John Hart is Nat “Hawkeye” Cutler and Lon Chaney, Jr.is his pal Chingachgook, the last of the Mohican Chiefs. They protect the settlers from the Huron Indians and and assorted bad guys. It’s not a bad show and there’s some fun in seeing Chaney as an Indian.
Opening episode:August 3, 1957: “Hawkeye’s Homecoming” w/Michael Ansara and Frank DeKova – Hawkeye and Chingachgook are back in upstate New York after a year. They just finished guiding a group of settlers west. Hawkeye says hi to his Ma who tells him his younger brother Tommy has joined the Redcoats.
At Fort William Henry, the Colonel assigns Tommy to deliver a dispatch asking for reinforcements to help fight the French and the Indians. Going with him is their Mohawk guide Ogama (Michael Ansara). Near the Cutler cabin Ogama shoots Tommy in the back and steals the dispatch. Hawkeye and Chingachgook see Ogama about to scalp Tommy. Hawkeye shoots the knife out of his hand. He gets away.
Ogama is really a Huron Chief. He’s setting up a massacre at the Fort. Back at the cabin Captain West wants to take Tommy back to the Fort to face charges as a traitor. Ogama told him Tommy was going to the Hurons. Tommy expires.
Hawkeye has to prove Tommy innocent. As the Indians attack the Fort Hawkeye uncovers a traitor in their midst who is masquerading as a British officer. He takes care of him but Ogama runs off with the Colonel’s daughter.
They go to the Ottawa Indians camp. The chief (Frank DeKova) wants peace. Ogama says the girl is his woman. Enter Hawkeye and Chingachgook. Hawkeye and Ogama battle it out.
Frank DeKova made his mark as another Indian, Wild Eagle on “F Troop” (1965-67).
September 18, 1957 episode: “Washington Story” – Sandi Lee has a land grant, She wants to use it to help colonists settle in. She’s riding along with her companion Laura and a young George Washington. George is surveying the land for her.
They run into a group of trappers led by Tim Grogan. They don’t want any settlers on trapper land. They’re squatters and Sandi has the legal rights to it all. Grogan and Hawkeye have a brawl. Grogan is the loser. He rides back to the settlement and tells Calhoun Brent what happened. Brent is getting rich by having a monopoly on the fur business. He tells Grogan to follow his lead as Washington and company come in.
Brent tells Grogan to go away and he slinks off. Brent gets all friendly with Sandi. He finds out a family is headed in. He tells Grogan to get rid of them. Grogan and his pals fire arrows into the wagon to make them think the Indians did it. Hawkeye and company save the day and Grogan and his pals are in jail.
Brent releases them and tells them another group of settlers are on their way and to wipe them out. Grogan says he won’t be a part of murder. Brent hits him over the head with a gun and knocks him out. He tells his men to get on with the massacre and Grogan will get the blame. It’s up to Hawkeye and Chingachgook to save the day.
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