Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Greg Bergquist and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net Transcriber's Note The punctuation and spelling from the original text have been faithfully preserved. Only obvious typographical errors have been corrected. _The_ LAST _of the_ MOHICANS A NARRATIVE OF 1757 [Illustration] _by_ JAMES FENIMORE COOPER _Illustrated by_ N.C. Wyeth "_Mislike me not for my complexion, The shadowed livery of the burnished sun._" NEW YORK CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS 1933 _Copyright, 1919, by Charles Scribner's Sons_ ILLUSTRATIONS FACING PAGE UNCAS SLAYS A DEER 26 Avoiding the horns of the infuriated animal, Uncas darted to his side, and passed his knife across the throat THE BATTLE AT GLENS FALLS 66 Each of the combatants threw all his energies into that effort, and the result was, that both tottered on the brink of the precipice THE FIGHT IN THE FOREST 114 The battle was now entirely terminated, with the exception of the protracted struggle between Le Renard Subtil and Le Gros Serpent THE MEETING OF THE GENERALS 166 As soon as this slight salutation had passed, Montcalm moved towards them with a quick but graceful step, baring his head to the veteran, and dropping his spotless plume nearly to the earth in courtesy THE FLIGHT ACROSS THE LAKE 214 The scout having ascertained that the Mohicans were sufficient of themselves to maintain the requisite distance, deliberately laid aside his paddle, and raised the fatal rifle THE TERMAGANT 250 Throwing back her light vestment, she stretched forth her long skinny arm, in derision THE MASQUERADER 268 The grim head fell on one side, and in its place appeared the honest, sturdy countenance of the scout THE LOVERS 278 Heyward and Alice took their way together towards the distant village of the Delawares THE SUPPLICANT 320 Cora had cast herself to her knees; and, with hands clenched in each other and pressed upon her bosom, she remained like a beauteous and breathing model of her sex THE LAST OF THE MOHICANS THE LAST OF THE MOHICANS CHAPTER I "Mine ear is open, and my heart prepared: The worst is worldly loss thou canst unfold: Say, is my kingdom lost?" SHAKESPEARE.