With this he first loosened the earth in a circle of the proper size.

He then took out the detached mould, flung it away, and used the point of the "crowing stick" as before.
Another clearing out of mould, another application of the stick; and so on, till the narrow hole was deemed of sufficient depth.

That was how Swartboy "crowed" the holes.
They were sunk in a kind of triangle near the bottom of the tree, but on the side opposite to that where the elephant would stand, should he occupy his old ground.
In each hole Swartboy now set a stake, thick end down and point upwards; some small pebbles, and a little mould worked in at the sides, wedged them as firmly as if they had grown there.
The stakes were now daubed over with soft earth, to conceal the white colour of the wood; the remaining chips were picked up, and all traces of the work completely obliterated.

This done, the hunters withdraw from the spot.
They did not go far; but choosing a large bushy tree to leeward, all three climbed up into it, and sat concealed among its branches.
The field-cornet held his long "roer" in readiness, and so did Hendrik his rifle.

In case the ingenious trap of Swartboy should fail, they intended to use their guns, but not otherwise.
It was now quite noon, and the day had turned into one of the hottest.
But for the shade afforded by the leaves, they would have felt it very distressing.