FAN FAVORITE: Teddy Roosevelt's Amazon Expedition | River's End | 4

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0:24Theodore Roosevelt stirs from a distant dream. As he opens his eyes, the canvas walls of his tent slowly come into focus. He feels the humid air of the Amazon warming his skin like a blanket. Foggy memories from the last 24 hours begin to take shape in his mind. He remembers that he's been fighting malaria and that a deadly fever has been overwhelming him. He reaches down and feels a bandage on his leg. He recalls that an infection from a bad cut has been sapping his strength. But he's awake now, and he's grateful to be alive. Roosevelt turns to see his son Kermit standing by his cot, smiling down at him.

1:12The fever must have broken. That's right, son. I'll be back to my old self soon enough. Kermit smiles. But behind it, Roosevelt can see he's still worried. Kermit kneels next to him. So there's good news. We scouted up ahead. The waters are much calmer. No more whitewater. For a while, anyway. Good. We can be off again this morning. Roosevelt feels a wave of relief wash over him. The past several days have been brutal for the expedition. At long last, the going will get easier. But Kermit's smile begins to fade. There's something he's not saying. Before Roosevelt can ask, the tent flap opens and Dr.

2:01Cagliere enters. Feeling better, I see. A little worse for wear, but ready to get back in the saddle. The doctor gives Roosevelt a quick examination, checking his temperature and inspecting the infection in his leg. Your fever is breaking, but your leg is looking much worse than yesterday. We need to give you time to regain your strength, Mr. President. Kermit nods. He's right, father. So we have an idea to propose. Kermit shares that Colonel Rondon has decided to move camp this morning. They have found a safer, drier location half a mile down the river, and everyone believes it will be a better place for Roosevelt to recover.

2:45Dr. Caggiera steps closer to the cot. Mr. President, we've all decided that given your condition, the men should carry you there. Roosevelt feels red-hot anger well up in him. Nonsense! You're still sick, father. You don't want to make it worse. How many men will be carrying me like some kind of royal corpse? Their remaining strength should be used to carry supplies, not an able-bodied man. The argument rages on. Roosevelt refuses to back down. Finally, Kermit offers a compromise. We could have one of the camaradas follow you with a chair, in case you need a moment to catch your breath. The former president won't hear of it.

3:32Finally, Kermit explodes. If you don't rest, you could die. Roosevelt is silent as he locks eyes with his son. The expedition has brought about changes in Kermit. In the past, he would have deferred to his father's wishes. But now Roosevelt sees a stubborn defiance in Kermit that he recognizes in himself. His son is growing into a leader, but Roosevelt knows that this stubbornness can be dangerous. Kermit will carry his father himself if he has to. Not only would that endanger the expedition, it would be a danger to Kermit. Roosevelt realizes that for both of their sakes, he has to meet his son halfway.

4:18All right. One of the men can follow me with a chair. but only if he's not needed elsewhere. Is that clear? Kermit nods. He and Dr. Cagliara leave the tent to make the preparations. Alone now, Roosevelt struggles to sit up, a task that leaves him gasping for breath. Seven days ago, when the infection first consumed him, he made a promise to his son that he would fight to stay alive. Roosevelt's will is strong. He only hopes that this illness isn't stronger.

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6:20From Wondery, I'm Cassie DePeckel, and this is Against the Odds.

6:32In 1914, former President Theodore Roosevelt embarked on a journey to explore an uncharted river deep in Brazil's Amazon jungle. Joining the expedition were his son Kermit and renowned Brazilian explorer Candido Rondon, along with 19 other men. Before long, the men were ravaged by malaria, dysentery, and hunger. Even worse, the journey had claimed two lives. One of the men drowned. The other was murdered by another member of the expedition. And the killer is still on the loose. Now, after nearly a month and a half on the river, Roosevelt and the others are focused on their ultimate goal, a rendezvous point, where they hope a rescue party and salvation await them.

7:25This is Episode 4, River's End.

7:37Theodore Roosevelt lies back against a crate in the back of the dugout canoe as it glides through the calm water. He watches the trees pass by on the banks, their heavy branches reaching out over the water to catch the sunshine. Despite the sticky heat of the Amazon, Roosevelt is shivering thanks to his fever. A gloomy silence is hanging over the men. It's April 6, 1914. Just three days since one of the most beloved men on their expedition, a camarada named Pichon, was murdered. The killer was another camarada named Julio de Lima. Julio had been caught stealing food, and Pichon reprimanded him for it.

8:25Tensions between the men continued to fester until Julio snapped and delivered a gunshot to Pichon's heart. Julio fled into the jungle. But even though they're now miles downriver from where the killing occurred, the men are worried that Julio lurks nearby. Desperate, hungry, and willing to kill again. For Roosevelt, Pichon's killing has only intensified his growing sense of unease. The journey is feeling endless, each new bend in the river revealing yet another ocean of thick green foliage. The sameness of it is exhausting. But today, at least the paddling is smooth. Rondon and Kermit have forged ahead to get on with the job of mapping the river.

9:17The former president pauses a moment to take in a pair of brightly colored toucans perched in a branch above him. Roosevelt is tired, but he remembers he's gazing upon land that no American has ever seen before. He reaches for his journal to record his thoughts. But when the canoe rounds the next bend, Roosevelt is stunned by what he sees. Clinging to a tree limb over the river is Julio de Lima, the killer himself. Please, help me! Someone! Roosevelt is shocked. He wonders how Julio managed to get this far down the river with no canoe or provisions. As the canoe moves closer to him, Roosevelt can see the fear in Julio's eyes.

10:05Mr. President, please stop! I'm begging you! But Roosevelt is unmoved. The memory of Pichon's lifeless body lying face down in the mud is too vivid to forgive him. As the boat drifts by, Roosevelt keeps his eyes forward. Rondon had argued they should bring Julio back alive so he can stand trial when they return home. But Roosevelt can't even stomach the thought. As the boat passes by, Julio shouts even louder. Please, Mr. President, have mercy! Come back! But no one on the canoe says a word. As Julio's cries fade into the distance, Roosevelt feels justified in letting fate decide Julio's sentence.

11:00Kermit Roosevelt stacks another heavy crate behind one of the tents and lets out a sigh. They're almost done setting up yet another camp, but the bugs have been tormenting him. Kermit mops his brow and swats a fly from his face. He's feeling feverish and dizzy. Like many of the others, he's fighting yet another bout of malaria and is eager to rest. As he walks to the river to grab more supplies, his thoughts wander to earlier in the day. He can't get the image of Julio out of his head, clinging to a branch, pathetic and desperate as he cried out for help. Everyone in the canoes had ignored his cries, continuing down the river until they found the sheltered patch of land to set camp in.

11:50They're seven miles down the river from where they saw him, and that distance has given the men some peace of mind. It's hard to imagine Julio as much of a threat now. Kermit lifts another crate from a canoe and carries it towards the tent. Suddenly, he hears raised voices coming from the center of camp. His father and Rondon are in a heated argument. Kermit sets the crate down and runs to investigate. He finds the men standing toe-to-toe staring each other down. Rondon looks adamant. Now that we know Julio is alive, it's our duty to go back for him. He must face justice. Your duty, maybe, not mine.

12:34For the first time since his father's been sick, Kermit can see some of Teddy's old fire returning as he laces into Rondon. Look at us, Colonel. We're down to four canoes. We are sick and we are weak. We cannot afford the luxury of wasting time to look for a man who will be put to death anyway. Kermit can see that Rondon is not backing down. He finds himself respecting the Brazilian, even if he disagrees with him. We can send two men back upriver. We will lose no more than a day. And if they find him, what then? We will have another mouth to feed and we'll have to guard him at all times. I am an officer.

13:18I have a sworn duty. Roosevelt sighs and looks off into the jungle, as if collecting himself. I was an officer myself, so I cannot ask another to shirk his sworn duty. So, do what you must. But remember that every day we are still on this infernal river is another day closer to the end of our rations. Kermit is surprised to hear his father relent. As Rondon starts walking away, he spots Kermit. Ah, Kermit, come with me. Let's find two good men to set off at first light to find Julio. Kermit falls in behind Rondon, even though he agrees with his father. They should not be delaying their journey to search for a murderer.

14:06Kermit makes a silent wish that they never see Julio again.

14:17Luis Cojera, one of the expedition's 13 remaining camaradas, steps gingerly along the soft mud of the riverbank. In one hand, he carries his fishing pole. With the other, he pushes aside vines and branches. He's been making his way along the river's edge, looking for the best spot where he can cast a line. He and the other members of the expedition are ravenously hungry, and it would be a miracle if he could bring a catfish or two back to camp for dinner. It's April 11th. Four days ago, Colonel Rondon sent Louise and another camarada into the wilderness to search for Julio. Louise fired gunshots into the air and burned small fires, thinking that Julio might see the smoke.

15:05It was a long, exhausting day. And still, Julio was nowhere to be found. Colonel Rondon agreed it was time to move on and leave Julio behind once and for all. Louise and the others suspect that Julio may have decided to search for an indigenous village and beg them to take him in. or it could be that he's already dead, fallen victim to hunger, disease, or predators. If that's the case, Louise won't lose any sleep over it. Louise finds a spot that looks promising and casts his line into the water. A few days ago, another camarada caught a monster of a catfish, three and a half feet long. The men were thrilled.

15:53The fish was big enough for all 19 men to have at least a few bites. It was a bit shocking, though, when they gutted the fish and found the half-digested arm of a monkey in its stomach. They were so hungry, they ate the fish anyway. Louise slowly reels in his line, hoping to lure a fish to follow it. Nothing bites. As he prepares to cast his line again, he notices something unusual. A thick braid of vines climbs up the trunk of a nearby tree. Louise can see that some of those vines have been cut by something very sharp. Louise puts his fishing gear down to take a closer look. He can tell that an animal didn't chew through the vines, and there's no way that a rough stone axe could have made this cut.

16:43It's way too clean. So clean, it could only have been made with a metal blade. Luis feels his pulse quicken, knowing who made the cut. Serenqueros. Serenqueros are also known as rubber tappers, frontiersmen who operate in the extreme reaches of the Brazilian wilderness. They seek out rubber trees and harvest their sap to create rubber, which they transport back to civilization and sell for industrial uses. Rondon has instructed all the men to keep an eye out for signs of them. If this tree was cut by a serenero, it's likely that they live nearby. The expedition could barter with them for food or other supplies.

17:29They still may be far from civilization, but the presence of rubber tappers could be a godsend. Luis forgets about fishing and rushes back to camp to tell everyone. This could be the first good news they've had in weeks.

17:52Roosevelt winces in agony as he sits in the back of the dugout floating down the river. The infection in his leg has spread further, creating a large cyst on his right thigh. The pain is intense, and he can barely prop himself up, but he has to soldier on. He reaches for the paddle, but Dr. Cagliera tells him no. You have to rest. Four days ago, a camarada named Luis Coyera found signs that serenqueros are near. But Roosevelt knows they're far from being out of the woods. They found other clues that rubber tappers are working in this area, but have yet to make contact with any of them. After 48 days on the river, they've covered about 200 miles.

18:43Their destination is a rendezvous point on the Araquana River, where Rondon has arranged for a Brazilian army detachment to wait for them. But Colonel Rondon believes it could be another 200 miles before they reach that destination. Roosevelt wonders if the men can last that long. Everyone in the party is wasting away from weeks of hunger, malaria, and dysentery. Their hair is scraggly. Their clothes are in tatters. Suddenly, Roosevelt hears a yell from the canoe ahead. He squints down the river and sees something floating towards them. It's a small canoe, and it's not one of theirs. Roosevelt bolts upright.

19:26Set and get up. The men of the expedition fall into a frenzy. shouting out to the rubber tapper and waving at him to come closer. Roosevelt joins right in. Hello! Over here, friend! The man in the small boat spies them and stops paddling. Roosevelt is puzzled. What is he doing? Suddenly, the rubber tapper turns his canoe around and paddles away from them as fast as he can. Roosevelt panics. Wait! Come back! It's clear that the man is scared, and Roosevelt realizes why that might be. The men look frightening, with muddy and torn clothes, emaciated bodies, and wild hair. Paddling with whatever energy they can muster, the men give chase.

20:18Leading the way is Rondock, who waves his hat with a flag. Finally, the rubber tapper steers his boat onto the riverbank. He scrambles out of his canoe and prepares to run for it as Rondon shouts to him from the river. There is nothing to fear! We are friends! The man stops and turns, squinting at them through the sunlight bouncing off the river. Moments later, he pushes his canoe back into the water and paddles toward Rondon. Roosevelt waits as the two men converse in Portuguese. Finally, Rondon calls out to Roosevelt. His name is Raimundo Marquez. He is a seringero, and he's offered to help us.

21:05Roosevelt is overjoyed. He tries to stand in the unsteady boat to greet Marquez, but he grows dizzy. Roosevelt collapses back into the dugout. He grimaces in pain as he struggles to catch his breath. Roosevelt knows that without the help of this rubber tapper, he may never make it out of the jungle.

21:34The End

21:59a rubber tapper who lives in the extreme wilderness around this part of the river. The men had hoped Marquez might have stores of food they could barter for. Marquez is sorry, but he has none that he can spare. Kermit looks around at the 19 men, sitting in the canoes, floating nearby on the calm water. All of them look hungry and heartbroken. Marquez paddles his boat closer to them and motions to Colonel Rondon, encouraging him not to despair. You'll find the house of another Sananguedo and his family not too far down the river. I bet they can help you, but you need to be very careful. Marquez explains that there aren't many rubber tappers operating this far up the river.

22:46The rubber tappers know that there are indigenous people who live here as well, but sightings of them have been brief. The spectacle of a large group of men, dirty and disheveled, with tattered clothes emerging from the wilderness, will be a shock to any setting ghetto. Everyone you meet along this river will assume you're hostile, just like I did. Rondon leans forward. What can we do? As you approach them, fire a gun into the air three times. That's a sign that you're a citizen with good intentions. And blow this. Marquez hands Rondon a handmade bamboo horn. Kermit's never seen anything like it.

23:28Rondon blows into it. Kermit chuckles. At least they know we're not sneaking up on them. Marquez smiles. Once they know you mean no harm, they may offer to help. Kermit allows himself to feel a bit of hope. He turns to his father in the canoe next to him. We'll be eating a proper meal soon, But his father doesn't hear him. Roosevelt is engaged in a tense conversation with Dr. Cagliara. Kermit knows the doctor is worried about the cyst growing on his father's infected leg. The doctor wants to drain it, even if the conditions for such an operation are far from ideal. Judging from his father's expression, he can tell the old man isn't convinced that such extreme measures are necessary.

24:17The men begin turning the boats downriver. Rondon rises in his canoe. Paddle forward, men! Hours pass as they glide down the river, scanning the banks for signs that a rubber tapper's dwelling is near. Kermit's mind races, imagining what it will be like to savor the flavors of an actual meal. Suddenly, one of the paddlers in his canoe points to the trees ahead. Over there! Look! Kermit sees a thin plume of smoke rising from the treetops. As they round the bend, the men erupt in cheers. A small house sits in a clearing near the riverbank, with two children playing in front of it. The men start yelling towards the shore as a woman emerges from the house.

25:09Rondon lets out a loud blast on the horn as one of the camaradas fires three shots into the air. The woman freezes for a moment. Then she grabs her kids and sprints into the forest. Rondon looks down at his horn. Well, that didn't work. Kermit shakes his head, calming the fears of the Serenueros could be trickier than they expected.

25:40Rondon inhales deeply as the delicious smell of fish drifts into his nostrils. Nearby, one of his men cooks at a small fire. For the first time in months, Rondon is inside a house with solid walls. Even if it's tiny, the home is dry, cozy, and deeply comforting. He's seated at a small table with President Roosevelt and a Serengetto named La Rata, who owns the house. It took several hours for Larrata and his family to realize that Rondon and the others posed no threat. But when it was revealed that their home was being visited by a former U.S. president and the famed explorer Candido Rondon, the rubber tapper and his wife were stunned.

26:31The family is now sharing as much food and comfort as they can spare. Rondon can see that his men are already revitalized by the hospitality. Even better, Rondon has bartered with Larrata for additional supplies, including two large canoes. Rondon has also received welcome news. Larrata has confirmed that the river will eventually empty into the Aripuana, just as Rondon predicted. The expedition is headed straight for the military detachment that Rondon had arranged to wait for them. Rondon rests his hands on the table and asks what they can expect on the journey ahead. You'll see some homes like ours and eventually some of the small stores where we can get our supplies.

27:19The water is mostly calm, but there are some rough patches ahead. And how long till we reach the Aripuana? Well, it depends on the conditions in the river, of course. My best guess is 15 days. Rondon sees Roosevelt's face turn to ash. The president is not well. Ever since he cut his leg badly in the river 19 days ago, Roosevelt's health has been declining. The thought that it could be weeks before he can get to a hospital must be terrifying to him. Rondon admires Roosevelt's strength and determination. He only hopes Roosevelt has enough to sustain him for the long journey ahead.