temeraire gathered himself and leapt aloft once again , going after the small herd of kangaroos which were yet fleeing , and this time he did not try to snatch one or another as they hopped : instead he flung himself down among them and returned with eight : more than their appetite could require , and the herd likely smashed beyond recovery by so brutal a culling ; he was plainly embarrassed by the clumsiness of the maneuver , and looked away when caesar sniffed .