In the evening, the five men arrived at the north end of
Lake Horican. They got out of the canoe and Uncas and Chingachgook
carried it. They put it under some trees.
'We have lost the trail,' said Duncan. 'Where shall we go?'
'My Mohican friends know the path to the Hurons' village,'
said Hawk-eye. 'It is north of this place. That is where Magua
is going. We will go north too.'
For two days, the men followed the path. They walked many
miles. They arrived at the Hurons' village on the second day.
It was early evening. There were about a hundred houses by
a small lake. Hawk-eye spoke to Chingachgook and Uncas. Then
he spoke to Duncan and Munro.
'General Munro, stay with Chingachgook,' said Hawk-eye. 'Stay
in the forest. Duncan and I will go into the village. Uncas,
go up the hill to the west. Watch the village. Come back quickly.
Tell us about the guards.'
An hour passed. The four men waited. Uncas did not come back.
Suddenly Duncan spoke. 'I have a plan,' he said.
'Hawk-eye, give me your coat. I must not wear my red soldier's
coat in the village. I will be a medicine man - a French doctor.
I will speak French. I will walk through the village and go
into the houses. The Hurons will not hurt a medicine man.
I will find Alice and Cora.'
It was a dangerous plan. Duncan put on Hawk-eye's coat. Then
he walked into the Hurons' village.
There was a large wooden building in front of him. It was
the meeting-house of the Huron chiefs. Duncan went inside.
Some Huron chiefs were sitting together. They saw Duncan come
in. One of the chiefs walked forward. His hair was grey and
he was tall and strong. He spoke to Duncan in the Huron language.
But Duncan did not understand.
'Do you speak French?' Duncan asked.
The Huron replied in French.
'Why are you here?' he asked.
'I am a medicine man,' said Duncan. 'The King of France sent
me. Are any Hurons ill?'
Suddenly, there were loud cries from the forest. The chiefs
left the meeting-house. Duncan followed them. More Hurons
were coming into the village. There was a prisoner in front
of them. It was Uncas!
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