On the contrary, it was not even sufficient for the occasion.

This arose from his want of experience on the prairies.

If either he or his brothers had had a little more of this, they would have hesitated before striking out so boldly, and leaving the water behind them.

They would have known that, to make a long journey, without the certainty of finding water at the end of it, is a risk that even the old hunters themselves will seldom undertake.
These, from experience, well know the danger of being without water on the prairies.

They dread it more than grizzly bears, or panthers, or wolverines, or even hostile Indians.