All went well until I aimed a blow at an outlying cowls head and fell short.

She snorted and tried to scramble away.

I ran in close and struck another blow, hitting the shoulder instead of the head.
"Watch out!" I heard Maud scream.
In my excitement I had not been taking notice of other things, and I looked up to see the lord of the harem charging down upon me.

Again I fled to the boat, hotly pursued; but this time Maud made no suggestion of turning back.
"It would be better, I imagine, if you let harems alone and devoted your attention to lonely and inoffensive-looking seals," was what she said.
"I think I have read something about them.

Dr.Jordan's book, I believe.
They are the young bulls, not old enough to have harems of their own.