Should the animals arrive upon the ground before the pit was covered in and all traces of the work removed, they would make off without entering the water, and perhaps never visit that vley again.
Such were the conjectures of the field-cornet.

Hans, Hendrik, and Swartboy, acknowledged their justice.

All saw the necessity of going to work at once, and to work they all went.
Fortunately among the "implements," were two good spades, a shovel, and a pick-axe, and all of them could be busy at the same time.

There were baskets in which the dirt could be sanded off, and thrown into the deep channel close by, where it would not be seen.

This was also a fortunate circumstance; for to have carried the stuff any great distance, would have made the job still heavier, and more difficult to execute in proper time.
Having marked the outlines of the pit, they went to work with spade, shovel, and pick.