Produced by Al Haines. [Illustration: Cover art] [Illustration: The rhinoceros, snorting loudly, was upon them.] *The Gold Kloof* BY H. A. BRYDEN THOMAS NELSON AND SONS _London, Edinburgh, Dublin, and New York_ 1907 _CONTENTS._ I. _School Days_ II. _Bamborough Farm_ III. _Up-country Life_ IV. _The Gold Spoor_ V. _The Trek Begins_ VI. _The Shadowers and the Shadowed_ VII. _Adventures in the Veldt_ VIII. _The Elephant Country_ IX. _In the Thirst-land_ X. _Tom’s Story.--The Baboon Boy_ XI. _The Berg Damaras_ XII. _The Lion Camp_ XIII. _Guy is Missing_ XIV. _Poeskop to the Rescue_ XV. _The Kloof_ XVI. _Gathering Gold_ XVII. _The Shadowers’ Attack_ XVIII. _The Last of Karl Engelbrecht_ XIX. _Homeward Bound_ *THE GOLD KLOOF.* *Chapter I.* *SCHOOL DAYS.* It was a fine, hot July day on the banks of the Severn river at Tewkesbury, that quaint, old-world, and somewhat decayed town, which offers to the inspection of the visitor and the archæologist some of the most ancient and interesting buildings to be seen in any part of broad England. There was some stir on the banks of the river, for two public schools, one of them situate in the west of England, the other hailing from a Midland shire, were about to contest with one another in their annual boat race. From the Western school a considerable contingent of lads had come over; these were discussing, with the enthusiasm of schoolboys, the prospects of the races. On the banks, gathered near the winning-post, were also to be seen a number of other spectators, some from the town itself, others from the neighbouring country-side.