Part Three, The Wilderness: Chapters 10-12 Summary

In November the weather changes and Sean decides to cross the river. The first wagon gets stuck in the sand and finally they cut the oxen free, and build a crossing to get the wagons, ivory and supplies over. It takes three days after which Sean declares a holiday. Kandhla is grilling a guinea fowl when Nonga points to a rider approaching. A white man, with a big ginger beard and thick arms rides in, dismounts, and greets Sean in Afrikaans. Sean invites the man who calls himself Jan Paulus Leroux, to lunch. His wagons are an hour or two behind him with his mother, father, little sister and wife, he tells Sean, and he adds that Sean had better move his wagons. Sean is sure he has not heard correctly at first...