have then tendered to him equal authority, but he declined the charge, requesting to serve beside Hawkeye. After this, I appointed various chiefs, whom in my short acquaintance I had found to be strong and worthy leaders, to fill the different situations of responsibility.

Then the conversation turned, and plan after plan was purposed to conduct the looming battle, but I turned each down. Had I followed my own inclinations, I would have led my followers in a suicidal charge without a moment's delay; but such a course would have been in opposition to all the customs and opinions of my tribesmen. So I was, therefore, forced to adopt a caution that at the present I loathed, and to listen to advice at which my spirit chafed. But the lives of my men must be considered and I knew that even for her I would not end my race.

A whisper like the breeze swept over the company and at last the words, "A Mingo comes," met my ears and I saw the solitary individual who was advancing from the direction of the Huron village, with such apparent haste, as to induce the belief he might be a messenger charged with pacific overtures. When within a hundred yards, however, of the cover behind which I had assembled my council, the stranger hesitated, and appeared uncertain what course to take, and then finally halted. All eyes were now turned on me, as my men waited for direction.

"Hawkeye," said I, in a low voice charged with restrained wrath, "he must never speak to the Hurons again."

"His time has come," agreed my friend, thrusting the long barrel of his rifle through the leaves, and taking his deliberate and fatal aim. But, instead of pulling the trigger he lowered the muzzle again, and to my extreme annoyance, indulged himself in a fit of mirth. "I took the imp for a Mingo, as I'm a miserable sinner!" he said; "but when my eye ranged along his ribs for a place to get the bullet in—would you think it, Uncas—I saw the musicianer's blower; and so, after all, it is the man they call Gamut, whose death can profit no one, and whose life, if his tongue can do anything but sing, may be made serviceable to our own ends. If sounds have not lost their virtue, I'll soon have a discourse with the honest fellow, and that in a voice he'll find more agreeable than the speech of 'Killdeer.'"

With those words Hawkeye laid aside his rifle; and crawling through the bushes until within hearing of the singer, he repeated his horrendous musical effort. In an instant I understood, but still I wished for some outlet for my restless energy. The singer soon heard him, and grimacing with me, must have recognized Hawkeye' voice (for, to say the truth, it would have been difficult for any other than Hawkeye to produce a similar noise), the fellow appeared relieved and he soon discovered the hidden songster.

"I wonder what the Hurons will think of that!" said Hawkeye, laughing, as he took the simpleton by the arm, and urged him towards the rear. "If the knaves lie within ear-shot, they will say there are two non-compossers instead of one! But here we are safe," he added, pointing to me and my associates. "Now give us the history of the Mingo inventions in natural English, and without any ups and downs of voice."

A treacherous smile fought to rise, but I battened it down firmly. The singer gazed about him in mute wonder; but he soon rallied his courage so far as to make an intelligent reply.

"The heathen are abroad in goodly numbers," said he, and with amusement I translated his highflown dialogue, "and, I fear, with evil intent. There has been much howling and ungodly revelry, together with such sounds as it is profanity to utter, in their habitations within the past hour; so much so, in truth, that I have fled to the Delawares in search of peace."

"Your ears might not have profited much by the exchange, had you been quicker of foot," returned Hawkeye, a little dryly. "But let that be as it may; where are the Hurons?"

"They lie hid in the forest, between this spot and their village, in such force, that prudence would teach you instantly to return."

I cast a glance along the range of trees which concealed my disdainful eye roll as well my band and mentioned the name of—

"Magua?"

"Is among them." The man confirmed, "He brought in the maiden that had sojourned with the Delawares, and leaving her in the cave, has put himself, like a raging wolf, at the head of his savages. I know not what has troubled his spirit so greatly!"

"He has left her, you say, in the cave!" interrupted the Open Hand; "'tis well that we know its situation! May not something be done for her instant relief?"

I, knowing my own opinions, looked earnestly at my mentor, before I asked,—

"What says Hawkeye?"

"Give me twenty rifles, and I will turn to the right, along the stream; and passing by the huts of the beaver, will join the Sagamore and the colonel, wherever they may be hid. You shall then hear the whoop from that quarter; with this wind one may easily send it a mile. Then, Uncas, do you drive in their front; when they come within range of our pieces, we will give them a blow that, I pledge the good name of an old frontiersman, shall make their line bend like an ashen bow. After which, we will carry their village, and take the woman from the cave; when the affair may be finished with the tribe, according to a white man's battle, by a blow and a victory; or, in the Indian fashion, with dodge and cover. There may be no great learning, major, in this plan, but with courage and patience it can all be done."

"I like it much," cried Open Hand when Hawkeye repeated the plan in English for him, "I like it much. Let it be instantly attempted."

After a short conference, the plan was thrashed out, and rendered more intelligible to all; signals were appointed, and the chiefs separated, each to his allotted station. Then, to my command of twenty, I gave the word to march. I was silently, obeyed and we melted into the woods.