Accidents > Dangers of the deep, or, Narratives of shipwreck and adventure at sea

ST. LAWRENCE. 67
on which they were presented each of them
with a coin.
An agreement was then made that the
Indians should receive twenty-five guineas at
setting out, and the same sum on their return.
Accordingly they went to work, and made
enough mocassins and snow-shoes for them¬
selves and the wrecked men whom they were
to bring. On being paid down half the money,
three of them set off the next day. When
the Indians found that there was money to be
had, they made a hard bargain for everything,
and became as mercenary as they had before
been charitable.
The party were some time before they
gained any degree of strength, or were able
to digest solid food. The flesh of the moose-
deer and seal-oil were the Indian provisions,
and on them they subsisted entirely at that
time of the year. Mr. Prenties was eager to
go away with his despatches, which might be
of consequence. Yet he was so weak, that
it was impossible for him to think of setting
off for some time.
The Indians returned with three men from
the wreck after a fortnight’s absence : they
were the only survivors of eight left in the