This is the story of the Standard family, and how they and their friends started a grubstake company to go strike it rich in the Klondike in 1898.

Nehemiah Standard, father and grandfather, was Second Assistant Engineer on the cutter Thomas Corwin, sailing with the U.S. Revenue Marine Service throughout Alaska. He vanished thirteen years ago, while on medical leave in Haines in 1885.

This story begins with the family disembarking at the Dyea dock outside Skagway along with all the other stampeders...