The Crocodile's Last Embrace (45 page)

If anyone doubts Biscuit’s willingness to wade the Athi, cheetahs have been photographed swimming in Botswana as floodwaters forced them to cross bodies of water to reach their prey.

The Irving Air Chute Company is not a typographical error. At least, not here. Leslie Irvin founded the company, but a clerical error resulted in a “g” being added to the name. It stayed until 1970, so I’ve used the variation that Sam would have known.

Some readers may question the spelling of McMillan’s name. While some books give it as MacMillan, Isak Dinesen uses this spelling. McMillan’s farm, Juja, sprawled around much of Ol Donyo Sabuk, but his wife didn’t care for it, so he didn’t often live there. By 1921, McMillan was suffering from illnesses and lived abroad more than in Africa. His farm was largely unattended then.

And as noted in previous books, the excerpts at the top of each chapter are not from a real magazine. The clips are part of Jade’s articles and I write her copy. Readers interested in more tidbits of historical interest are invited to visit my weekly blog, “Through Jade’s Eyes,” at
http://suzannearruda.blogspot.com/
. A new post shows up each Monday, barring unforeseen circumstances.

Suzanne Arruda
, a zookeeper turned science teacher and freelance writer, is also the author of several biographies for young adults as well as science and nature articles for adults and children. An avid hiker, outdoorswoman, and a member of Women in the Outdoors, she lives in Kansas with her husband. You can reach her at
www.suzannearruda.com
.