R. M. Ballantyne 
Digging for Gold 

Talented artist Frank Allfrey is forced to grow up fast when he is orphaned and sent to live with an aloof uncle, who cares little for his artistic passion. Instead, he sends Frank away to California to work as a clerk near the recently discovered gold fields. Plenty of new experiences and exciting adventures await Frank in this tantalising new landscape. A wonderful adventure story by R.M. Ballantyne, which captures the wonder and excitement of the period.-