OF THE POLAR SEA. 



159 



hope of reaching the house, I am certain, 

 from the excessive faintness which almost 

 overpowered me, that I must have remained 

 where I was. We passed the Slave Rock, 

 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 abso- 

 lutely to despair: on a nearer approach, 

 however, 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 spot ; but what was our 

 surprise, what our sensations, at beholding 

 every thing in the most desolate and neg- 

 lected state ; the doors and windows of that 

 room in which we expected to find provi- 

 sion, had been thrown down 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 as- 



