We shared with some of them even when we did not know the little store upon our backs would last us through.

Our oxen here had water to drink, but nothing more.

It might be a little more comfortable to drink and starve, than both choke and starve, but these are no very pleasant prospects in either one.
Both ourselves and the oxen were getting barefoot and our feet very tender.

The hill we had just come down was very rough and rocky and our progress very slow, every step made in a selected spot.

We could not stop here to kill an ox and let the remainder of them starve, but must push on to where the living ones could get a little food.