The Prairie by James Fenimore Cooper. Short summary

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A novel about the last year of Natty Bampo’s life. After the death of his friend, the Indian Chingachgook, Bampo went into the wilds of North America, where he became a trapper.

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A family of American settlers, the Bushes, moves westward across the vast expanse of the wild prairies. The caravan encounters an old trapper (Nathaniel Bampo) who helps them settle in for the night. At night, Bampo discovers that Helen, a girl related to the head of Ishmael’s family, is secretly dating her lover, Paul Hover.

That same night, the camp is attacked by Indians, stealing cattle. Soon someone kills the head of the family’s son, and suspicion falls on Bampo. The old man also discovers that one of the wagons contains Major Middleton’s kidnapped wife, for whom they want a ransom. Bampo, with the help of Paul Hover, rescues the prisoner. Ellen escapes with them. After many adventures, the prisoner manages to be brought safely to her husband.

Soon Bampo discovers that Ishmael’s son was killed by his uncle, his wife’s brother. The head of the family decides to execute the murderer. Soon the Bushes manage to wrest their cattle from the Indians. In the finale, an aging Nathaniel dies among close friends.