So as soon as Salar heard his father's voice, he halted just where he was. And that saved him, as you will see.
The Elephant Taps Suspicious Ground with his Trunk
His father came up to him, and looked around carefully. Then he tapped on the ground with the end of his trunk.
"An elephant must always tap with his trunk when he is coming to suspicious ground, before he puts his foot on it," he said to Salar.
"What does suspicious ground mean?" Salar asked.
"Ground where there might be danger, though you do not see the danger," his father answered.
He went on a couple of yards, tapping the ground before him all the time. Then he suddenly stopped.
"Gr-r-r-rump!" he cried, "it sounds strange and hollow!"
Most carefully he put his foot forward and felt the ground with it, as an elephant always does when he thinks there is danger. Now the ground bent down a little just where he pressed it with his foot!
"I thought so!" he muttered.