Diamond Dyke, by George Manville Fenn.
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A most authentic-seeming book about the difficulties a pair of young
Britons faced when they went to South Africa, and set up an ostrich farm
in the dry and largely empty veldt. They had a married couple of the
locals to help them, and of these the man wasn't much use. They also
had a most sagacious dog, who figures largely in the story. One of the
enemies they had to face was lions.
One day they found they needed more stores, so young Dyke, barely
sixteen years of age, has to go on a six or seven day journey to the
farm of the nearest honest storekeeper, a fat old German, seventy years
of age. On the way back there is a serious delay due to a flash flood
which took several days to clear. But when they get back they find that
the older brother is seriously ill of an African fever. The local
people had been sure he would die, and were preparing to move in and
take what stock there was. But young Dyke nurses his brother back to
health. A little later the old German turns up at the farm, and makes a
discovery which would change the fortunes of the brothers for ever.
A very gripping story in the best Fenn style, very hard to put down. It
makes an excellent audiobook, of about seven hours' duration.
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DIAMOND DYKE, BY GEORGE MANVILLE FENN.