He was enjoying a song and dance near the spot where Reynolds came upon him, when the hunters discovered him.

The sight filled them with proper awe and great discretion.
Mahdi looked a truly formidable brute, capering there in the shadow of the gums, and his cries, stifled and made animal-like by the mask, added to the qualms of the Party.
Nickie saw the hunters on the chock-and-log fence ready to retire precipitately should he advance with homicidal intentions, and a vague idea that he was performing professionally before an attentive audience took possession of his bleary mind.

He capered fantastically, and made a foolish attempt to climb a tree.

Then he jumped up and down like a monkey on a stick, throwing out his long arms, and growling ominously.
"By cripes, he's er dangerous beggar," said Scott.

"He'd tear yer limb from limb.