"The Young Adventurer" is the initial volume of the Pacific Series, four stories relating to the Pacific coast and the intervening country. This novel presents the story of Tom Nelson, who aspires to help his father meet a $2,000 mortgage by making his fortune in the California gold fields. Tom meets Nicholas Waterbury, a kind Cincinnati businessman, and the two travel together to Cincinnati. Tom then leaves for St. Joseph, Missouri, where he and another friend, Mr. Ferguson, join a wagon train for the long trip to California. Out on the plains, Tom and his friend brave thieves, outlaws and Indians before finally arriving in the Golden State. Included in this Illustrated Edition of the 1878 version of "The Young Adventurer" is the original illustration, rejuvenated, and 10 additional illustrations of pioneers crossing and settling on the prairie that are unique to this edition of the book, as well as an abbreviated biography and an annotated bibliography.