1744. The eastern coast of the North American continent is still covered with forests inhabited by Native peoples. Few of the white settlers dare to go deep into the virgin woods. Two such brave men—Natty Bumppo, nicknamed the Leatherstocking (Hawkeye, "Звіробой"), and Harry March, nicknamed the Lively One—are headed for Lake Glimmering Mirror. One wants to win the favor of a girl named Judith Hutter; the other is determined to help his friend Chingachgook take his beloved away from the hands of the Huron tribe.