er, might be caught. The rest, seeing him fall in, would be
sure to wheel round, and gallop 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-mell upon the pit. In
this lay their hopes of securing a large number of the animals.

Four was as many as were wanted. One for each of the hunters. Four would
do; but of course it mattered not how many more got into the pit. The
more the better, as a large number would give them the advantage 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 might 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 platform in the
tree, so as to mark the approach of the quaggas, 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, by merely coming
out of the bushes where they lay concealed. In order that they should
show themselves simultaneously, and at the proper moment, they were to
wait for a signal from the tree. This was to be the firing of the great
"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 was well contrived, and succeeded admirably. The herd
appeared filing over the plain, just as on the preceding days. Von Bloom
announced their approach to the three in ambush, by repeating in a
subdued tone the words,--

"Quaggas are coming!"

The unsuspecting animals filed through the gorge, scattered about in the
water, drank their fill, and then commenced retiring by the path on
which lay the trap.

The leader having climbed the bank, and seeing the fresh grass and
rushes strewed upon the path, uttered a snorting bark, and seemed half
inclined to wheel round. But just at that moment boomed the loud
detonation of the roer; and, then, like lesser echoes, the reports of
the smaller guns on the right and left, whi