of Indians, nor even of animals, the men began absolutely 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 neglected state;
the doors and windows of that room in which we expected to find
provision, 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 assistance of the Indians, bereft of every resource,
we felt ourselves reduced to the most miserable state, aggravated
by 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
lying about, without waiting to prepare them. A fire was then
made, and the neck and bones of a deer, found in the house, were
boiled and devoured.
I determined to remain a day here to repose; 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 were aware of
our inability to do so, I listened to St. Germain’s proposal, which
was, to follow the deer into the woods, (so long as they did not lead
us out of our route to the Indians,) and if possible to collect sufficient
food to carry us to Fort Providence. We now set about
making mittens and snow-shoes, whilst Belanger searched under the
snow, and collected a mass of old bones, which when burned and
used with a little salt we found palatable enough, and made a
tolerable meal. At night St. Germain returned, having seen plenty
of tracks, but no animals; the day was cloudy, with fresh breezes,
and the river was frozen at the borders.
On the 11th we prepared for our journey, having first collected
a few old skins of deer, to serve us as food; and written a note to be
left for our commander, to apprize him of our intentions. We
pursued the course of the river to the lower lake, when St. Germain
fell in, which obliged us to encamp directly to prevent his being
frozen; indeed we were all glad to rest, for in our meagre and reduced
state it was impossible to resist the weather, which at any other
time would have been thought fine; my toes were frozen, and
although wrapped up in a blanket, I could not keep my hands warm.
The 12th was excessively cold, with fresh breezes. Our meal at
night consisted of scraps of old deer skins and swamp tea, and the
men complained greatly of their increasing debility. The following
morning I sent St. Germain to hunt, intending to go some distance
down the lake, but the weather becoming exceedingly thick with
snow storms, we were prevented from moving. He returned without
success, not having seen any animals. We had nothing to
eat.
In the morning of the 14th the part of the lake before us was
quite frozen. There was so much uncertainty in St. Germain’s
answers as to the chance of any Indians being in the direction we
were then going, (although he had previously said that the leader
had told him he should he there,) and he gave me so much dissatisfaction
in his hunting excursions, that I was induced to send a note
to the Commander, whom I supposed to be by this time at Fort
Enterprise, to inform him of our situation; not that I imagined for