Orakel Classics
The Last of the Mohicans
The Last of the Mohicans by James Fenimore Cooper, prepared as a public-domain Orakel edition with 34 chapter-aware companion links.
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INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION from The Last of the Mohicans. It is believed that the scene of this tale, and most of the information necessary to understand its allusions, are rendered sufficiently obvious to the reader in the text itself, or in the accompanying notes. Still there is so much obscurity in the Indian traditions, and so much confusion in the Indian names, as to render some explanation
Open2CHAPTER I.: “Mine ear is open, and my heart prepared:
CHAPTER I.: “Mine ear is open, and my heart prepared: from The Last of the Mohicans. The worst is worldly loss thou canst unfold:— Say, is my kingdom
Open3CHAPTER II.: “Sola, sola, wo ha, ho, sola!”
CHAPTER II.: “Sola, sola, wo ha, ho, sola!” from The Last of the Mohicans. While one of the lovely beings we have so cursorily presented to the reader was thus lost in thought, the other quickly recovered from the alarm which induced the exclamation, and, laughing at her own weakness, she inquired of the youth who rode by her
Open4CHAPTER III.: “Before these fields were shorn and till’d,
CHAPTER III.: “Before these fields were shorn and till’d, from The Last of the Mohicans. Full to the brim our rivers flow’d; The melody of waters fill’d The fresh and boundless wood; And torrents dash’d, and rivulets play’d, And fountains spouted in the
Open5CHAPTER IV.: “Well go thy way: thou shalt not from this grove
CHAPTER IV.: “Well go thy way: thou shalt not from this grove from The Last of the Mohicans. The words were still in the mouth of the scout, when the leader of the party, whose approaching footsteps had caught the vigilant ear of the Indian, came openly into view. A beaten path, such as those made by the periodical passage of the deer, wound through a little glen at no great distance, and struck the river at the point where the white man and his red companions had posted themselves. Along this track the
Open6CHAPTER V.: ...”In such a night
CHAPTER V.: ...”In such a night from The Last of the Mohicans. Did This be fearfully o’ertrip the dew; And saw the lion’s shadow ere himself.”—Merchant of
Open7CHAPTER VI.: “Those strains that once did sweet in Zion glide;
CHAPTER VI.: “Those strains that once did sweet in Zion glide; from The Last of the Mohicans. He wales a portion with judicious care; And ‘Let us worship God’, he says, with solemn
Open8CHAPTER VII.: “They do not sleep,
CHAPTER VII.: “They do not sleep, from The Last of the Mohicans. “’Twould be neglecting a warning that is given for our good to lie hid any longer,” said Hawkeye “when such sounds are raised in the forest. These gentle ones may keep close, but the Mohicans and I will watch upon the rock, where I suppose a major of the Sixtieth would wish to keep us
Open9CHAPTER VIII.: “They linger yet,
CHAPTER VIII.: “They linger yet, from The Last of the Mohicans. The warning call of the scout was not uttered without occasion. During the occurrence of the deadly encounter just related, the roar of the falls was unbroken by any human sound whatever. It would seem that interest in the result had kept the natives on the opposite shores in breathless suspense, while the quick evolutions and swift changes in the positions of the combatants effectually prevented a fire that might
Open10CHAPTER IX.: “Be gay securely;
CHAPTER IX.: “Be gay securely; from The Last of the Mohicans. Dispel, my fair, with smiles, the tim’rous clouds, That hang on thy clear brow.”—Death of
Open11CHAPTER X.: “I fear we shall outsleep the coming morn
CHAPTER X.: “I fear we shall outsleep the coming morn from The Last of the Mohicans. The instant the shock of this sudden misfortune had abated, Duncan began to make his observations on the appearance and proceedings of their captors. Contrary to the usages of the natives in the wantonness of their success they had respected, not only the persons of the trembling sisters, but his own. The rich ornaments of his military attire had indeed been repeatedly handled by different individuals of the tribes
Open12CHAPTER XI.: “Cursed be my tribe If I forgive him.”
CHAPTER XI.: “Cursed be my tribe If I forgive him.” from The Last of the Mohicans. The Indian had selected for this desirable purpose one of those steep, pyramidal hills, which bear a strong resemblance to artificial mounds, and which so frequently occur in the valleys of America. The one in question was high and precipitous; its top flattened, as usual; but with one of its sides more than ordinarily irregular. It possessed no other apparent advantage for a resting place, than in its elevation and
Open13CHAPTER XII.: “Clo.—I am gone, sire,
CHAPTER XII.: “Clo.—I am gone, sire, from The Last of the Mohicans. The Hurons stood aghast at this sudden visitation of death on one of their band. But as they regarded the fatal accuracy of an aim which had dared to immolate an enemy at so much hazard to a friend, the name of “La Longue Carabine” burst simultaneously from every lip, and was succeeded by a wild and a sort of plaintive howl. The cry was answered by a loud shout from a little thicket, where the incautious party had
Open14CHAPTER XIII.: “I’ll seek a readier path.”
CHAPTER XIII.: “I’ll seek a readier path.” from The Last of the Mohicans. The route taken by Hawkeye lay across those sandy plains, relived by occasional valleys and swells of land, which had been traversed by their party on the morning of the same day, with the baffled Magua for their guide. The sun had now fallen low toward the distant mountains; and as their journey lay through the interminable forest, the heat was no longer oppressive. Their progress, in consequence, was
Open15CHAPTER XIV.: “Guard.—Qui est la?
CHAPTER XIV.: “Guard.—Qui est la? from The Last of the Mohicans. During the rapid movement from the blockhouse, and until the party was deeply buried in the forest, each individual was too much interested in the escape to hazard a word even in whispers. The scout resumed his post in advance, though his steps, after he had thrown a safe distance between himself and his enemies, were more deliberate than in their previous march, in consequence of his utter ignorance of the
Open16CHAPTER XV.: “Then go we in, to know his embassy;
CHAPTER XV.: “Then go we in, to know his embassy; from The Last of the Mohicans. Which I could, with ready guess, declare, Before the Frenchmen speak a word of it.” —King Henry
Open17CHAPTER XVI.: “EDG.—Before you fight the battle ope this letter.”
CHAPTER XVI.: “EDG.—Before you fight the battle ope this letter.” from The Last of the Mohicans. Major Heyward found Munro attended only by his daughters. Alice sat upon his knee, parting the gray hairs on the forehead of the old man with her delicate fingers; and whenever he affected to frown on her trifling, appeasing his assumed anger by pressing her ruby lips fondly on his wrinkled brow. Cora was seated nigh them, a calm and amused looker-on; regarding the wayward movements of her more youthful sister with
Open18CHAPTER XVII.: “Weave we the woof.
CHAPTER XVII.: “Weave we the woof. from The Last of the Mohicans. The hostile armies, which lay in the wilds of the Horican, passed the night of the ninth of August, 1757, much in the manner they would, had they encountered on the fairest field of Europe. While the conquered were still, sullen, and dejected, the victors triumphed. But there are limits alike to grief and joy; and long before the watches of the morning came the stillness of those boundless woods was only broken by a
Open19CHAPTER XVIII.: “Why, anything;
CHAPTER XVIII.: “Why, anything; from The Last of the Mohicans. An honorable murderer, if you will; For naught I did in hate, but all in honor.”
Open20CHAPTER XIX.: “Salar.—Why, I am sure, if he forfeit, thou wilt not take his
CHAPTER XIX.: “Salar.—Why, I am sure, if he forfeit, thou wilt not take his from The Last of the Mohicans. flesh; what’s that good for? Shy.—To bait fish withal; if it will feed nothing else, it will feed my revenge.” —Merchant of
Open21CHAPTER XX.: “Land of Albania! let me bend mine eyes
CHAPTER XX.: “Land of Albania! let me bend mine eyes from The Last of the Mohicans. The heavens were still studded with stars, when Hawkeye came to arouse the sleepers. Casting aside their cloaks Munro and Heyward were on their feet while the woodsman was still making his low calls, at the entrance of the rude shelter where they had passed the night. When they issued from beneath its concealment, they found the scout awaiting their appearance nigh by, and the only salutation between them was the
Open22CHAPTER XXI.: “If you find a man there, he shall die a flea’s death.”
CHAPTER XXI.: “If you find a man there, he shall die a flea’s death.” from The Last of the Mohicans. The party had landed on the border of a region that is, even to this day, less known to the inhabitants of the States than the deserts of Arabia, or the steppes of Tartary. It was the sterile and rugged district which separates the tributaries of Champlain from those of the Hudson, the Mohawk, and the St. Lawrence. Since the period of our tale the active spirit of the country has surrounded it with a belt of rich
Open23CHAPTER XXII.: “Bot.—Abibl we all met?
CHAPTER XXII.: “Bot.—Abibl we all met? from The Last of the Mohicans. Qui.—Pat—pat; and here’s a marvelous convenient place for our rehearsal.” —Midsummer Night’s
Open24CHAPTER XXIII.: “But though the beast of game
CHAPTER XXIII.: “But though the beast of game from The Last of the Mohicans. The privilege of chase may claim; Though space and law the stag we lend Ere hound we slip, or bow we bend; Whoever recked, where, how, or when The prowling fox was trapped or slain?” —Lady of the
Open25CHAPTER XXIV.: “Thus spoke the sage: the kings without delay
CHAPTER XXIV.: “Thus spoke the sage: the kings without delay from The Last of the Mohicans. A single moment served to convince the youth that he was mistaken. A hand was laid, with a powerful pressure, on his arm, and the low voice of Uncas muttered in his
Open26CHAPTER XXV.: “Snug.—Have you the lion’s part written? Pray you, if it be,
CHAPTER XXV.: “Snug.—Have you the lion’s part written? Pray you, if it be, from The Last of the Mohicans. Quince.—You may do it extempore, for it is nothing but roaring.” —Midsummer Night’s
Open27CHAPTER XXVI.: “Bot.—Let me play the lion too.”
CHAPTER XXVI.: “Bot.—Let me play the lion too.” from The Last of the Mohicans. Notwithstanding the high resolution of Hawkeye he fully comprehended all the difficulties and danger he was about to incur. In his return to the camp, his acute and practised intellects were intently engaged in devising means to counteract a watchfulness and suspicion on the part of his enemies, that he knew were, in no degree, inferior to his own. Nothing but the color of his skin had saved the lives of Magua and
Open28CHAPTER XXVII.: “Ant. I shall remember: When C’sar says
CHAPTER XXVII.: “Ant. I shall remember: When C’sar says from The Last of the Mohicans. The impatience of the savages who lingered about the prison of Uncas, as has been seen, had overcome their dread of the conjurer’s breath. They stole cautiously, and with beating hearts, to a crevice, through which the faint light of the fire was glimmering. For several minutes they mistook the form of David for that of the prisoner; but the very accident which Hawkeye had foreseen occurred. Tired of keeping the
Open29CHAPTER XXVIII.: “Brief, I pray for you; for you see, ’tis a busy time with
CHAPTER XXVIII.: “Brief, I pray for you; for you see, ’tis a busy time with from The Last of the Mohicans. The tribe, or rather half tribe, of Delawares, which has been so often mentioned, and whose present place of encampment was so nigh the temporary village of the Hurons, could assemble about an equal number of warriors with the latter people. Like their neighbors, they had followed Montcalm into the territories of the English crown, and were making heavy and serious inroads on the hunting-grounds of the Mohawks;
Open30CHAPTER XXIX.: “The assembly seated, rising o’er the rest,
CHAPTER XXIX.: “The assembly seated, rising o’er the rest, from The Last of the Mohicans. Cora stood foremost among the prisoners, entwining her arms in those of Alice, in the tenderness of sisterly love. Notwithstanding the fearful and menacing array of savages on every side of her, no apprehension on her own account could prevent the nobler-minded maiden from keeping her eyes fastened on the pale and anxious features of the trembling Alice. Close at their side stood Heyward, with an interest in both,
Open31CHAPTER XXX.: “If you deny me, fie upon your law!
CHAPTER XXX.: “If you deny me, fie upon your law! from The Last of the Mohicans. There is no force in the decrees of Venice: I stand for judgment: answer, shall I have it?” —Merchant of
Open32CHAPTER XXXI.: “Flue.—Kill the poys and the luggage! ’Tis expressly against
CHAPTER XXXI.: “Flue.—Kill the poys and the luggage! ’Tis expressly against from The Last of the Mohicans. the law of arms; ’tis as arrant a piece of knavery, mark you now, as can be offered in the ’orld.” —King Henry
Open33CHAPTER XXXII.: “But plagues shall spread, and funeral fires increase,
CHAPTER XXXII.: “But plagues shall spread, and funeral fires increase, from The Last of the Mohicans. Till the great king, without a ransom paid, To her own Chrysa send the black-eyed maid.”
Open34CHAPTER XXXIII.: “They fought, like brave men, long and well,
CHAPTER XXXIII.: “They fought, like brave men, long and well, from The Last of the Mohicans. They piled that ground with Moslem slain, They conquered—but Bozzaris fell, Bleeding at every vein. His few surviving comrades saw His smile when rang their loud hurrah, And the red field was won; Then saw in death his eyelids close Calmly, as to a night’s repose, Like flowers at set of sun.”
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