Chapter 7 Summary

Deerslayer awakes and surveys his surroundings. An Iroquois on shore takes a shot at him but misses. Deerslayer hesitates in firing back, unwilling to take a life. He calls out to the man and tells him that he does not want to fight. The two men talk together and the Iroquois agrees to go back to his tribe empty-handed. They part friendly. However, when Deerslayer turns his back, the Iroquois prepares to shoot him. Deerslayer is too quick for the Iroquois and shoots the man before he can shoot Deerslayer. Deerslayer goes over and looks at the dying man. He takes the man's gun and tried to make him comfortable. As the man lies dying, he tells Deerslayer that he should be called Hawkeye. Deerslayer refuses to take the man's scalp. Instead he returns to the castle, where Judith and Hetty are anxiously...