The adventure novel of the famous French writer Gabriel Ferri (1809–1852) is still considered an unsurpassed example of the adventure genre. The perilous journeys of two inseparable friends capture the imagination of readers of all ages. The action takes place in a wild mountainous country in northwestern Mexico, where Don Estevan's expedition sets off in search of gold. The publication is based on a book published in 1867. The novel was not published during Soviet times.