Our eyes met; I confess it, my heart was very small within me.

I had my rifle, to be sure, but the least movement to poise it would have been the signal for a spring from the animal.

At last, still crouching, it crept back, augmenting the distance to about thirty feet.

Then it made a circle round me, never for a moment taking its eyes off my face, for the cub was still playing at my feet.

I have no doubt that if the little animal had been betwixt me and the mother, she would have snatched it and run away with it.