Jock of the Bushveld (abridged edition)

I began to notice little things about him that no one else noticed, and got to be quite fond of the little beggar … perhaps it was because he was always cheerful and plucky and it seemed as if there might be some good stuff in him after all.’ Before the turn of the twentieth century, when the lure of gold was bringing men from all corners of the earth to the Transvaal, a young man from Cape Town goes to the Lydenburg goldfields to seek his fortune. On realising that a good hunting dog would be a great advantage in the Bushveld, he decides to find himself a puppy – but to all his companions’ astonishment, it’s not the prettiest or the strongest puppy that catches his eye. Instead, he chooses an ugly little bull-terrier called Jock, the runt of the litter, who eventually surprises everyone by growing up to become one of the most famous hunting dogs in South African history. With his master, Jock shares the excitement of a transport rider’s life; they become close companions and all Jock’s skill and intelligence are needed in many thrilling and dangerous encounters with big game. Through the story of Jock and his master, a vivid picture of the Bushveld unfolds, as together they discover its birds and beasts and men. Now regarded as a classic, Jock of the Bushveld is still as fresh and exciting as it was when it was first told.