Question: At the fort they cover their cannons with sheepskin. Why?
Question: What happened to the other Redcoats who were in the canoes during the escape from the ambush? By the time they send the canoes over the waterfall and retreat to the cave, only the six of them are left.
Answer: Major Hayward is supporting one of the soldiers as they enter the cave. After they make their way down the rocks, he puts the soldier down on the ground. The other soldier appears to be killed by one of Magua's gang.
Question: Under the waterfall men say their gunpowder is wet. Do they still have dry powder in their horns? Later they have dry powder to shoot their guns.
Answer: If the powder horns were tightly capped, then the powder could remain dry. Also, from what I've read, traditional black powder (gun powder) made from natural ingredients of charcoal, potassium nitrate, and sulfur, is actually made wet, then was formed into cakes and dried. If it got wet again, it could be dried out and be usable.
Answer: During inclement weather, dry sheepskins were used to keep rain from entering the barrel. During battle, wet sheepskins were used to cool down the barrel to decrease the likelihood of the powder exploding prematurely.
Greg Dwyer