How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #4
"It would be but an ill example for the highest in rank to dodge, while the warriors were under fire."
"Lord! Lord! That is now a white man's courage!" exclaimed the scout; "and like to many of his notions, not to be maintained by reason." (20.48)
Hawkeye mocks Heyward's military sensibilities/principles because they are totally impractical in the current situation. Are principles and practicality shown as existing at odds in this novel?
Quote #5
Long and habitual deference to the mandates of his superiors had taught the scout the virtue of obedience. (20.59)
We would expect this type of behavior more from Heyward rather than from Hawkeye. But obedience is a principle that everyone should get behind (in the opinion of our narrator, at least) because it shows an amount of humility.
Quote #6
The scout laughed, and, tapping his own forehead significantly, he perhaps explained the singular indulgence more satisfactorily when he said:
"The Indians never harm a non-composser." (22.20-22.21)
Here we have evidence of Native American principles: they never harm a crazy person. That's a good call, right? And it's one that we use in our modern judicial system—think of all those temporary insanity pleas. Our heroes end up using this principle to their own advantage and playing at being insane-o in order to gain the upper hand.