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

218 SUFFERINGS AMONG THE INDIANS.
The weather proved extremely bad the whole
day. We went down the river at an amazing
rate ; and just before night they put ashore
upon a stony beach. They hauled the canoe
up, and all disappeared in a moment, and 1
was left quite alone : it rained violently, and
was very dark. I thought it was as well to
lay down upon the beach, half side in water,
as to get into a swamp under a dropping tree.
In this dismal situation 1 fell asleep, and a-
waked three or four hours after in such ago¬
nies with the cramp, that I thought I must
die upon the spot. I attempted several times
to raise myself upon my legs, but could not.
At last I made shift to get upon my knees,
and looking towards the wood, I saw a great
fire at some distance from me. I was a long
time crawling to it; and when I reached it,
I threw myself almost into it, in hopes of
finding some relief from the pain I suffered.
This intrusion gave great offence to the In¬
dians, who immediately got up, kicking and
beating me till they drove me some distance
from it; however, I contrived a little after to
place myself so as to receive some warmth
from it, by which I got rid of the cramp.
In the morning we left this place, and were