Orphan Jingo Hawks is out of luck when Mrs. Daggatt hires him out as a chimney sweep to the awful General Dirty-Face Scurlock. But it's gypsy luck that day in 1854 puts Jingo into the right chimney and then into the care of the mysterious Mr. Peacock-Hancock-Jones, who claims to know Jingo's scoundrel father. Together they set out on a treasure hunt from Boston to Mexico for buried gold. But they are not alone -- those nasty gold diggers Mrs. Daggatt and General Scurlock are hot on their trail. But Mr. Peacock-Hancock-Jones has more than a few surprises in store . . .