230 CHAPTER 28
South Africa, 1902Claire’s stomach rumbled, but she was too excited and nervous to even think about raiding their meagre stock of food in the saddlebags. The track they were on petered out as they ascended a particularly rocky section, at the foot of a koppie made of impressively large boulders. They could take the wagon no further.
Claire reasoned that the cave noted on Nathaniel’s map must be close, as even with a good number of men it would be hard work ferrying the gold from the wagons.
‘End of the road?’ Blake said.
‘We have to go on foot from here,’ Claire said, ‘but we must be very careful. I’ll take the lead.’
Blake dismounted and took his rifle. ‘Koppies like this are good leopard country. Are you sure you want to go first?’
Claire worked the bolt of her own r
