“Ya, baas, lookee da! spoor fresh—da groot olifant hab slap here yesterday.”
“What then? you think we should lie in wait, and shoot him when he returns.”
“No, baas, better dan shoot, we make him bed—den wait see um lie down.”
Swartboy grinned a laugh as he gave this piece of advice.
“Make his bed! what do you mean?” inquired his master.
“I tell you, baas, we get da oliphant sure, if you leave da job to ole Swart. I gib you de plan for take him, no waste powder, no waste bullet.”
The Bushman proceeded to communicate his plan, to which his master—remembering their failure of yesterday—readily gave his consent.
Fortunately they had all the implements that would be necessary for carrying it out,—a sharp axe, a strong rope or “rheim” of raw-hide, and their knives—and they set about the business without loss of time.