"Allan Quatermain" by H. Rider Haggard Quiz

Answer: The death of Allan's son.

Allan's son, Harry, was qualified as a doctor. Curtis in particular thought very highly of him, as on a hunting party Harry once shot Curtis in the leg, and then cut the pellets out himself, pointing out how useful it is to have a doctor around. Unfortunately, Harry volunteered to work in a small-pox hospital, and succumbed to the disease. Allan was distraught.

Answer: Three years.

Our heroes are sick of the trappings of civilisation. Allan has nothing to stay for with the death of his son, and Good and Curtis have equally valid reasons. Good reckons he is getting too fat, and Curtis is "sick of shooting pheasants and partridges". It's a tough life!

Answer: A hand.

With our heroes dozing in canoes in the river, the Masai swim out and attack, killing one of the native bearers. Mild mannered, unassuming, God fearing Allan instantly whips up a battle axe and chops off one of the Masai's arms. The Masai go away.

Answer: Umslopogaas.

Umslopogaas is seriously not to be messed with. His axe has notches marking the number of men he has killed in hand to hand combat. There are 103 of them, and that doesn't count people he hasn't ripped open (a native custom) or "those whom another man had struck". Oh yeah. He's hard.

Answer: Mackenzie.

The mission house is a beautiful place, tended lovingly by Mackenzie and his wife. Allan is struck by the splendour of the gardens. A home away from home! "You are very venturesome people" says Mackenzie to our heroes. He has no idea!

Answer: Woodpecker.

Umslopogaas' axe, called Inkosi-kaas, had a cutting edge, but also a spike, with which the killing blow was delivered. Umslopogaas considered this much more sporting than a mere slash. The axe's name means, in Zulu, "Chieftainess" due to her habit of "prying very deep into things". A barrel of laughs Umslopogaas was not.

Answer: The heroic blood of his grandfather made him do it.

Alphonse lays out his tragic life story to our heroes. Falling in love, his conscription, deserting, trip back to France, loss of love, fleeing the authorities. Our heroes' response? They choke with laughter. But I do have to admit, Alphonse is a grade one chump.

Answer: Chainmail shirts.

Wearing chainmail had worked for our heroes before, in "King Solomon's Mines". "They can do most things in the way of steel work in Birmingham" says Allan. What about Sheffield?

Answer: Shoot a hippo.

Yes, of course it's all about shooting. Our heroes try to blow the heads off a few hippopotami to impress the natives. That's what all the women love! However, this backfires when we find out that the priesthood venerate hippos as a sacred animal. Whoops.

Answer: Henry Curtis.

Ah, but now it starts. Nyleptha and Sorais both fancy Curtis. Good is after Sorais. Curtis falls in love with Nyleptha. "Oh my word!" Allan thinks " the ladies have come on the stage, and now we may look to the plot to develop itself." And Umslopogaas, he doesn't care as long as he can chop someone's head off at some stage.

Answer: Yellow Country

Allan isn't quite sure why this is the case, but reckons it has something to do with either the quantity of gold that can be found, or the yellow grasses. Still, it doesn't matter, our heroes are here to stay.

Answer: Denying him food.

"Well, I cannot execute a High Priest" says Nyleptha "But I can leave him to contemplate the altar of the Sun without anything to eat". Agon had not had breakfast and quickly agreed. Proving two things. One, Agon's spiritual development is perhaps a tad below par, and two, Curtis' marriage may be a little "bumpy".

Answer: Nyleptha will be assassinated at dawn.

This news leaves Allan and Umslopogaas with a hard task: a hundred mile ride in nine hours! Hard going indeed but Umslopogaas has a plan. Does it involve horse changing, canoes, strange primitive flying machines? No. Of course not. When Agon, the sly high priest who plans the assassination, is found "I will split him to the beard" says Umslopogaas. Typical. Yes, but you have to get there first!

Answer: Shatter the sacred stone.

Umslopogaas dies in a heroic defence of Nyleptha. He takes more than a few of the enemy with him though (Agon is one of them). His dying words? A prayer to God? A story of his life? Words of Yoda-like wisdom? No. "but it was a kingly fray" he says. Hard as nails.

Answer: Excessive modesty, a little jealousy.

Alas, the story ends with the death of Allan, a while after receiving a wound whilst saving Good's life in the battle. Although mentioning these failings, Curtis does heap praise on Allan, and a good thing too. All adventures must come to an end....and I'm afraid this is ours. See you Allan....