The _hung_ beef was hanging there no longer.
Some wild animal--wolf, panther, or other predatory creature--had entered by the open doorway,--left open in the excitement of that hopeful departure--found open upon their return--but, like the door of that oft-quoted stable, not worth shutting, since the steed had been stolen.
Not a morsel, not a mouthful remained--either of yak-beef or food of any other kind--and all three, Fritz making the fourth, had to go supperless to sleep..