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A Royal Engineer in the Low Countries

A Cavalry Surgeon at Waterloo

With the Third Guards during the Peninsular War

The First and Last Campaigns of the Great War

Supernatural and Weird Fiction of Vincent O'Sullivan

Supernatural and Weird Fiction of Algernon Blackwood

Narratives of the Anglo-Zulu War

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Quatermain : the Complete Adventures 6

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Quatermain : the Complete Adventures 6
Leonaur Original
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Author(s): H. Rider Haggard
Date Published: 2009/03
Page Count: 440
Softcover ISBN-13: 978-1-84677-606-9
Hardcover ISBN-13: 978-1-84677-605-2

Allan Quatermain set out on more breathtaking adventures

Leonaur have set out to create the definitive collection of the stories of Allan Quatermain—H. Rider-Haggard's famous white man of Africa—the ultimate hunter, trader, guide and adventurer. The quality of these tales of nineteenth century Africa simply cannot be overstated, particularly as many of them are little known even by those who would eagerly read them. Now there is the opportunity to own the complete Quatermain in hardcover with dust jacket or soft back with coordinating cover designs to enjoy time and again. This is the sixth volume containing two complete and colourful novels—Heu-Heu or the Monster and The Treasure of the Lake.

We had stopped for a few minutes to rest and drink some water from a mountain stream, and eat a few mouthfuls of food. Just as we had finished our hasty meal, Kaneke, who was seated on higher ground fifty yards ahead, turned and beckoned to me to come to him. I went, and when I reached him, without a word he pointed to our left.<br>
I looked, and there, advancing along a fold of the mountain at a considerably higher level than ourselves, just at the foot of the precipitous crater cliff a mile and a half, or perhaps two miles away, I caught sight of glittering specks which I knew must be the points of spears shining in the sun.<br>
“What is it?” I said.<br>
“The Abanda, Lord, coming to block our road, two or three hundred of them. Listen, now. There in that cliff far above us is the only pass on this side of the mountain which runs through the cleft to the crater. The Abanda know that if they can reach the cliff before us we shall be cut off and killed, every one. But if we can reach it before them, we shall win through in safety to my own country, for there they will not follow us. Now it is a race between us as to which of us will first gain the mouth of the pass. See, already I have sent on the bearers,” and he pointed to the line of them scrambling up the mountain-side several hundred yards ahead of us. “Let us follow them if you would continue to live.”<br>
By this time Arkle, Hans, and the two hunters had joined me. A few words sufficed to explain the situation, and off we went. Then ensued a struggle that I can only describe as fearsome. We who had marched far with little rest were tired; moreover we must climb uphill, whereas the Abanda savages were comparatively fresh and their path though rough lay more or less upon the flat; therefore they could cover twice the distance in the same time. Lastly, Arkle, although so strong, was still stiff and footsore after his race for life upon the yesterday, which delayed his progress. The bearers who, it will be remembered, had the start of us, made wonderful time, notwithstanding their loads; doubtless too they knew the Abanda and what would happen to them if they were overtaken. As we clambered up the mountain-side—heavens! how the sun-scorched lava burned my feet—Hans gasped out:<br>
“A lot of those fellows who were hunting the Bull-Baas, whom I wish we had never met, got away yesterday evening, Baas, and told their brothers, who have come to make us pay for those who didn’t get away.”<br>
“No doubt,” I grunted, “and what’s more, I think they will reach the mouth of the pass—if there is one—before us.”<br>
“Yes, Baas, I think so too, for the Bull-Baas has a sore heel and walks slowly and that cliff is still some way ahead. But, Baas, the ones who escaped yesterday have told these fellows about what happened to those who didn’t escape and what bullets are like. Perhaps we can hold them back with the rifles, Baas.”<br>
“Perhaps. At any rate we’ll try. Look how fast Kaneke is going.”<br>
“Yes, Baas, he climbs like a baboon or a rock-rabbit. He doesn’t mean to be caught by the Abanda, Baas, or his porters either, whatever happens to us. Suppose I sent a bullet after him, Baas, before he is out of shot, aiming at his legs to make him go a bit slower.” <br>
“No,” I answered. “Let the brute run. We must take our chance.”
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