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

Sufferings among the Indians. 219
soon after out of the river. Being now at sea
again, the Indians intended putting ashore at
the first convenient place, to look for shell¬
fish, their stock of provisions having been
quite exhausted for some time. At low water
we landed upon a spot that seemed to promise
well; and here we found plenty of limpets.
Though at this time starving, I did not at¬
tempt to eat one, lest I should lose a moment
in gathering them; not knowing how soon
the Indians might be going again. I had al¬
most filled my hat when I saw them return¬
ing to the canoe. I made what haste I could
to her; for I believe they would have made
no conscience of leaving me behind. I sat
down to my oar again, placing my hat close
to me, every now and then eating a limpet.
The Indians were employed the same way,
when one of them, seeing me throw the shells
overboard, spoke to the rest in a violent pas¬
sion ; and getting up, fell upon me, and
seizing me by an old ragged handkerchief I
had about my neck, almost throttled me;
whilst another took me by the legs, and was
going to throw me overboard, if the old wo¬
man had not prevented them. I was all this
time entirely ignorant by what means I had