Everyone around Carson City knew the legend of Tobin Wilkes. How he and two partners had went in search of a fortune in Indian gold. One partner is killed by the Indians but he and Elmer Atwood are allowed two saddlebags each of the treasure.

As they were leaving, the river claimed the life of Atwood and half the gold. Tobin Wilkes went back, but could not stay in Carson City. After turning his gold into a veritable fortune, he did return though. There he befriended a young man and when he was about to lose everything, Wilkes agreed to take him back and search the river bottom for the lost gold.