138 
LOSS OF AN ENGLISH SLOOP# 
after having long sighed remote from each other, at length 
find one another again in the bosom of their native land. The 
hut appeared to us the abode of bliss. The transports to which 
we gave way, interested in our favor a very old woman, wha 
testified great curiosity to hear our adventures. I gave a 
more circumstantial detail than before to the Indian who un- 
derstood French, and he rendered it into his language for 
the others. In the course of my narrative I had occasion to 
observe that the women were deeply affected by it, and ground- 
ed on this impression the hope of favorable treatment during 
our stay. 
After having satisfied the most pressing wants, our thoughts 
were turned toward the unfortunate comrades whom we had 
left behind at the place of our shipwreck. The distress to 
which we had so near fallen victims made me fear that their 
fate had been still more wretched. However, if but one of 
them survived, I was determined to omit no exertion to save 
him. I endeavored to describe to the savages, as well as I 
was able, the quarter of the island on which we had been cast, 
and inquired whether it was not possible to send thither some 
relief 
To the description I gave of the course of the neighboring 
river, and of a small island to be seen at a little distance from 
its mouth, they replied that they were perfectly acquainted 
with the spot, that it was about one hundred miles to it, by 
ve,ry difficult ways through the woods; that they must cross 
rivers and mountains to arrive at it, and if they undertook the 
journey they must expect some compensation for their fatigues. 
It would have been unreasonable to require them to suspend 
their hunting, their only means of supporting their wiv^es and 
children, to undertake the toilsome excursion purely from a 
motive of benevolence toward strangers. As to their account 
of the distance of the place where we were wrecked, it did not 
appear exaggerated, since I computed, by my own calcula- 
tions, that our course along the shore could not have been 
less than one hundred and fifty miles. 
I then told them what it had not before come into my mind 
to mention, that I had money, and that if it was of any value 
in their eyes, I would employ part to pay them for their 
trouble. They seemed perfectly satisfied with the proposal, 
and asked to see my purse; I took it from my servant and 
showed them the guineas which it contained. At the sight 
of the gold I observed in their countenances sensations which 
I should never have expected to meet with among a savage 
