Chapter 17

Summary

There is an uneasy peace on the night of August 9, 1757. Montcalm meets Magua in stealth in the woods. Magua is affronted that the English and French have called for peace. He still wants his revenge. Montcalm tries to appease him, but to no avail. On the English side, the scene is desolate. The women are to be taken to safety, and David Gamut has been entrusted with the task of escorting Cora and Alice. As the women depart, a huge band of Indians watches them. The troops have already marched ahead. Suddenly, Cora spots Magua talking to his band. As the women pass, one Huron tries to grab the colorful shawl of a woman and she resists. The angry Huron kills her and her baby and a massacre ensues. Alice and Cora are saved by Gamut's loud singing, which keeps the Indians at bay. Magua suddenly grabs Alice and runs away, and Cora follows him. He takes them to the same place from where they had released the horses a few days ago.

With the handing over of the fort, there is an uneasy peace in the region between the French and the English. When Montcalm stealthily meets Magua, he calls him "my son," thereby giving him respect as a leader. Magua refuses to accept the peace, however, and goes away, hell bent on getting his revenge on Munro. The women and children are being sent to safety but are waylaid by the Indians, who kill each one of them brutally. This incident is known as the "massacre of William Henry" and is an important event in American history.

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