As he entered the tent a human figure detached itself from this and strove to rise, but fell back weakly helpless.

In another moment a closer view disclosed to Cabot the whole dreadful situation.

The huddle resolved itself into a woman, hollow-cheeked and gaunt with sickness and hunger, two children in slightly better plight, and a little dead baby.

There was no other person in the tent, and it contained no furnishing except the heap of boughs, rags, and scraps of fur that passed for a bed, and a broken kettle that lay beside the fire.

On the floor were scattered a few bones picked clean, from which even the marrow had been extracted; but otherwise there was no vestige of food.
"I believe they are starving to death!" cried Cabot, as he made these discoveries.
"It certainly looks like it," replied White, who had followed his friend into the tent.