ATTACKED BY RHINOS 145 



At once I organized a search party. Not only 

 were there rhinos in the vicinity, but leopards and 

 other carnivorous beasts. If Osa was hurt and 

 unable to defend herself there was no telling what 

 ghastly fate might be hers. 



Of course it was not imusual for her to be treed by 

 a wild animal. I knew she would climb out of harm's 

 way rather than shoot game unnecessarily. But I 

 gathered from the man who had seen her last that 

 there were no climbable trees within several miles of 

 the desert trail they were on when he lost her. 



From a rocky elevation I searched the plain with 

 my glasses. To my intense relief I suddenly saw 

 Osa sitting alone on the grotmd at least a mile from 

 me. As I looked she rose slowly and started to walk 

 in faltering steps our way. We rushed out to meet 

 her. 



"The mule shied at a snake," she explained. "I 

 fell off, and lost consciousness. I think I must have 

 struck my head on a stone." 



It was a good lesson in the danger of going alone 

 through such country. 



I think we found the rhinos mostly feeding on the 

 unpleasant thornbush. Sometimes they would turn 

 up imder a solitary tree on the plains which they 

 had selected for their daytime rest. Despite their 

 choleric temperaments we fotmd them regular in 

 their habits, and tending to stay in the same neigh- 



