The Road to Oregon City Read online

  Contents

  * * *

  Title Page

  Contents

  Copyright

  Map of the Oregon Trail

  Go West, Complete the Journey

  Three Island Crossing: August 31, 1850

  Page 13

  Page 21

  Page 23

  Page 26

  Page 28

  Page 30

  Page 33

  Page 35

  Page 39

  Page 41

  Page 46

  Page 48

  Page 53

  Page 56

  Page 60

  Page 63

  Page 68

  Page 71

  Page 74

  Page 76

  Page 80

  Page 83

  Page 88

  Page 91

  Page 93

  Page 95

  Page 97

  Page 100

  Page 105

  Page 107

  Page 108

  Page 111

  Page 112

  Page 118

  Page 120

  Page 122

  Page 127

  Page 128

  Page 131

  Page 136

  Page 138

  Page 145

  Page 148

  Page 151

  Page 153

  Page 158

  Page 163

  Oregon City: October 6, 1850

  Guide to the Trail

  Dangers!

  Map of the Journey from Three Island Crossing to Oregon City

  Finding Your Way

  Coming Soon from Jesse Wiley

  Read More from the Oregon Trail Series

  Connect with HMH on Social Media

  Copyright © 2018 by HMH IP Company Unlimited Company. THE OREGON TRAIL and associated logos and design are trademarks of HMH IP Company Unlimited Company.

  All rights reserved. For information about permission to reproduce selections from this book, write to [email protected] or to Permissions, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company, 3 Park Avenue, 19th Floor, New York, New York 10016.

  hmhco.com

  Cover art © 2018 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

  Cover art by Gustavo Viselner

  The display text was set in Pixel-Western, Press Start 2P, and Slim Thin Pixelettes.

  Illustrations by June Brigman, Yancey Labat, Ron Wagner, Hi-Fi Color Design, and Walden Font Co.

  ISBN 978-1-328-55003-3 paper over board

  ISBN 978-1-328-54999-0 paperback

  eISBN 978-1-328-56094-0

  v1.0818

  GO WEST

  Complete the Journey

  You are a young settler headed out West by wagon train in the year 1850. You and your family are on the last leg of the dangerous frontier journey known as the Oregon Trail. You have crossed more than 1,300 miles of territory in what will later become the states of Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming, and Idaho.

  For fifteen miles a day for more than three months, you have walked beside your oxen and covered wagon with your family. You can’t ride in the wagon because it holds everything you need for the journey and for your family’s new lives as farmers in Oregon.

  You’ve crossed mountains, deserts, and prairies, and you’ve passed through Devil’s Gate and the perilous Snake River. You’ve also faced wild animals, dealt with raging forest fires, and learned how to survive in deadly desert conditions by traveling at night. You now know how to handle livestock and trade what you have. Best of all, there’s still adventure ahead of you—if you can survive the steep and treacherous trek through areas like the hot, sandy Bruneau Dunes; the Cascade Rapids; the surging Columbia River; the bubbling Soda Springs; Fort Boise; Flagstaff Hill, which signals the start of the Blue Mountains; the Barlow Toll Road; and after that, the steep descent of Laurel Hill, near Mount Hood.

  You’ve met indigenous people of various Nations like the Arapaho, Lakota, Shoshone, and Osage.

  * * *

  Only one path will lead you safely through this book to your destination, Oregon City, but there are twenty-three other possible endings, full of risks and surprises. Along the way, no matter what path you choose, you will experience natural disasters, sickness, and other hazards of the Trail.

  You’re trapped underneath the ice! How will you survive?

  A deadly lynx is about to pounce!

  Bandits are lurking nearby; what will you do?

  Before you begin, make sure to read the Guide to the Trail at the back of the book, starting on page 170. It’s filled with important information you’ll need to make wise choices.

  You’re not alone, and you can make decisions with friends, people you meet along the way, or Ma and Pa—but also trust your good judgment. Use the resources you have, and you’ll find your way to the end of the Trail at Oregon City, where you’ll get your own plot of land to build a farmhouse and start a new life with your family!

  Every second counts!

  Think fast.

  What will you do?

  Ready?

  BLAZE A TRAIL TO

  OREGON CITY!

  You dip your hands into the warm water and splash it over your hot, sweaty face. It’s so refreshing to wash the grime off your skin after being on the dusty trail that you can’t help but smile.

  The water is lapping at you like a soft, wet tongue . . . until suddenly you wake up, reach out, and feel something furry.

  “Archie! Yuck!” you groan, pushing your dog away from where he’s been licking your face.

  Archie just looks at you with his big brown eyes and wags his tail.

  “It’s all right, boy.” You laugh, scratching him around the ears as the five-a.m. bugle sounds. It’s barely light outside your tent, but it’s time to start the morning chores, eat breakfast, pack up your wagon, and get back on the Trail.

  It’s already been almost four months since you started your journey from Independence, Missouri, back in May. But every morning, it’s a little harder to get up

  “Wake up, Samuel.” You nudge your little brother, fast asleep beside you. “You need to milk Daisy.”

  “You do it,” Samuel moans, rolling over on his feather mat.

  Hannah, your little sister, marches into your tent. She’s always been the earliest riser among you. Samuel used to be more energized in the morning, but as you’ve made your way through the difficult Rocky Mountains, he’s needed more rest. Plus, instead of traveling fifteen miles a day, your wagon train has been covering only about ten to twelve miles because of the rugged and treacherous terrain.

  “Ma says to hurry up,” Hannah says, her bonnet sliding halfway over her eyes as usual. “She needs you to get fuel for the fire, and Sam to milk—”

  “Daisy,” Samuel mutters, cutting her off. “I know, I know. I’m coming.”

  Hannah rolls her eyes at him and goes back to help Ma prepare breakfast. You don’t blame Samuel for being grumpy as he packs up his bed and carries it out of the tent. Your body longs for more rest too. But you know you don’t have that option. The wagon train will roll out in about an hour and a half, and you need to help Ma and Pa get everything ready.

  Your stomach growls as you anticipate breakfast, which will probably be flapjacks and bacon . . . again. Since you’ve left Independence with a wagon led by a team of oxen piled high with everything you own, you’ve eaten more bacon than you ever dreamed was possible. Ma has been pretty creative with the few other foods you’ve carried with you for more than 1,400 miles so far: flour, cornmeal, sugar, coffee, salt, and beans. But it’s still gotten boring. Luckily, you’ve also eaten whatever you have been able to catch along the Trail, including rabbits, squirrels, deer, and buffalo, along with fru
its and berries.

  “I can’t wait to get to Oregon City and eat at a tavern again,” Hannah says as if she is reading your mind.

  “Me too, Hannah,” you say. “If there even are any taverns.”

  Your family is traveling out West to claim the land available to anyone willing to make the trip. Other emigrants like you have already made it to Oregon City and started their lives. But you don’t really know what to expect when you get there.

  You’ve covered two-thirds of your trek, through prairie, desert, and now mountains. The sights along the way have been incredible, from steep cliffs to massive waterfalls to enormous rock formations, and more. And you’ve overcome a number of challenges, including dangerous river crossings, ferocious animals, and serious illnesses.

  “Good morning,” Caleb says as you walk past him with an armful of brush for the campfire. Caleb has proved to be an excellent wagon captain over the journey. His son and daughter, Joseph and Eliza, have become the best friends you’ve ever had.

  “Good morning,” you reply. “What’s ahead on the Trail today?”

  “We are going to have a meeting after we all fuel up on breakfast,” Caleb replies. “There’s a big decision to make.”

  You feel a familiar tinge of excitement, wondering what the decision will be as you hurry back to your campsite and help Ma start a big fire. As the bacon starts sizzling in the iron skillet, you grind coffee beans and make a strong brew that everyone, even Hannah, drinks. You’ve all grown accustomed to drinking coffee on the Trail and are grateful it masks some of the bad-tasting water you are forced to use along the way.

  Pa fixes you a plate of flapjacks, and you sink your teeth into a thick, buttery pancake. You wish there was some syrup but are grateful for your cow Daisy’s steady supply of cream that Ma churns into butter by hanging a bucket on the side of the wagon as it bumps along the rocky terrain.

  “Pa, do you know what big decision we have to make today?” you say.

  “Yes. We need to choose whether or not to cross the Snake River two more times and head toward Fort Boise,” Pa starts.

  “That river again!” Hannah interrupts.

  You shiver, remembering the ordeal you just went through at Three Island Crossing. You had never been more terrified than when Ma fell into the water, but luckily Pa was quick to save her.

  “What’s the other choice?” Samuel asks.

  “We would take the South Alternate Route,” Pa explains. “It goes south of the Snake River but runs along it, so you don’t have to cross.”

  “Isn’t that better, then?” Ma asks.

  “I don’t know,” Pa answers. “It would take us through the Bruneau Sand Dunes. They are hot, dry, and dusty.”

  Your family sits quietly and ponders the options.

  “I’m afraid to cross the river again,” Ma says.

  “Me too,” adds Hannah.

  “I’m worried about the dry conditions of the alternate route,” Pa says. “It might be hard on the animals.”

  “And I hate being thirsty,” Samuel adds, agreeing with Pa.

  Everyone looks at you.

  “It looks like you have to be the one to help us decide what we tell Caleb,” Pa says. “What do you think we should do?”

  You consider everything carefully. Even though the river crossings are dangerous, at least you know what to expect. You’re not sure what the dunes will be like. On the other hand, the idea of two more crossings is daunting.

  What do you say?

  If you pick the regular route, turn to page 138

  If you pick the alternate route, turn to page 108

  You sit in front of the fire and frantically rub your feet. Ma returns with the dishes.

  “My goodness! How did this happen?” Ma says with a gasp when she spots your purple toes. You hold up a shoe and show her a worn sole. She takes it and walks over to Pa. You try wiggling your toes, but they are not moving as Pa rushes over to you.

  “Does it hurt?” Pa asks.

  “I can’t really feel anything,” you reply.

  Pa nods at you and tries to smile, but he seems worried. He walks away to find the vet, the member of your wagon train with the most medical knowledge of the group. Ma sits with you and rubs your feet for a bit. After a few minutes, Pa returns with the vet, who presses firmly on your toes.

  “Can you feel that?” the vet asks you.

  “No,” you respond, feeling scared.

  The vet tells Pa to wrap your feet in a blanket and have you sit in front of the fire for the night. Ma bundles your feet tightly and you finally fall asleep, hoping that your feet will be back to normal by morning.

  The bugle sounds, and you rush to unwrap your feet.

  “Ma!” you shout, pointing to your feet, which are black all the way up to your ankles. Ma runs to get the vet, and soon a crowd is standing around you.

  “This is terrible,” the vet says. “But your feet can’t be saved. If we don’t remove them, you will lose your legs.”

  You start screaming before he finishes speaking.

  Your family uses the rest of their money on supplies to help you heal after your surgery.

  Oregon City is no longer in your future.

   THE END

  Return to page 148

  You decide to give your parents time to recover before making them continue on the journey. Even if they were to rest in the wagon, there wouldn’t be room for both of them to lie down. Plus, you know how bumpy and uncomfortable the ride would be. And the truth is, the idea of leading your wagon alone without Pa makes you nervous.

  Hannah and Samuel help you do all the chores that Ma and Pa usually do. You fix meals, but Pa is still having trouble eating anything. It frightens you to see his face so drawn and pale. Luckily, Ma seems to be improving slightly.

  “I think your soup is making me stronger,” she says with a weak smile.

  Then, the next morning, Pa doesn’t wake up. You hear Ma shouting and run over to where he is. You lean over to check whether he is breathing, but you can’t hear anything.

  “Pa!” you shout, shaking him. “Wake up, Pa!”

  He remains motionless. You throw some water on his face to try to wake him up, but nothing happens.

  “What do we do?” you finally cry, clinging to Ma.

  Ma is barely strong enough to stand, but she tries everything to wake Pa. However, Pa doesn’t open his eyes again. As night falls, you hear Ma sobbing in her tent and you realize that life as you know it has changed. Your body starts shaking as fear and grief fill your heart. How can you go on without Pa? Then it hits you. With Pa gone, you are in charge. Ma, Hannah, and Samuel are too beside themselves to make any decisions. You wish you could wake up and find that this is all a terrible nightmare. But it isn’t. Your family is going to look to you now, so you try to think clearly and decide what to do. Do you head back to Fort Boise and try to find your way back to Kentucky, where you have family? Or do you push onward to Oregon and honor Pa’s dream?

  If you head back to Fort Boise, turn to page 145

  If you continue to Oregon, turn to page 53

  Return to page 112

  I think we should camp,” you say. “It’ll be hard to keep walking and carry our things.”

  “And I’m too hungry,” Hannah adds, while Samuel nods.

  “Okay,” Ma agrees, looking at all of you with concern. “I just hope we catch something soon.”

  Pa goes out to set the traps and try to hunt. But he comes back a few hours later with only one small bird.

  “This is all I could catch, and I wasted a lot of bullets trying to catch things that weren’t a good shot.” He hangs his head.

  Ma roasts the bird, and you each get a small piece. You savor every morsel and lick your fingers, still hungry. Poor Archie is left with the bones. His ribs are sticking out, and as you look at him, you wonder how skinny you must have gotten too.

  The next morning, you hear hooves approaching. Pa draws his rifle, tensed. But it’s
fur trappers, who scour the area.

  “It looks like you’ve fallen on hard times,” one of the men says as he dismounts his horse.

  “Yes, sir,” Pa says. “I’m afraid we could use your help.”

  “I can help you hunt, and give you a bit of this dried buffalo jerky,” the man offers.

  Ma accepts the jerky gratefully and parcels it out to each of you. You try not to gobble it up and instead chew it slowly to make it last. Then Ma fixes coffee, and you each sip a nice hot cup. When you’re done, your stomach doesn’t feel as empty. But a few hours later, your stomach is rumbling again, and this time not because you’re hungry. You end up getting severe cramps and diarrhea. Next comes vomiting and fever, and then the worst of all. You die of dysentery.

   THE END

  Return to page 71

  I think it might make the most sense to leave the wagon,” you say, surprising yourself. The path has been so difficult and you’re so close to Oregon City that you just want to get there as quickly as you can.

  The rest of your family agrees and sorts through the things you will load onto the oxen. You take only your valuables, food, clothes, bedrolls, and essential cooking and camping supplies.

  “I can’t believe we’re just leaving the wagon,” Hannah says sadly.

  “And all these things,” Samuel adds, peering into it.

  “Well, I have to say, I feel a bit lighter now,” Pa says, trying to be cheerful. “And we should move much faster.”