
audiobook
by Alfred W. (Alfred Wilks) Drayson
Preface.
Chapter One. - Introduction to the Hunters—Death of the Lion—Discovery of the Elephants by Hans Sterk.
Chapter Two. - Following the Elephants—Cutting out the tusks—Hunting the herd of Elephants.
Chapter Three. - The Bull Elephant—The Charge of the Elephants—Counting the Spoils.
Chapter Four. - Seeking the Dead Elephants—Ambuscade of the Matabili Warriors—Escape of Hans Sterk and his Party—Battle with the Matabili—The Slaughter of Siedenberg.
Chapter Five. - Commando against the Matabili and Moselekatse, the Chief of the Matabili.
Chapter Six. - Hans determines to follow Katrine—He journeys by Night—Hans watches the Enemy.
Chapter Seven. - Expedition of the Matabili—Hans telegraphs to Katrine, and receives his Answer.
Chapter Eight. - The attempted Rescue—Hans outwitted and captured by the Matabili.
Chapter Nine. - Hans Sterk becomes a Prisoner with his Companions—Finds an unexpected Ally—Plots an Escape.
Set against the tumult of the 1835 Cape of Good Hope exodus, a wave of desperate colonists pushes deep into untouched Africa seeking freedom from a distant government. Their trek quickly collides with powerful tribal nations, sparking fierce battles that test the newcomers' resolve and shape a new, fragile community. The narrative captures the raw ambition, danger, and fleeting alliances that defined this historic migration.
At the heart of the story is Hans Sterk, a seasoned Boer hunter whose sharp eye and steady hand guide a small band of men through the shadowed forests and glittering river pools of the interior. Around a crackling bivouac they share tales, clean rifles, and set out on daring pursuits that bring them face‑to‑face with lions, elephants, and the unforgiving night. Their camaraderie—mixing Boers, Hottentot guides, and black companions—offers a vivid glimpse of frontier life before the larger conflicts unfold.
Language
en
Duration
~8 hours (507K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England
Release date
2010-05-27
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1827–1901
A Victorian soldier-scholar with a wide range of interests, he wrote adventure stories, military works, and books on astronomy. He is also remembered as a friend of Arthur Conan Doyle, who dedicated The Captain of the Polestar to him.
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