Daniel Retallick grew to manhood in the years of flood tide in the chronicles of Africa The son of Josh and Miriam, he settles with his wife and children on a homestead in Matabeleland It is now the 1880s, and the Matabele impis are advancing with their singing spears toward the death-dealing Maxim guns of the white man Daniel Retallick's loyalties, plans and dreams are swept by destiny into the savage whirlpool of history