438 A JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



men had great difficulty in making a fire. This proving insufficient 

 to warm us, or even thaw our shoes, and having no food to prepare, we 

 crept under our blankets. The arrival in a well-known part raised 

 the spirits of the men to a high pitch, and we kept up a cheerful 

 conversation until sleep overpowered us. The night was very 

 stormy, and the morning scarcely less so; but, being desirous to 

 reach the house to-day, we commenced our journey very early. We 

 were gratified by the sight of a large herd of rein-deer on the side 

 of the hill near the track, but our only hunter, Adam, was too feeble 

 to pursue them. Our shoes and garments were stiffened by the 



frost, and we walked in great pain until we arrived at some stunted 

 pines, at which we halted, made a good fire, and procured the re- 

 freshment of tea. The weather becoming fine in the afternoon, we 

 continued our journey, passed the Dog-rib Kock, and encamped 

 among a clump of pines of considerable growth, about a mile further 

 on. Here we enjoyed the comfort of a large fire for the first time 

 since our departure from the sea-coast; but this gratification was 

 purchased at the expense of many severe falls that we had in crossing 

 a stony valley, to get to these pines. There was no tripe de roche, 

 and we drank tea and ate some of our shoes for supper. Next 

 morning, after taking the usual repast of tea, we proceeded to the 

 house. Musing on what we were likely to find there, our minds 

 were agitated between hope and fear, and, contrary to the custom 

 we had kept up, of supporting our spirits by conversation, we went 

 silently forward. 



At length we reached Fort Enterprise, and to our infinite disap- 

 pointment and grief found it a perfectly desolate habitation. There 

 was no deposit of provision, no trace of the Indians, no letter from 

 Mr. Wentzel to point out where the Indians might be found. It 

 would be impossible for me to describe our sensations after entering 

 this miserable abode, and discovering how we had been neglected: 

 the whole party shed tears, not so much for our own fate, as for that of 



