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self-understanding, like Judith and Natty. He transforms himself, after his capture in the final battle in chapter XXX, into the noble defeated warrior who will live out the remainder of his life in captivity and dignified despair, a symbol of one of history’s losers, and a reminder of the loss of American innocence.
    When Harry and Hutter’s scalping expedition fails and the Rivenoak-led Indians capture the two of them, the novel’s major action is set in motion. Deerslayer is compelled to keep his word and to protect the two sisters. The pace of the action may not be quite to the taste of someone accustomed to the brisk movement of a modern thriller like The Day of the Jackal, by Frederick Forsyth, but there are plenty of twists and turns and derring-do escapes as Deerslayer matches wits with the wily Rivenoak. Deerslayer negotiates for the release of his companions, the would-be scalpers, using his linguistic skills and the adroit trade of chess pieces as wampum, a feat on a par with the Dutch purchase of the island of Manhattan for a few trinkets. Deerslayer, with Judith’s help, meets up with his “good” Indian friend, Chingachgook, and the two men plan and execute the rescue of Hist, Chingachgook’s fiancé who has been kidnapped by the Iroquois. Deerslayer is, however, captured in the process because he does not kill and silence the old Indian woman who is guarding Hist. The historical romance formula that Cooper learned from Sir Walter Scott’s Waverley (1814) and used so often in his earlier novels is present here as well—only this time the separated lovers who reunite are Chingachgook and Hist, the Native Americans.
    Hetty wanders freely in and out of the Indian camp trying first to secure her father’s release. Her recitation of biblical passages calling for mercy and forgiveness does not impress Rivenoak and his braves. They politely point out that the Christian message evidently did not get through to Harry and Tom Hutter in light of their efforts to scalp Indian women and children. Nevertheless, the Indians listen to Hetty politely enough and make no effort to interfere with her comings and goings. This is a sign of the Indians’ respect for the mentally retarded. Deerslayer is furloughed after his capture on his promise to return at noon the following day. He paddles out to the castle for a farewell visit with his friends. Judith, by now in love with Deerslayer, suggests that they attempt a getaway. Natty, of course, cannot do such a thing—it being both dishonorable and impractical. He returns as promised, and is duly tortured, until, mirabile dictu, the British army arrives to rescue him and to slaughter the Indian women and children in the process.
    Several episodes in this chain of events are worthy of attention for the light they shed on Deerslayer’s character and on Cooper’s artistic intentions. While in the castle during his furlough, Judith gives Deerslayer her father’s expensive and finely crafted rifle, the Killdeer of future Leatherstocking fame. To try out the weapon, Natty gives a demonstration of his sharpshooting skills by downing a high-flying eagle. When the luckless bird nose-dives onto the platform at their feet, shot through the breast, Deerslayer immediately is overcome with shame and mortification. His vanity has cost the life of an innocent creature. Judith notices his sense of shame and loves him the more for it; she had harbored some doubts about the macho act in the first place. Hetty openly, but mildly, reproaches Deerslayer for the whole un-Christian business. Deerslayer, later in the evening, feeling sure he will die the next day, makes an informal will and leaves the rifle to Hist. Why Hist? Does he wish to show his support for the Delawares with whom he has grown up? He assumes that if Chingachgook survives, he will get the rifle anyway. 12 Natty certainly does not want to leave Harry anything.
    Deerslayer returns to the Iroquois at noon the following day, the