480 A JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



overpowered me, that I must have remained where I was. We 

 passed the Slave Eock, and making frequent halts, arrived within a 

 short distance of Fort Enterprise ; but as we perceived neither any 

 marks of Indians, nor even of animals, the men began absolutely to 

 despair : on a nearer approach, however, the tracks of large herds o f 

 deer, which had only passed a few hours, tended a little to revive 

 their spirits, and shortly after we crossed the ruinous threshold of 

 the long-sought-for spot ; but what was our surprise, what our sen- 

 sations, at beholding every thing in the most desolate and neglected 

 state : the doors and windows of that room in which we expected to 

 find provision, had been thrown down, and carelessly left so ; and the 

 wild animals of the woods had resorted there, as to a place of shelter 

 and retreat. Mr. Wentzel had taken away the trunks and papers, 

 but had left no note to guide us to the Indians. This was to us the 

 most grievous disappointment: without the assistance of the In- 

 dians, bereft of every resource, we felt ourselves reduced to the most 

 miserable state, which was rendered still worse, from the recollection 

 that our friends in the rear were as miserable as ourselves. For the 

 moment, however, hunger prevailed, and each began to gnaw the 

 scraps of putrid and frozen meat that were laying about, without 

 waiting to prepare them. A fire, however, was made, and the neck 

 and bones of a deer, found lying in the house, were boiled and 

 devoured. 



I determined to remain a day here to repose ourselves, and then 

 to go in search of the Indians, and in the event of missing them, to 

 proceed to the first trading establishment, which was distant about 

 one hundred and thirty miles, and from thence to send succour to 

 my companions. This indeed I should have done immediately, as 

 the most certain manner of executing my purpose, had there been 

 any probability of the river and lakes being frozen to the southward, 

 or had we possessed sufficient strength to have clambered over the 

 rocks and mountains which impeded the direct way; but as we 





