The rajah had, himself, been all the time upon the spot; and was delighted when he saw how formidable was the obstacle that had been raised.

One small entrance, alone, had been left; and through this all the women and children now passed, and lay down in the space between the new palisade and the wall of the palace.
The men were ordered to take post behind the stockade, and a number of boys were sent out, to act as scouts and give notice if an enemy approached.

The rajah, however, was of opinion that, as the enemy would know that the alarm would have been given by the fugitives, on their arrival, and that the inhabitants would be on their guard, they would not attack till daylight.
Harry had, at his invitation, gone up at midnight to his house, and partaken of food; which was also sent out to Abdool and the interpreter.

The rajah would have continued the work all through the night, had not Harry dissuaded him; saying that, after six hours' sleep, everyone would work better.
At one o'clock a horn was sounded and, with the exception of a few men left at the outer palisade, all set to work again.

The men were employed in digging a trench, a foot in depth, inside the inner palisade; throwing up the earth in front of them, so as to lie protected from arrows and spears, until it was time for them to rise to their feet to repel an actual assault.