CATCHING THE CUBS. 271 



ones, a feat easier talked of than performed. 

 "When they saw us coming, off they started 

 up the hill, as hard as they could go, and 

 were very soon out of sight. Several times 

 their cries dii^ected us in our pursuit, but as 

 often as we found them we lost them again ; 

 for they would not allow us to get near 

 enough even to attempt to lay hold of them, 

 setting off again at score the instant they 

 caught sight of us. At last we seemed to 

 have lost the little things altogether, we 

 could neither see nor hear anything of them, 

 nor trace the way they had gone. Sending 

 the man in one direction, I went in another, 

 and after wandering about a long while, had 

 the satisfaction of hearing them crying some 

 distance off, further up the hill. Following 

 the sound, I discovered them in a little hole, 

 and luckily got close to it, before disturbing 

 them. Having them, as I now thought, 

 secure, I hallooed for the man to jom me, 

 and sat down at the mouth of the hole, to 

 await his arrival. I waited patiently for 

 more than an hour, often getting up and 



