Cover of The Gold-Seekers: A Tale of California

The Gold-Seekers: A Tale of California

  • Free to read
  • 5 hours to read
  • 24 chapters
  • Reading level: 7th grade

"The Gold-Seekers: A Tale of California" by Gustave Aimard is a novel written in the mid-19th century. This adventurous narrative focuses on the dramatic experiences of a group of characters exploring California during the gold rush era, emphasizing their interactions with the land and each other. The main character, Colonel Sebastian Guerrero, embarks on a journey across the tumultuous landscape, accompanied by his daughter, Doña Angela, as they navigate the dangers and opportunities that come with the pursuit of gold. The opening of the novel sets the stage for a gripping tale filled with tension and danger. It begins with Colonel Guerrero and his daughter setting off from Guadalajara, Mexico, and quickly establishes a sense of foreboding as they journey into potentially perilous territory. As the characters encounter various challenges, including threats from bandits and the harsh wilderness, the story hints at deeper themes of survival, adventure, and the complexities of human relationships. The initial chapters create an engaging blend of dialogue and description, drawing readers into the evolving narrative of individuals chasing their fortunes in a land of opportunity.

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  • Western stories
  • Gold mines and mining
  • California

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Prologue

I.—THE MEETING.

On the 5th of July, 184-, at about six in the evening, a party of well-mounted horsemen started at a gallop from Guadalajara, the capital of the state of Jalisco, and proceeded along the road that traverses the village of Zapopan, celebrated for its miraculous virgin. After crossing the escarped summits of the Cordilleras, this road reaches the charming little town of Tepic, the usual refuge of those Europeans and rich Mexicans whom business carries to San Blas, but to whom the insalubrity of the air breathed in that port, the maritime arsenal of the Mexican union, would be mortal.

We have said that six o'clock was striking as the cavalcade passed the gateway. The officer of the watch, after bowing respectfully to the travellers, watched them for a long time, then re-entered the guardroom, shaking his head, and muttering to himself,—

"Heaven save me! What can Colonel Guerrero be thinking of, to set out on a Friday, and at such an hour as this? Does he fancy that the salteadores will allow him to pass? Hum! He will see what they are about at the barranca del mal paso (the gorge of the evil step)."

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Contents

  1. Preface
  2. Prologue
  3. Chapter I
  4. Chapter II
  5. Chapter III
  6. Chapter IV
  7. Chapter V
  8. Chapter VI
  9. Chapter VII
  10. Chapter VIII
  11. Chapter IX
  12. Chapter X
  13. Chapter XI
  14. Chapter XII
  15. Chapter XIII
  16. Chapter XIV
  17. Chapter XV
  18. Chapter XVI
  19. Chapter XVII
  20. Chapter XVIII
  21. Chapter XIX
  22. Chapter XX
  23. Chapter XXI
  24. Chapter XXII

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About this edition

This free edition of The Gold-Seekers: A Tale of California by Gustave Aimard comes from Project Gutenberg eBook #42532, released 2013-04-14. It is in the public domain in the United States, so you can read it here in full at no cost, on any phone, tablet or computer. Genre: Historical Novels, Adventure, Novels.

Summary provided by Project Gutenberg (automatically generated).

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