It would have taken a springbok to have leaped out of it; and no quagga could possibly have cleared itself from such a pit.
Poles and bushes were now cut; and the pit was neatly covered with these, and strewed over, as well as a large tract of the adjoining ground, with rushes and grass.

The most sagacious animal would have been deceived by the appearance; even a fox could not have discovered the tray before tumbling into it.
They had completed the work before going to dinner,--which, consequently, fell late on that day--so nothing more remained to be done but to dine, and await the coming of the quaggas.
At dinner they were all very merry, notwithstanding the immense fatigue they had gone through.

The prospect of capturing the quaggas was very exciting, and kept the party in high spirits.
Each offered a prognostication as to the result.

Some said they would trap three quaggas at the least; while others were more sanguine, and believed they might take twice that number.

Jan did not see why the pit should not be full; and Hendrik thought this probable enough-- considering the way they intended to drive the quaggas into it.
It certainly seemed so.