The Search for Snake River

by Jesse Wiley

  The next day, when there is still no sign of the search party, Pa says you must leave.

  “Don’t worry about Caleb,” he says to Eliza and Joseph to reassure them. “I’m sure he will find us.”

  You get back on the Trail, but within a few hours one of your oxen collapses. One by one, each wagon starts to lose animals.

  Two more of your oxen lie down, and you tug on their yoke to encourage them to get back up. You feel a warm wind kicking up behind you, sending little pieces of sand flying and getting in your eyes. Within minutes you are caught in the midst of a fierce sandstorm. The powerful wind and swirling hot sand pelt you relentlessly. There’s no place to hide, and even though you cover your nose and mouth with your shirt, sand still gets through. You fall to your knees, try to protect your face, and wait for the storm to pass.

  When the sandstorm dies down, you cough up bits of sand and begin to search for your family. You discover Hannah crying because another pair of oxen have died. Your family is stranded without any water, any animals to pull your wagon, and, soon, any hopes of survival.

   THE END

  Return to page 61

  Help!” Joseph says, coming out of the bush with his hands raised.

  You stand behind him as the Native men approach you.

  “We lost a cow and a horse,” Joseph continues. “Can you help us?”

  “We haven’t seen your animals,” says the youngest of the men.

  “Someone stole them last night,” you say.

  The young man speaks to an older man wearing a rabbit fur robe. Then he turns back to you.

  “There is a tribe known for stealing animals. What they do is wrong. We will get your animals back,” the man says. “Where is your wagon train?”

  Joseph tells them and looks at you with a big smile. You head back to camp, excited to tell the others the good news.

  “Where have you been?” Pa says, furious, when he sees you. “We’ve been looking everywhere for you!”

  “But Pa,” you start to say.

  “I can’t believe you would disappear like that, without telling anyone where you went,” Pa continues. “Your mother is worried sick.”

  You feel terrible, and hope that Joseph is having a better time breaking the news to his dad. But later Joseph comes around looking glum.

  “Pa didn’t want to hear anything about what we found out,” he says. “He was so angry!”

  But a little while later you see the Shoshone people you encountered earlier walking up to your camp. And they have your missing animals!

  Your wagon train welcomes them and invites them to a feast. Everyone cooks up the best meal possible, with one wagon member breaking out tins of fruit saved from the beginning of your travels on the Trail. And you send the people of the Shoshone Nation back to their settlement laden with gifts.

  That gives Pa a big idea.

  “I’m sorry I got so upset at you,” he says. “I think your meeting these people is one of the best things that has happened to us in a while.”

  Pa explains that he wants to start a business with the local people, offering services to other pioneers. “We can help people who have lost animals, want guides, or need food and water,” Pa says. “And I’m sure people will want to trade and buy things from us, which will make us a good living!”

  Your family’s dreams of getting to Oregon aren’t gone forever, just on hold for a little while.

   THE END

  Return to page 39

  Eliza,” you call out softly, tapping her on the shoulder as she sleeps in the shade of her wagon.

  “What time is it?” she asks, still groggy. “Do we have to start walking again already?”

  “Not yet. It’s still the afternoon,” you say. “But I have to show you something incredible.”

  Eliza sits up now, looking curious. “What is it?”

  “I found a lake!” you say. “Will you go with me to get some water? We can surprise everyone when they wake up.”

  Eliza gives you a puzzled look.

  “A lake?” she asks. “That’s impossible. We’re in the middle of a desert.”

  “No, look! It’s right over there.” You point toward the shimmering water.

  Eliza looks at you with concern now. She tells you that you’re just seeing a mirage, which is something that isn’t really there, and gives you a few sips of water to drink. Then she wakes up Ma and Pa.

  Ma touches your skin gently. “You’re burning up!” she says.

  You start to feel a little nauseous and lie down, and soon you pass out. You have heat stroke and are breathing rapidly. Everyone is trying to get your body temperature down any way they can. But there isn’t much they can do without cold water or ice.

  Luckily you do wake up, but you are much too weak to continue on this journey. And pretty soon, without any water, the rest of your family is feeling the same as you. You never imagined that something as simple—but as precious—as water would end up destroying your dreams of Oregon.

   THE END

  Return to page 135

  It’s decided,” Caleb says, after everyone agrees. “We’ll float the wagons across the river.”

  A couple days later, you reach the infamous crossing of the Snake River. You make camp early along the banks of the river, and spend the rest of the day preparing for what’s ahead. Next comes the big task of unloading the wagons and taking them apart. Everyone helps. Once your wagon is empty, Pa gets to work removing the axles and the wheels. That leaves him with the box of the wagon, which he caulks and seals carefully with wax to make it as waterproof as possible.

  Caleb suggests keeping the animals yoked, so they’ll be easier to lead through the water, even though they won’t be pulling the wagons. When everything is ready, you walk to the banks of the river and gaze out over the wide expanse you’ll have to cross. The water rushes by swiftly, and the current is a little frightening. It makes you gulp.

  “We’ll hold on tight to the animals or to the wagon as we cross,” Ma says, seeing your face. “It’ll be okay.”

  Ma isn’t as strong a swimmer as you, so you know she must be nervous. You smile and nod as reassuringly as you can. But inside, you’re still a little scared, too.

  The next morning, you form a line and make your way into the water. You’re heading for the first island. The cold water comes up to your waist and you grab on tight to the ropes, leading the oxen, feeling safer as the oxen move slowly but steadily through the water.

  “Hold ’em steady,” Pa says, looking behind him to make sure everyone is following.

  You look behind you, too, and suddenly you see one of your wagon wheels slip out of the wagon. It starts to float away! It will get swept into the current and disappear downstream. But you could still reach it—it’s only a few feet away from you.

  You pause for a second, deciding whether you should swim after it and grab it. Wagon wheels are difficult to replace on the Trail, and you don’t have any more spares. Or you could just stay where you are and hope that someone else grabs it. What do you do?

  If you swim after the wagon wheel, turn to page 98

  If you stay where you are, turn to page 67

  Return to page 117

  After a vote, it is decided that you’re going to build the windlass. This way you have less chance of injuring the animals or damaging your wagons on the steep climb. Even though it will take some time and effort, everyone decides that it’s worth trying.

  Caleb volunteers his wagon to be used for the windlass. The first step is to empty it out and push it up the hill. Then Pa puts his carpentry skills to work, using ropes and wheels to make a pulley at the top of the hill. Soon you have an impressive device connected to trees at the bottom of the hill.

  You watch nervously as the first wagon makes the trip up Big Hill. It works! The animals are led up slowly next, taking lots of breaks along the way. And finally, after several hours, all of the wagons safely make it up the hill. Joseph is so proud that his ide
a worked. And you’re impressed by Pa’s handy skills.

  Everyone takes a break at the top of the hill, eating leftover breakfast as a midday snack. Next comes the tricky task of making it down the steep slope. You remember how difficult it was to get down a sharp incline at Alcove Spring, back in the second week of your journey. You used ropes to tie your wagon wheels and make brakes, and it took the strength of all the men to slowly bring the wagons down the hill. This hill is even steeper.

  Since it would be so easy to lose control of the wagons, you take all of the same precautions. Then the men hold on to the wagons with ropes and lead them down the hill in a zigzag pattern instead of straight down. A few items fall out of the wagons, but you manage to get down safely.

  The rest of the hills you have to surmount are nothing compared to Big Hill, so it’s smooth going for the next few days.

  One afternoon, Samuel runs up to you. “Guess what’s coming up next?” he asks.

  “What?” you reply, hoping it’s something good.

  “Soda Springs!” he says, a note of wonder in his voice. “Pa says the water tastes like it comes from a real soda fountain.” You can’t remember the last time you drank soda water, but it sure sounds refreshing right now.

  “Ma says we can add sugar to the fizzy water for a special treat,” Hannah adds with a big smile.

  You know right away when you’ve reached Soda Springs. Everyone marvels at the bizarre landscape, which is unlike anything you’ve ever seen before. You stare at cone-shaped geysers as tall as Pa, spewing water like miniature volcanoes. There are craters of all sizes and waterfalls, too. But most fascinating of all are the springs, some of which make gurgling and hissing sounds and have steam rising above them.

  After everyone finds a spot to camp, you all grab your cups and follow Caleb to one of the soda springs. He is the first to dip his cup in and take a big sip.

  “It smells a little funny, but it sure tastes great,” he says, grinning.

  As promised, Ma has allowed you to add some sugar to your cup. You carefully taste the sweet fizzy water, enjoying the way it tickles your tongue. You’re amazed that it came right out of the ground like that!

  After you drink your fill, Ma and Pa say that you can explore this wondrous area a little bit with Eliza and Joseph.

  “Just be careful,” Ma says.

  “Let’s go,” Joseph says. “Can you hear that?”

  You hear a high-pitched whistle that reminds you of the steamboats you saw in Missouri.

  Joseph points in the direction the sound is coming from. “That’s coming from a place called Steamboat Spring. Let’s go there!”

  “Wait!” Eliza says, “I’d rather go to the hot springs and soak my feet.”

  Both options sound fun to you. Which do you agree to do?

  If you say you want to go to Steamboat Spring, turn to page 32

  If you say you want to go to the hot springs, turn to page 37

  Return to page 143

  Pa decides that the smartest thing to do is to abandon the wagon and continue on foot. You see the fear on your family’s faces at the thought, but Pa explains that it is your best chance of survival.

  You’ve had a long night of hiking, so Pa suggests you get as much sleep as possible.

  “Everyone will have to carry supplies from here on,” he says.

  As your eyes start to shut, you can see the sun rising in the sky. You try to fall asleep, but your mind is racing with the image of the white, sun-bleached bones of animals you have passed. Will that be your fate, too?

  When the sun goes down, Ma wakes everyone up. Pa has laid out the supplies that each one of you will be carrying. You strap on your bag and set out, trying to ignore the weight on your shoulders. You overhear Ma and Pa talking.

  “How much food and water do you think we have?” Ma asks.

  “If we are careful, we can probably make it for five days, but after that we have to find some water,” Pa responds.

  * * *

  You have been walking for four days now.

  “I think we should stop walking for tonight,” Pa eventually says.

  You drop your bag to the ground, and you see Samuel reach for the water-skin.

  “Let me have some when you’re done,” you say.

  He takes a small sip, walks over to you, and hands you the pouch. You put it to your mouth and just a few drops come out. It’s the same with the rest of the water-skins. They are all empty.

  You search desperately for water. But there is nothing. Your family cannot survive. As you lie down for the night, parched and weak, you wonder who will pass by your bones.

   THE END

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  I’m so glad that we stuck together,” Ma says.

  “The idea of splitting up didn’t sit well with me, either,” Pa responds.

  Caleb holds a quick meeting about the water shortage situation.

  “We have to be extra careful from here on out,” he says. “We are dangerously low on water and I don’t want anyone to get dehydrated.”

  You know that Pa has been drinking the least amount of water in your family. He has been trying to make sure that Samuel and Hannah have more. Your brother and sister each passed out once already in the last few days, and Ma keeps staring at their faces to make sure they are not overheating again.

  “Pa, do you see that?” You point into the distance, where some riders are on horseback. The dust the horses are kicking up creates a cloud.

  Soon they have caught up to your wagon.

  “How are you doing today?” one of the men asks.

  “It sure is hot out here,” another adds.

  “Which way you folks headed?” a third man chimes in.

  Caleb exchanges glances with Pa and a few others in the wagon train.

  “We have some water if you folks are interested,” the last man says.

  Samuel is quick to respond. “We sure do need some water, mister,” he says.

  The man reaches into a pouch on the horse and pulls out a container of water.

  “It’s going to be fifteen dollars a cup,” he says.

  “That’s robbery!” Pa exclaims.

  Pa and the men begin arguing and you start to get scared when the strangers shout angrily, right before they ride away. One of them reaches into his back pocket, pulls out a gun, and shoots.

  BANG! BANG!

  You can hear the gunshots ringing in your ears for some time. And then when they stop, you see that a bullet has ricocheted off of a large rock and hit Caleb in the leg! Luckily the bullet went through his leg cleanly, but it will still take several weeks for your wagon captain to heal.

  While you’re waiting, Pa discovers a freshwater spring with clear and delicious water. As you camp there, Ma and Pa start to sell fresh pies, quilts, and other goods to thirsty travelers who stop to rest. By the time Caleb is ready to move on, your family is settled, happy, and convinced that this is a better life than the one on the Trail. You watch the rest of the wagon train roll away, as you help yourself to a big piece of pie.

   THE END

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  You decide to unload the wagon as much as possible to make it easier on the oxen. But that means that you are down to the bare essentials for the rest of your journey. You are sad to see the pile of stuff that you are forced to leave behind, from most of your dishes and your only pair of nice clothes, to all of the supplies Pa brought with you for the farm. All you’re left with is your bedrolls, camping supplies, work clothes, and most important of all, food.

  The idea works. Your oxen team manages to pull the lighter wagon out of the desert and into the Sierra Nevada mountain range. It’s beautiful and scenic and a welcome change, even if the Trail takes you over a rocky and at times steep path. It’s nice to see trees, and making camp is easier with plenty of wood for the fire.

  Things are going well until one day you see a pair of rabbits dash toward you and keep running past your wagon train. Before yo
u can tell anyone, several mule deer appear from the woods, running at full speed in the same direction as the rabbits.

  “Look, Pa!” you shout, pointing to the backs of the deer as they disappear out of sight. “Where are these animals running to?”

  As you speak, some big-horned sheep come tearing out of the trees. Birds flee into the air.

  “I think the bigger question is, What are these animals running away from?” Pa says.

  Ma points above the trees. “There’s smoke over there!” You look to the right and see a low cloud of dark smoke.

  “It must be a forest fire!” Pa says, with urgency in his voice. “We have to get out of here before it reaches us.”

  You feel fear gripping your heart. “What should we do?” you ask.

  “Let’s run!” Ma says. “Leave everything behind and follow those animals!”

  “Wait,” Pa says. “We could try to outrun the fire. But we could also try to climb high enough into the mountains to be out of harm’s way.”

  “What about the animals?” Ma asks.

  “We can try to take them with us,” Pa says.

  “What about our things?” you ask.

  “Just grab what you can carry easily,” Ma says. “Whether we run or climb, we can’t take too much.”

  You don’t have long to decide what to do. The smoke is heading your way, and you can smell burning now. What do you choose?