The Pathfinder by James Fenimore Cooper (A Historical Novel) Annotated Edition

Book excerpt: The Pathfinder (1840), Cooper's most picturesque novel and the fourth of the five Leatherstocking Tales, is a naval story set on the Great Lakes of the 1750s. Fashioned from Cooper's own experience as a midshipman on Lake Ontario in 1808-09, the novel revives Natty Bumpo (who had died in The Prairie), and illuminates Cooper's interest in American history with his concern for social development.Nineteen year old Mabel Dunham, accompanied by her uncle - the old sailor Cap - and two Indians (Smashing Arrows the and his wife June Dew) are for many days making their way through the vast American jungle from New York City to a small English castle on the shores of Lake Ontario. They keep the path to Mabel's father, Sergeant Dunham. On their way travelers notice the smoke of the fire. During the war (and from 1755 to 1763 between the British and the French the battles almost did not stop) random encounters are always dangerous - a small squad with great caution scouts, who is preparing a meal: friends or foes? Fortunately these are friends: Pathfinder (known to us under the names of Deerslayer and Hawkeye, Natty Bumppo) with a constant companion Chingachgook and his new friend, Jasper Uestornom. French allied Indians have appeared in the vicinity of the fortress, and Sergeant Dunham sent a small but reliable detachment to meet the daughter