Chapter 29

Summary

Cora, Alice, Duncan, and Hawkeye form the group. Uncas is not there with them. One of the elder chiefs demands to know who La Longue Carabine is. Duncan steps out and say that he is the one and then Hawkeye admits he is La Longue Carabine. There is test to discover who is the real La Longue Carabine. Duncan shoots at an earthen vessel and comes close, but Hawkeye hits it. Duncan claims Hawkeye's shot was due to chance. Hawkeye resents the thought. They compete again, shooting at a gourd hanging from a tree some hundred yards away. Heyward comes within inches, his bullet lodging in the tree. Hawkeye appears to miss it, as the Indians cannot find his bullet, but after he derides them they look at the gourd itself and find a hole in it. Hawkeye is accepted as La Longue Carabine.

Magua again tries to whip up the passions of the men and they get excited. Cora rushes to Tamenund for mercy but he only talks about the wrongs done to his people. She tells him that that there is one of his own people among them and he too should be heard. He orders Uncas to be brought before him.

La Longue Carabine! Who is he? Duncan, in order to save Hawkeye, says he is La Longue Carabine. Hawkeye says he is the man. They have a competition. Duncan appears to win it, but when they look more carefully they realize Hawkeye is a far superior sharpshooter than Duncan. He is definitely La Longue Carabine and is offended that the tribe had doubted this for a single moment. It is amusing to see the normally calm Hawkeye boast of his skills. Hawkeye's reputation as a sharpshooter is more important anything else.

Magua once again displays his oratorical skill. He has all but convinced Tamenund to turn over the prisoners when Cora steps in and attempts to reasons with the chief. While she does not obtain their release, she convinces the chief to allow Uncas to speak. Once again, Cora foils Magua's plans.

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