3. When the advance team is surrounded and the men are being picked off one by one, who is going among the Matabele warriors, giving them instructions on how to better shoot their rifles?

4. What does Lobengula do before he and his surviving troops abandon their camp?

5. Who carves the crutch out of Mopani wood that Mungo uses to get around after his surgery?

Short Essay Questions

1. When Mungo receives the letter telling him that his wife has died, Mungo is free to finally marry Louise. What does Mungo do when he receives the letter?

2. When she finally climbs out of the sycamore tree, why does Louise leave all of her supplies, except the rifle, behind?

3. When Kamuza gives the gold to Will and Jim, what do Jim and Will tell Kamuza?

4. Explain the upshot of the note Jameson pens to London, and Jameson's recommendation.

5. When Catherine asks Salina if God gets mad if one prays for something just for oneself, and Salina says no, what does Catherine pray for?

6. When Ralph first meets his Uncle Codrington, Ralph claims that he would have known his uncle anywhere. How?

7. When Louise leaves the king's camp, she has a plan in place. What is Louise's plan?

8. According to Bazo, why does he not have sex with the girl who cooks for him?

9. According to Zouga, why are some of Lobengula's regiments on the Zambezi unable to fight?

10. Other than wanting to steal the king's diamonds, what other reason does Mungo have for staying at the Codringtons?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

There is no doubt that Zouga Ballantyne is greatly affected by the events in the twelve years leading up to the story's beginning. Discuss how the rises and falls of Zouga's search for wealth impacted his decisions when he and his family finally reached Colesberg. How do Zouga's previous experiences affect his mental state, his ability to reason, his relationships, and his ability to continue on?

Essay Topic 2

In many ways, the novel is a series of contrasts designed to heighten the reader's awareness and draw the reader deeper into the story and the intricacies of each of the story's characters. Identify at least three contrasts that are used in the novel. Describe these contrasts and determine how they impact the story's plot, as well as the reader's emotional involvement in the characters' lives. If these identified contrasts were not included in the story, what impact would their absence have on the storyline, the characters' development, and the readers' involvement?