The Umpqua—if that’s what it was—burbled along with a swift current. They weren’t far upstream from its confluence with the Willamette, but far enough that the tributary ran clear. Will tried to remember what he’d heard about the Umpqua. Mac told him once about a shipwreck at its mouth, but Will couldn’t recall any particulars.
He took out his notebook:
May 5, 1864. Camped on the Umpqua, we think.
After a while, as Will dozed, Jonah shouted. “Got one?”
Will sat up. “A nugget?” It couldn’t be that easy.
“Nah,” Jonah said. “A trout.” He splashed up the bank to Will. “I caught it, you clean it.”
Will shrugged. “Fair enough. Shall we eat it now or save it for morning?”
Jonah’s teeth were chattering. “I got wet enough I wanna keep the fire goin.’ Let’s eat now.”
Will gutted the fish, rolled it in a bit of cornmeal, and fried it. Without any oil or grease, it stuck to the pan, but the boys ate the pieces nonetheless.
Afterward, Will’s full belly let him sleep soundly.
The next day, the boys crossed the river and continued south. They arrived at Roseburg in late morning.
“See, I told you it was the Umpqua,” Jonah said. They had no money to spend, so there was no point in stopping in town. They skirted the edge of the village and kept riding under the hot sun.
“Sure would like a glass of lemonade,” Jonah said.
“Can’t without money,” Will said. “So no use thinking about it. Cold river water’s the best you’ll get.”
“Think about ices,” Jonah said. “A little fruit juice on ice. Wouldn’t that taste good?”
“Of course, it would,” Will said. “But I’ll make do with a full canteen.”
Jonah rambled on about fruit and ices until Will wanted to kick Shanty into a trot and leave his friend behind.
“Maybe we should stop early today,” Jonah said. “Go for a swim.”
That suggestion appealed to Will. “Maybe. Let’s see what the next creek looks like.”
The trail mostly followed a branch of the Umpqua. In midafternoon, they came to a little creek to the east of the larger river. It wasn’t deep, and a gravel bar split the creek in two. “How ’bout stopping here?” Jonah said. “Sun’s still high enough to keep us warm. I’m ready for a bath.”
“We didn’t bring any soap,” Will said.
“No need for soap,” Jonah said. “Current’ll wash us clean enough.”
Will agreed. They tethered their horses to bushes on the creek bank and undressed. Jonah plowed into the ice-cold water and cursed, sounding like old Samuel Abercrombie. As Will followed Jonah into the frigid water, he let a few “damns” and “hells” pass his lips as well. What Mama didn’t know wouldn’t hurt her. He felt his private parts shriveling as he floated in the water, hanging onto a branch to keep from rolling downstream. After he got used to it, the cold creek felt mighty good.
“Bet I can catch a fish with my hands,” Jonah said. He nodded at a deep hole by the bank. “Probably a big one over yonder.”
“Bet you can’t,” Will said. “But I don’t mind watching you try.”
Jonah waded softly toward the hole until he yelled and disappeared. He surfaced once. “Help,” he cried, then went under again.
Will splashed after him and grabbed Jonah’s arm.
Jonah rose out of the water, sputtering. “Sink hole,” he said. “I ain’t expected that.”
“Can’t you swim?” Will asked.
“Not much,” Jonah said.
“Then be careful.” Will moved away from the sink hole and sat on the gravel bar in the middle of the creek. He kept an eye on Jonah, ready to rescue him again.
Jonah cupped his hands under the water and peered into the waist-deep hole near the bank. The boys remained motionless for a quarter hour or so, and Will started dozing in the sun.
“No good,” Jonah called. “I can’t see nothin.’ Guess we’re stuck with corn pone again tonight.”
“If you lend me your gun,” Will said. “I’ll try shooting a rabbit.”
Jonah nodded, and the boys found their clothes and dressed. Will took Jonah’s rifle and a few shells and found a clearing near the creek bank. He sat and waited for something to appear. Maybe he should have brought the shotgun and the little birdshot they had—he might find quail more readily than rabbit.
But after a bit, as the sun lowered behind the hills, he saw movement. Will aimed, pulled the trigger, then heard a cry. He ran over to the critter—a rabbit.
