War on the Drakensberg

Orphaned in the wake of the Irish potato famine, Padraig O'Casey finds himself in due course sent, together with a pair of Connemara ponies, to South Africa as aide to a returning, and ailing, missionary. With not enough to do west of the formidable Drakensberg range except hunt, Padraig interests himself in the affairs of the local tribe. But there are other tribes, neighbours, also in the picture, creating inter-tribal tension, rivalry and intrigue. A plotting witch-doctor, a princess, a chief-in waiting and a peripatetic lad set the explosive scene. When the climax looms Padraig is fated to play a crucial role. Cover illustration by 'Alex Hyde - alexhyde.co.uk'