He now whispered that a bull-elephant was drinking from a hole it had scooped in the sand, not far around the corner.

Without the slightest confusion the hunters at once fell quietly into their respective places, Taher Sherrif leading, while I followed closely in the line, with my Tokrooris bringing up the rear; we were a party of seven horses.
Upon turning the corner we at once perceived the elephant, that was still drinking.

It was a fine bull.

The enormous ears were thrown forward, as the head was lowered in the act of drawing up the water through the trunk.

These shaded the eyes, and with the wind favorable we advanced noiselessly upon the sand to within twenty yards before we were perceived.