pt. 1. Irreconcilable expectations: Setting the stage ; British expectations at the Cape ; Expectations on the eastern frontier ; The parting of the ways ; The Transvaal unsettled -- pt. 2. Open borders across the Vaal: Foundation and colonization ; Gold to the rescue? ; From flawed to failed ; Britain to the rescue -- pt. 3. Gold, the mixed blessing: Economics, the gold standard and the British policy in South Africa ; Wars, concessions and a short boom -- Opening Pandora's box, mining the gold ; The challenge to mining -- pt. 4. Intrigue and confrontation: Afrikaner nationalism and railway politics ; A tale of two cities ; The conspiracy and the raid ; Power politics ; A short war, a long battle -- Epilogue