By the Great Horn Spoon

This rip-snortin’ saga of 12 year-old orphan Jack Flagg, and his aunt's butler, Praiseworthy when they stow away on a side-wheeler in Boston bound for California during the great Gold Rush of 1849. Jack's Aunt Arabella is financially strapped so he is lout to strike for gold to help support her. They meet a cast of coots, codgers, geezers, and outlaws on the boat and learn to use their wit, intelligence and loyalty to each other to defend themselves against thieves and other colorful characters.