252 TRAVELS IN 
dam, and that the male would probably follow 
either to avenge or defend them. 
I colleded at my new poft fome of my hun- 
ters from the right and left, and v\ e retired to 
the diftance of thirty paces from the carcafe, 
ready to fire if the animals advanced. But 
my ftratagem was unfuccefsful, and we fpent 
feveral hours waiting for them in vain. 
The whelps, indeed, uneafy at not feeing 
their mother, ran about the thicket, growling 
on all fides. The male too, on being feparated 
from her, redoubled his roarings and his rage. 
We faw him for a moment appear at the edge 
of the thicket, his eyes fparkling, his mane 
ered, and lafhing his fides with his tail. But 
unfortunately he was out of ihot of my car- 
bine; and one of my markfmen, who was pofted 
nearer, fired and mifled him. At this he re- 
tired ; and, whether he feared to attack fo nu- 
merous a body of men, or was unwilHng to 
leave his young, or had received fome flight 
wound, he appeared no more. Though ani- 
mals of this fpecies, as 1 have already obferved, 
are more fierce and intrepid when they have 
young than at any other period, yet the males 
arc 
