Africa is still the home of mystery, in spite of the many explorers who
have revealed much of its wonders. This romance is concerned mainly
with the adventures of three young men who went out to South Africa, got
into trouble with the Transvaal Government, and afterwards discovered an
ancient nation in Central Africa.
On their return they were able to take a little hand in this present war
of Justice and Right, where so many of our best and bravest are shedding
their blood.
I wish I could have shown my readers the wind up of this vile oligarchy
of Pretoria tyrants. Yet I dare say no real Briton can doubt but that
the end must be the triumph of our glorious Empire and the ultimate
civilisation of those ignorant savages, the Boers.
It has cost us dearly--it may cost us more--yet never let a true lover
of liberty be biased by the friends of the oppressors. Africa must be a
free country, as Australia, New Zealand, and Canada are. Like those
great countries, Africa must become a loyal and faithful daughter to her
beneficent mother, our Empire, and enjoy the fruits of emancipation as
those other sisters do.
These fruits are Liberty, Equality, Justice, and Fraternity to all races
over which waves the glorious Red, White, and Blue Flag, the Union Jack.
The boons which we are at present fighting for will cause many a hearth
to mourn for the brave sons who lie under the cold stars and the fierce
suns of Africa. But as the human parts of these sons enrich the veldt,
so will their heroic actions cause countless generations of Boers to
bless their coming. They have fought--not out of revenge, but for duty
and love of their brothers. They have died for a noble cause, and
Africa will yet think of them with pride. While, therefore, we drop a
tear over their sacred graves, let it be one of gratitude and pride.
Who would not sooner share the grave of a soldier in Africa than grasp
the hand of a pro-Boer in England? Who would not sooner lie beside a
hero on the veldt than be placed near the statesman who caused all this
waste of blood?
That you may forgive all the shortcomings in this book, and be
interested in it and its pictures, is the most earnest wish of the
writer. If it can keep an Imperialist steadfast when persuaded by
crafty traitors, if it can induce a wavering pro-Boer to be once more a
faithful son or daughter to Justice and our Empire, then it has more
than fulfilled the desires of