Jake Crabtree has been searching for gold for years. But he's pretty lazy and his luck has never been good, so it's no surprise that his search hasn't turned up much. Until now. Coming out of winter hibernation--when he usually goes on one long drinking binge--Jake learns that his benefactor, Dr. McNair, is at death's door. The doc's last request is to be buried on the claim that he shares with Jake. It's when he's digging the doc's grave that Jake finally strikes a rich vein of gold. But Jake's about to find out that gold brings with it a lot more than wealth. It also brings a whole passel of trouble and a pack of back-stabbing varmints!