H. Rider Haggard 
Long Odds 

'Long Odds’ is a short story by H. Rider Haggard, first published in 1886. The story is set in South Africa and tells the tale of a young man named Frank Muller, who is on a quest to find diamonds in the vast wilderness. Frank is accompanied by his faithful companion, a Zulu named Jantje. As they travel deeper into the wilderness, they encounter a mysterious stranger named Silvestre, who joins them on their journey. Silvestre claims to be a Frenchman, but his real motives are unclear.