From Elephant Khedder to Crocodile Tank 361 



trumpeting was incessant. There was not a moment 

 which was not alive with sensation. 



Day broke at last " 'Thank goodness ! " from Captain 

 Z. and that so all-impressive vigil became only a 

 fascinating memory. Cold and grey at first, a generous 

 sun soon beat almost too kindly over the dead ashes of 

 the memorable night's orgies. How many elephants 

 were secured? The natives said sixty, Captain Z. 

 thought he had seen thirty ; the real number ultimately 

 turned out to be fifty-seven. 



So far so good ; they were safe and sound, and would 

 all day probably remain invisible. The bands of 

 natives round the palisade continued to strengthen 

 and complete the bamboo fence, making themselves 

 little wattled booths in which alternate parties slept 

 and watched throughout the day. Meanwhile, a long 

 sleep and a late breakfast to follow was welcome to 

 the little party who had been overseers and spectators 

 since the sun set. 



That afternoon saw still a lively scene and plenty 

 of hard work ; the palisade stood up complete and 

 solid, and most important of all, the khedder itself was 

 begun. It was four days before this last great work 

 was complete. At last it was ready. Picture a pound 

 about a hundred yards in diameter, with an opening 

 left on one side which faced the largest track made by 

 the elephants when driven into cover, palisades having 

 been built to guide the herd to this opening. 



The pound itself was enclosed by a ditch nine feet 

 wide at the top, a yard wide at the bottom, and nine 



