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The book follows the adventures of Tom Kynaston, "TK", a cavalry officer in the early 19th Century. We meet him riding patrols in the Peninsular using skills he learned as a poacher. He is recalled to fight a duel in London. There he meets Nell, a kindred spirit. He fights in the battle of Waterloo and is lucky to survive. He returns to find that his estate has been lost. He resolves to go to North West America to look for gold. He goes well armed, but the dangers will probably be overwhelming for a man alone. He crosses the Great Plains and the Rocky Mountains. Along the way he meets great friends and they survive together. They find gold but it is not enough. He has to go back. He assembles a team to go after the main seam - some great characters with special skills. The return journey is almost as dangerous as the first.The Columbia Bar is a terrible obstacle. They find the main seam but then their troubles really begin. They have to fight every inch of the way to return with their wealth. They are attacked at sea and on land almost every inch of the way. They are forced to detour via St Louis and New Orleans. Each becomes a battle ground. They finally return to New York, richer and wiser, but also sadder.