Usually, she would have circled around him, beaten him in the straight-away, and gained the protection of our small-mouthed cave.

But she could not circle him.

She was too dull and slow.

Each time he headed her off, until she gave over the attempt and devoted her energies wholly to keeping out of his clutches.
Had she not been sick it would have been child's play for her to elude him; but as it was, it required all her caution and cunning.

It was to her advantage that she could travel on thinner branches than he, and make wider leaps.