Answer the questions at the end based on the text.

CHAPTER XVII

DRUMMOND OFFERS HELP

It was a calm evening and Thirlwell and Scott sat outside the shack, watching the river while the sunset faded across the woods. A few _Metis_ freighters had gone to the settlements for supplies and mining tools, and although much depended on the condition of the portages, Scott expected them that night.

"Antoine will bring up our mail," he said. "It's some time since Miss Strange has written to you about her plans."

Thirlwell said it was nearly three months, and Scott resumed: "Well, I think if I'd had a part in the business, I'd have tried to find if the Hudson's Bay agent was alive. It's possible that he could tell you something about the location of the ore."

"I don't know that I have any part in the business," Thirlwell replied. "I promised to go with Miss Strange, but that's all."

"If she finds the lode, she'll need a mining engineer."

"She'll have no trouble in engaging one if the pay is good."

"But you wouldn't think you had first claim to the post? In fact, if you helped the girl to find the ore, you'd be satisfied to drop out and leave her alone?"

Thirlwell frowned. He had made no plans for the future and certainly did not mean to trade upon Agatha's gratitude, but he knew it would hurt him, so to speak, to drop out and let her look for other help.

"The lode isn't found yet," he rejoined.

"Anyhow, I feel that the girl or you ought to have got on the agent's track," Scott insisted. "He knew where Strange went, and saw him when he returned. It's possible that Strange confused his memory by his subsequent trips, but the agent heard his story when the matter was fresh."

1. who was sitting outside?
2. what were they watching
3. who was bringing the mail?
4. howl long had it been since hearing from Miss strange?
5. what had Thirwell promised her?
6. who were they unsure was still alive?
7. what might he know?
8. what will she require if she discovers ore?
9. will it be difficult to find one?
10. Could he make a claim to the ore?

Numbered answers:

A: 1. Thirlwell and Scott
2. the river
3. Antoine
4. nearly three months
5. to go with Miss Strang
6. the Hudson's Bay agent
7. the location of the ore."
8. a mining engineer
9. no
10. yes

Q: Camp Verde, Arizona (CNN) -- A participant in a 2009 Arizona sweat lodge ceremony that left three people dead testified Thursday that he asked a volunteer if he had died and was told, "No, you came back."

Dennis Mehravar, a real estate salesman from Canada, testified that self-help author and speaker James Ray, who led the event, told him he had been reborn.

Ray is accused of three counts of manslaughter in the deaths of three people who were in the sweat lodge for the purification ceremony. If convicted, he could face up to 10 years in prison on each count.

Mehravar, asked if he would have assisted someone next to him who was dying, said he would normally have done so, but the conditions in the lodge made that difficult. "I wasn't 100% aware, alert of what was going on around me."

Responding to a follow-up question, Mehravar said he would have waited until a round was over to ask for help. The sweat lodge ceremony consisted of eight rounds, with each round lasting 10 to 15 minutes. While they were not prevented from leaving, participants have said they were encouraged to wait until the breaks between rounds.

Mehravar said he would not have tried to stop the ceremony: "I don't think I would. I know it doesn't sound logical."

"I think Mr. Ray would have got upset if I had interrupted the ceremony," he said.

Prosecutors maintain Ray psychologically pressured participants to remain in the lodge even when they weren't feeling well, contributing to the deaths of the three victims.

1. Arizona
2. 2009
3. Three
4. Dennis Mehravar
5. He's a real estate salesman
6. James Ray
7. That he had been reborn.
8. Three counts of manslaughter
9. Up to 10 years in prison on each count.
10. No
11. Eight rounds, with each round lasting 10 to 15 minutes.
12. Yes
13. Yes
14. No
15. Psychological pressure

Numbered questions:
1. Where did the incident take place?
2. What year?
3. How many individuals died?
4. What is the name of the survivor?
5. What does he do for a living?
6. Who was the person who led the event?
7. What did James Ray tell Dennis?
8. What is Ray charged with?
9. What is the penalty if found guilty?
10. Did Mehravar know what was going on around him in the lodge?
11. How long was the lodge ceremony?
12. Were people in the lodge allowed to leave?
13. Were they prompted to wait?
14. Did the survivor try to stop the ritual?
15. What kind of pressure did the defendant use?