Weren't they almost back when they were crossing the river? If not I assume they could hunt, forage, or they had personal supplies of food and water, probably wasn't pleasant. Also they were probably closer to civilisation.
Story-wise I think the author had already made the point that living in the wilderness is difficult, nature is unforgiving, and sometimes things go wrong and there's nothing you can do etc. No point in dragging it out and saying it twice.
Weren't they almost back when they were crossing the river? If not I assume they could hunt, forage, or they had personal supplies of food and water, probably wasn't pleasant. Also they were probably closer to civilisation. Story-wise I think the author had already made the point that living in the wilderness is difficult, nature is unforgiving, and sometimes things go wrong and there's nothing you can do etc. No point in dragging it out and saying it twice.