
Two seasoned partners sit together in a quiet San Francisco office, their conversation drifting back to the reckless youth that shaped them. They recall a shipwreck on a southern coast, a desperate trek through untamed wilderness, and a sudden alliance with an experienced miner that thrust them into the fevered gold rush of a wild frontier. Their tale is peppered with colorful companions—a loyal dog named Towser and a fiery Irish friend—who helped them survive danger and chase fleeting fortunes.
Now settled and prosperous, the men watch the next generation step into the world they once roamed. Their children, a spirited young woman and a daring young man, inherit the restless curiosity and hidden ties that bind the families together. As old wounds linger and old friendships linger, the stage is set for fresh adventures that echo the daring exploits of their fathers, promising intrigue without revealing how the story will unfold.
Language
en
Duration
~5 hours (288K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
2009-09-02
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1840–1916
Best known for fast-moving adventure stories for young readers, this prolific 19th-century American writer helped shape the dime novel era. He also wrote history, biography, and school texts, showing a much broader range than his frontier tales might suggest.
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