pot, or so badly wounded as to
prevent its getting away.

Von Bloom constructed his trap after the approved fashion, as
follows:--Near the camp he selected a spot where three saplings or young
trees grew, standing in a line, and about a yard between each two of
them. Had he not found these trees so disposed, stakes firmly driven
into the ground would have answered his purpose equally well.

Thorn-bushes were now cut, and a kraal built in the usual manner--that
is with the tops of the bushes turned outwards. The size of the kraal
was a matter of no consequence; and, of course, to save labour, a small
one was constructed.

One point, however, was observed in making the kraal. Its door of
opening was placed so that two of the three saplings stood like posts,
one on each side of it; and an animal going into the enclosure must
needs pass these two trees.

Now for the part the gun had to play.

The weapon was placed in a horizontal position against two of the
saplings,--that is, the stock against the one outside the kraal, and the
barrel against one of the door-posts, and there firmly lashed. In this
position the muzzle was close to the edge of the entrance, and pointing
directly to the sapling on the opposite side. It was at such a height as
to have ranged with the heart of a hyena standing in the opening.

The next move was to adjust the string. Already a piece of stick,
several inches in length, had been fixed to the small of the stock, and,
of course, behind the trigger. This was fastened transversely, but not
so as to preclude all motion. A certain looseness in its adjustment gave
it the freedom required to be worked as a lever--for that was its
design.

To each end of this little stick was fastened a string. One of these
strings was attached to the trigger; the other, after being carried
through the thimbles of the ramrod, traversed across the entrance of the
kraal, and was knotted upon the opposite side to the sapling that stood
there. This string followed the horizontal direction of the barrel, and
was just "taut;" so that any farther strain upon it would act upon the
little lever, and by that means pull the trigger; and then of course
"bang" would go the roer.

When this string was adjusted, and the gun loaded and cocked, the trap
was set.

Nothing remained to be done but bait it. This was not a difficult task.
It consisted simply in placing a piece of meat or carcass within the
enclosure, and there leavi