What happens to the party that the Hansa family was traveling with in the novel, Giants in the Earth?

The family had set out on the trail to Dakota Territory with three other families, including his best friend, Hans Olsa. At Jackson, the Hansas' wagon was damaged and needed repairs that would take four days. So as not to impede his fellow travelers, Per insisted that the others go ahead of him and that he would catch up soon enough. At this point in the novel, Per Hansa is trying to follow the trail as mapped out to him by the other travelers. However, he is now lost and is searching for signs of their caravan.