eight-pound pieces of salt pork and a few biscuits.

"I had," he said, "also in my pocket, a paper containing two or three
ounces of cream of tartar. Luckily, a cask of water, lashed on deck,
was providentially preserved, amidst the general destruction.

"Our ship's company consisted of the captain, mate, and six seamen,
besides a medical man, myself, my poor wife, and two children, who were
cabin passengers. We made several unsuccessful attempts to procure a
supply of provisions; consequently, it became absolutely necessary to
give out what we had in the smallest possible rations.

"The fourth night was ushered in by another storm, more terrific even
than the last. A heavy sea struck the vessel, sweeping overboard the
captain and three seamen; and the poor doctor's leg was broken at the
same time, by a loose spar.

"We passed a fearful night; nor did the morning add to our comfort, for
my daughter died from exposure and want, just as the day dawned.

"On the seventh morning, the doctor, who had suffered the greatest
agony from his swollen leg, sank at last; the paper of cream of tartar
I had in my pocket being the only relief for his dreadful fever, during
his misery. My poor wife and remaining child soon followed. We now had
fine dry weather, which was some relief to our intolerable misery.

"On the twentieth day, the last of our provisions was consumed. I had
an old pair of deer-skin mocassins on my feet: these we carefully
divided amongst us. We had now serious thoughts of drawing lots, to see
which of us should die, for the preservation of the rest. I, however,