190 WATCHED BY WILD ANIMALS 
closer and closer. Occasionally I caught a 
glimpse of the low-held body and the alert 
raised head. The back-pointing, sensitive three- 
foot tail, as restless as an elephant’s trunk, 
kept swinging, twitching, and feeling. Plan- 
ning before the lion was within leaping dis- 
tance to warn the mare with a yell, I sat still 
and watched. 
The well-developed and ever-alert senses of 
the mare—I know not whether it was scent or 
sight—brought a message of danger. Suddenly 
she struck an attitude of concentration and de- 
fiance, and the frightened colt crowded to her 
side. How capable and courageous she stood, 
with arched neck, blazing eyes, vigilant ears, 
and haughty tail! She pawed impatiently as 
the lion, now near, watchful and waiting, froze. 
Suddenly he leaped forward, evidently hoping 
to stampede both animals and probably to 
seize the separated colt. Instantly the mother 
wheeled, and her outkicking heels narrowly missed 
the lion’s head. Next the lion made a quick 
side-leap to avoid being stamped beneath the 
mare’s swift front feet. 
For half a minute the mare and lion were dod- 
ging and fighting with all their skill. A splendid 
picture the mare made with erect tail and arched 
neck as she struck and wheeled and kicked! 
Again and again the lion tried to leap upon 
