"Frank at Don Carlos' Rancho" by Harry Castlemon is a vibrant tale set in 19th-century California, where young cousins Frank Nelson and Archie Winters find their mundane ranch life unexpectedly transformed into a thrilling adventure. Initially bored, their world explodes with excitement when prized horses are stolen and a fearsome grizzly bear, Old Davy, threatens the peace. The story captures Frank and Archie's burgeoning courage and unwavering friendship as they eagerly pursue the horse thieves and confront the dangerous bear. Driven by youthful impatience and dreams of heroism, the boys embark on a series of risky escapades, highlighting their determination to restore justice and prove their mettle in the face of adversity.

Frank at Don Carlos' Rancho
By Harry Castlemon
Two young cousins trade boredom for bravery when they chase horse thieves and a monstrous bear across the wild landscapes of old California.
Summary
About the AuthorCharles Austin Fosdick, better known by his nom de plume Harry Castlemon, was a prolific writer of juvenile stories and novels, intended mainly for boys. He was born in Randolph, New York, and received a high school diploma from Central High School in Buffalo, New York. He served in the Union Navy from 1862 to 1865, during the American Civil War, acting as the receiver and superintendent of coal for the Mississippi River Squadron. Fosdick had begun to write as a teenager, and drew on his experiences serving in the Navy in such early novels as Frank on a Gunboat (1864) and Frank on the Lower Mississippi (1867). He soon became the most-read author for boys in the post-Civil War era, the golden age of children's literature.
Charles Austin Fosdick, better known by his nom de plume Harry Castlemon, was a prolific writer of juvenile stories and novels, intended mainly for boys. He was born in Randolph, New York, and received a high school diploma from Central High School in Buffalo, New York. He served in the Union Navy from 1862 to 1865, during the American Civil War, acting as the receiver and superintendent of coal for the Mississippi River Squadron. Fosdick had begun to write as a teenager, and drew on his experiences serving in the Navy in such early novels as Frank on a Gunboat (1864) and Frank on the Lower Mississippi (1867). He soon became the most-read author for boys in the post-Civil War era, the golden age of children's literature.