Warriors on the Hills [antikvár]

CHAPTER ONE As Thomas sat on the upturned barrel beside the barn he heard the distant drumming of horse's hooves on the dusty main road below the farmhouse. He looked up from his whittling in surprise. It was the 23rd December, 1834, the height of the summer in the Cape, and though it was late afternoon it was still very hot. Who had such urgent business that they must ride with such haste? For a moment Thomas wondered if it could be his father returning from Graham's Town where he had gone with a wagon-load of hides and skins to trade, and to purchase some luxuries for the family at Christmas time. But Father had not been on horseback and he was not due back home until tomorrow. Thomas put his hand to his eyes to 5