We inquired why they did not take the trail leading more directly west at the forks, and they said they feared it would lead them into deep snow which would be impassible.

They said they considered the trail they had taken as altogether the safest one.
We met Bennett and Arcane's teamsters, and as we expected they were already out of grub and no way to get anymore.

When the party killed an ox they had humbly begged for some of the poorest parts, and thus far were alive.

They came to us and very pitifully told us they were entirely out, and although an ox had been killed that day they had not been able to get a mouthful.

We divided up our meat and gave them some although we did not know how long it would be before we would ourselves be in the same situation.
Thus far we had not seen anything to shoot, big or little although we kept a sharp lookout.
The whole camp was silent, and all seemed to realize their situation.
Before them was a level plain which had the appearance of being so broad as to take five or six days to cross.