The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1856-06-28

which had hitherto marked the conduct of
the youthful Fremont.
Tie now awOke to the sober interests of
life. as circumstances brought him into ruder
contact with them, and be devoted himself
to earnest labor, which, since then, has new
er been intermitcd
GERARD, THE LION-KILLER.
The ADVENTURES OF GERARD, TIRE Lrox-Kn-
LER:-COmprising History of his ten years
Campaign among the wild animals Of Northern
Africa. Translated from the French by Charles
+. Whitehead. New York: Derby & jackson.
1885,
This is one Of the most readable books is.
sued in long time. 1t is brim full Of ad-
venture Of the most intensely interesting de-
scription. Our pioneers in the Far West
know something of the hunters sport when
pursuing the buffalo on the plains, or fighting
the grizzly bear in the passes of the Rocky
Mountains and We admire the courage of
the man who meets and captures black bear
in Victory or Westmore. What shall We
say, then, If man be shown us who has, a.
lone and unaided. hunted the African lion in
his own kinsly haunts! This is Jules &C.
rard, an enthusiastic French naturalist and
hunter, who spent ten years in hunting and
in investigating the habits of the Wild ami
mails Of Northern Africa. In this book We
have record Of his adventures and observa-
tions. He tells a truthful story in simple
words. He pursues the chase with an ar,lor
that never abates, and communicates the same
zest to his reader. After reading his pages,
you feel like securing away to the cool hills
of Zerazer to watch the King of Beasts a.
he comes down to drink in the Mahouna val
ley. You devoutly wish to hear his terrible
roar echo among the cliffs Of the Atlas, and
seriously think Of purchasing . double-har-
rel rifle and burnous the next morning.
/ Gerard does more then describe the al.
ventures of the chase: he writes the life of
the noble animal he hunts, from youth to girls
ly age. The book, in fact, is study for the
naturalist, and reveals more of the habits of
the lion than could any where be found be.
fore.
Our readers can judge, in a measure, for
themselves, BY the extracts from the book
given below. 1t is for sale by MIR. T. NJ
HOWARD, at the book store.
THE STORY OF ABDALLAH, THE FALCONER
''ln the year Algicrs fell into the bands Of
the Christians, my Cousin Lskdar and myself
conceived the idea Of playing a joke on one
Of our neighbOrs, = Sheik vi The Ouied. Bvu
Ghanem tribe, who, though . man Of no ac
count at all. attempted TO raise and hunt with
falcons.
TO accomplish our purpose We took two
young eagles which We had found In thei,
nests, and taught them to hunt the nias'
which our shepherds found in the rocks and
brought US every day.
w hen we Judged our birds sufficiently
instructed aud well accustomed to the moist
vi men and horses, We sent q safe friend Z,
inquire among the servants OF the Sheik
when aud where bis next hawking was t.
take place.
Having learned the appointed spot and
day, Lakdar aud set out before day break
diving an ass Oetore US with our hoodcd ca.
giles aud sOmc falcons, IN case Ut need. Our
DESTINATION was Oucd- -Mcllrgh, where We
heard the Sheik was comlng with a great
party to hunt the bustard that abOunded on
the pa,ns thereabOuts.
lined SneIk aud his companions did no,
arrive for a long time after We reached ih.
Oued. .uehegh, aud as the tamarinds ON til.
borders Ct tue bronx gave US goOd hum,
place, We saw the parties arrive without any
aangcr, and As they depioyed on the orc,
pia'n, we regulated our advance by tha, Of
The hunters.
SOON q flock vi bustards arose before tn,
horsrmen who were beating tue PLAIN fou
falcons were successfully cast Ut, aud larg
Ouslard was instantly singled out and pursu
ed Uy the hawks with sharp cries aud arrow,
speed.
"Uur eagles, freed from their hoods, wer
| not long IN perccivIng the c0nbat, and whe
their eyes were once Oh ibe scene we "a.
them oil, and they took their il'ght, first slow
~ and III direct IIne, then faster, aud AZ
preaching nearer and nearer the bustard an
: his pursucrs, as they Ill gradually mounte
: IN AIR.
After having fastened our ass to tams
rind, We followed up the course Of The brooi
in order to have better view vi the cOmba
The bustard scpa rated from the rest y
/. the flock, and, ficrcely attacked by the iou
falcons Al Once, had 40 other resources b
too keep above :bem.
"ln order to accomplish this, she rose wi
: tically to such height that she appeare
: but the size Vi pigeon, while the birds hs
ten,ng alter her, looked sometimes like 1.
Gusts, and sometimes disappeared aI.Uyeth,
Z in the blue sky.
i But fast rs was their flight, there We,
) faster foes on their track, aud our eagl,
tanning the THU air with their great wing
climbed up above them, aud sOOn we cOuI
. not distinguish one irOw the other, aud on
+ saw the group like dark speck on the suu
j. mer sky.
!. The Sheik and bis horsemen were asseu
bled in the plain, their eyes fixed on toe 1t
u watching the issue Of thus erIxi struggle.
:, Suddenly, We thought We beard dIsta
!. piercing and repealed cries; soOn after '
f. saw black body increasing in SIZE and pr
portion as 1t descended tO the earth, sUn,
times struggling, aud sOu,eiimes falling We
e ticaliy towards the lower regions.
I'VE we're then able to recognize our bra,
j. eagles, with expanded wings, allowing tbes
selves to be dragged downward BY the we'g
Ut the bustsrd, who, with hanging feet a.
broken wings, fell lifrless to the ground. :
+ We looked IN vain for the Sheik !: falcon