228 SAFARI 



might stumble. Osa knew this as well as I. More 

 than once she had had to run over rough ground to 

 escape rhinos. Also holding my rifle and glancing 

 over my shoulder made my movements awkward. 



Out of the corner of her eye Osa kept watch on her 

 gim-bearer. This was a black boy whose duty it was 

 to remain at her elbow and hand out her rifle in 

 emergency. Here again she took a chance because 

 the natural impulse of the native was to flee. 



Of course the other elephants in the herd came 

 after the big bull. That is the instinct of most 

 animals which travel in groups. The sight of the 

 huge lumbering beasts pounding along in a charge 

 that was meant to wipe us all off the map was enough 

 to make anyone shiver. I think Osa did more shiver- 

 ing than I because she was standing still and could 

 see more. 



She cranked as long as she dared. Then she 

 reached down and grabbed her gun. Under ordinary 

 circumstances I like to see her shoot. She has' a 

 natural grace about her whole act of marksmanship 

 that is rare. But this time I was in no mood to 

 appreciate anything but escape. 



In a split second she had the rifle to her shoulder 

 and fired. I swerved as the mortally wounded 

 elephant thundered past and fell with a thud that 

 shook us all. 



Seeing that the others of the herd were checked 



