ST8 JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



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, hovirever, the tracks of large herds of 

 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 

 sensations, 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 care- 

 lessly 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 

 Indians, bereft of every resource, we felt our- 

 selves 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, how- 

 ever, was made, and the neck and bones of a 

 deer, found lying in the house, were boiled and 

 devoured 



