The protocol is:
Do not run, back away, or crouch down.
Try to look as big as possible and raise your hands up and make a lot of noise.
Yes.
But what about the small child I’ve picked up?
They recommend that I pick up a small child, but then do not tell I’m supposed to DO with it...
;-)
Be like Leonidas in 300. Let the rage flow into you. Let the war cry escape ‘ AAAAAAiiiiieee!’. Hopefully the cat runs. If not, being killed by a mountain lion is a warriorly way to die.
You simply need to outrun the next dude.