Empire Builders

Along with his horse Boomerang, British captain William Ballard travels in South Africa to meet a native king, Karin, in the hope of arranging a treaty with him on behalf of the British government. Along the way, William meets his Scottish friend, Sandy McGregor, and Fritz van Roon, an intractable Dutch Boer who refuses to acknowledge British rule and seeks to undermine it. William also meets Katryn, a Dutch farmer's niece, and she falls in love with him after he rescues her from a savage native attack on her wagon. William is wounded during the melee and Katryn is mistakenly told that he has died. Although Katryn's uncle considers van Roon a coward, the Boer kidnaps her. William soon learns of van Roon's actions and, accompanied by a friendly native king, finds Katryn and rescues her. Van Roon is left to the mercy of the vicious veldt beasts. —AFI