Shipwrecked and stranded in Melbourne with nothing but nerve, two boys set their sights on the gold fields of Bendigo, where fortunes are made and lives are lost. Harry Vane and Jack Pendleton are young, desperate, and willing to risk everything in the rugged Australian wilderness, where the promise of gold draws dreamers from every corner of the world. But between them and their fortune stand shady characters like Dick Fletcher, bloodthirsty bushrangers, and a justice system that doesn't always distinguish between the innocent and the guilty. When capture leads to a harrowing trial that tests their wits and their nerve, the boys must prove that virtue and determination can outsmart even the darkest intentions. Horatio Alger Jr. transfers his legendary formula to foreign shores, delivering an adventure that pulses with the excitement of the gold rush era while exploring what it means to hold onto hope when everything is on the line. For readers who love tales of youth against the world, of friendship forged in adversity, and of the relentless pursuit of a better life.
