Help Finding a Sci-Fi Short Story

[Dieselfeet]

Hi,

 

Many years ago, when I was at school, I was given a compendium of short sci-fi stories, most of which were excellent and thought-provoking. I've given up hope of finding THAT particular book, but one story from it sticks in my mind...

 

It starts with the captain of an alien ship reprimanding someone for inadvertently leaving a zoological probe (called a Rhumb?) on an unnamed planet. Before anything can be done about it, another alien ship appears, a battle ensues and both ships are destroyed (or at least our one is).

 

Millions of years later, a game hunter is dropped off in a South American forest or jungle for a lone hunting expedition and is scheduled to be picked up a few weeks later.

 

Whilst making his way through the forest, he encounters a clearing where a multitude of seemingly dead beasts, from the dinosaur era onwards, are laid out neatly on the ground. Examining one of them (a T.Rex, I think) he concludes that it's not dead, but is actually in a deep coma.

 

Almost immediately, a huge leathery-looking ball comes crashing out of the undergrowth and a cat'n'mouse chase commences.

 

I won't give too much more away, but I did read somewhere that it was the inspiration for the move Predator - including a very important pay-off scene.

 

I have scoured the 'Net using all kind of search criteria and have found zip, nil, nada.

 

Can anyone help?

 

Thanks in advance.

 

Paul