From Elephant Khedder to Crocodile Tank 359 



Indeed, there was no time to be lost ; diplomacy 

 and good management alone could effect the capture. 

 A herd of elephants needs dealing with promptly and 

 courageously, or disaster and failure follow. Riding 

 round the entire circle, Captain Z. advised his various 

 " aides," whom he left in command at different points, 

 with a certain amount of the palisade to superintend 

 and so many natives, who were perspiring profusely 

 and working like grim death. The herd in cover 

 could be plainly heard ; they were evidently very 

 uneasy and consequently noisy, the males making a 

 continuous thundering sound with their trumpeting. 



Elephants are suspicious beasts, exceedingly shy 

 of anything in the way of a structure, regarding it 

 as a snare or pitfall of some sort. It was therefore 

 unnecessary to build an abnormally stiff stockade ; 

 though until a fair-sized fence was up round the entire 

 circle, it was an anxious time. However, the herd 

 remained singularly quiet. About 7 p.m., for those 

 who could spare half an hour, a sumptuous dinner 

 was ready in camp, to which the occupants of the two 

 little tents did ample justice. 



The sun had set, and darkness trod upon his heels 

 darkness soon to be lit up by a lurid glare for miles 

 around. The air by this time was beginning to be 

 charged with excitement. Around the whole of the 

 stockade, at intervals of thirty yards, bonfires were 

 burning, and every soul not already there was soon 

 in the midst of the excitement. By midnight the 

 welcome word was passed that the stockade was 



