Part 81 (1/2)

While they atching the as, Von Bloom rose suddenly to his feet All turned their eyes upon him as he did so They saw by hisWhat could it be?

The thought had just occurred to hi the pit

It was near sunset--wanting only half-an-hour of it; and one would suppose he would have done better to leave the work till next ood reason why they should set about it at once; and that was, that they ht not be able to coht

It would be no slight undertaking to dig a pit of proper size, for they would require one that would at least hold half-a-dozen quaggas at a ti away the earth that should co the poles and branches to cover it, and the placing of these in a proper reat deal of tias, else the whole scheround before the pit was covered in and all traces of the work re the water, and perhaps never visit that vley again

Such were the conjectures of the field-cornet Hans, Hendrik, and Swartboy, acknowledged their justice All saw the necessity of going to work at once, and to work they all went

Fortunately aood spades, a shovel, and a pick-axe, and all of them could be busy at the same time There were baskets in which the dirt could be carried off, and thrown into the deep channel close by, where it would not be seen This was also a fortunate circureat distance, would have made the job still heavier, andmarked the outlines of the pit, they went to ith spade, shovel, and pick The ground proved tolerably loose, and the pick was but little needed The field-cornet himself handled one of the spades Hendrik the other, while Swartboy acted as shoveller, and filled the baskets as fast as Hans and Totty, assisted by Truey and little Jan, could empty them These last carried a small basket of their own, and contributed verythe labours of Hans and Totty

And so the ent ht, and even after that hour, under the light of a full ers were buried to their necks

But they were now fatigued They knew they could easily complete the pit next day; and so they laid down their i their ablutions in the crystal water of the strea-quarters in the tree

By early dawn they were at it again, busy as bees; and the pit progressed so rapidly that before they stopped to take breakfast, Von Bloo on his toes, and the crown of Swartboy's woolly head was nearly two feet below the surface A littlewould do

After breakfast they went to work as briskly as ever; and laboured away until they considered that the hole was sunk to a sufficient depth It would have taken a springbok to have leaped out of it; and no quagga could possibly have cleared itself from such a pit

Poles and bushes were now cut; and the pit was neatly covered with these, and strewed over, as well as a large tract of the adjoining ground, with rushes and grass The acious animal would have been deceived by the appearance; even a fox could not have discovered the trap before tu to dinner,--which, consequently, fell late on that day--so nothingof the quaggas

At dinner they were all very one through The prospect of capturing the quaggas was very exciting, and kept the party in high spirits

Each offered a prognostication as to the result Soas at the least; while others were ht take twice that number Jan did not see why the pit should not be full; and Hendrik thought this probable enough--considering the way they intended to drive the quaggas into it

It certainly seemed so The pit had been made of sufficient width to preclude the possibility of the anithwise across the path, so that they could not uide them directly into it

It is true that, were they to be left to themselves, and per--that is, in single file--only one, the leader,hiallop off in a different direction

But it was not the intention of the hunters to leave things thus They had planned a way by which the quaggas, at a certain moment, would be thrown into a complete panic, and thus forced pell-e number of the animals

Four was as many as anted One for each of the hunters Four would do; but of course it ot into the pit The ive thee of ”pick and choose”

Dinner over, the hunters set about preparing for the reception of their expected visitors As already stated, the dinner had been later than usual; and it was now near the hour when the quaggas ht be looked for

In order to be in time, each took his station Hans, Hendrik, and Swartboy, placed themselves in ambush around the lake--at intervals from one another; but the lower end, where the animals usually approached and went out, was left quite open Von Bloom remained on the platforas, and give warning by a signal to the other three The positions taken by these were such, that they could guide the herd in the direction of the pit, byout of the bushes where they lay concealed In order that they should show themselves simultaneously, and at the proper nal froreat ”roer,” loaded blank Hans and Hendrik were also to fire blank shots on discovering themselves, and by this means the desired panic would be produced

The whole scheme ell contrived, and succeeded ad over the plain, just as on the preceding days Von Bloom announced their approach to the three in a in a subdued tone the words,--

”Quaggas are coe, scattered about in the water, drank their fill, and then co by the path on which lay the trap