Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1858-05-29

was Sought Dy some ARABS OF MahOrena, DOuar
of Iaoucni, against another king of the desert I;
and he again sought his captains permission to
go in search Of him. Leave was granted him.
and he departed, accompanied by native brig
adier, SaaCli-bow-Nar. On arriving at the To-
culity pointed out to him. he and his companion
watched, as before, during two nights without
result but on the third 9th of August.) about
two oclock in the morning, he deserted a large
lion approaching the spot. His conradc had
fallen asleep beside him.
Without awakening him. Gerard aimed at the
beast, which had seen him, and was about to
spring. The shot took effect behind the shoul-
der. The beast still approaching, he pulled his
second trigger, which ciicctually killed him
On his return to the camp the general com
manding the subdivision made him present of
a rifle, and presented him to the Due dAumale
Want of space prevents our giving more than
brief outline of few of the exploits of this re-
markablc man.
We will mention one or two more Of these
combats.
In the month of February, 1915, he was in
vited to the country of "Oucd -ben-azizi,' where
lion had for some time past taken up his
abode, to the great CONSERVATION of the inhabi-
tants of bel-Krounega. Gerard arrived on
the 18th of March, and the same night the mon
ster was heard roaring in the mountain. His
host volunteered to accompany him to Il ford in
a deep hollow over which the lion was likely to
pass ON quitting the mountain. The darkness
was such that he could scarcely perceive the
Arab at his elbow.
Our hunter sat down on a stone on the bank
Of the stream, and the Arab hid himself in some
bushes short distance off. After a time he
heard from the opposite bank, just facing him,
a sound similar to a long cultural sigh or groan
he then heard the lion approaching the stream
on the opposite side, then crossingi it and climb
inu up bank where he was sitting.
On casting his eyes towards where the sound
proceeded from, he saw through the darkness
two burning eyes fixed upon and advancing tow
ards him. Gerard admits that at this moment
the sight of those burning eyes stcadfastll gazing
at him, caused the prespiration to break out on
his forehead, although the moment before he had
been shiverng with cold. 81 inwardly badc fare
well (says he) to all who were dear TO me, and
made up my mind to die 5ravcly."
He now for few moments lost sight Of those
eyes the lion had descended into the rayine
and was evidently climbing the precpitous bank
on which Gerard had taken up his position.
On teachng the top, Gerard says, "a motion
which could not repress evidently drew his at
tention. and caused him to stop; he was not
more than five PAGES off, and could have reached
me in one bound"
The darkness was such that he could not see
the barrel of his rifle, therefore he fired at ram
dom from his hip.
The beast appeared 10 rear himself up and
fall back lie must have been disabled; the
hunter thought him dead. He and his guide
then quilted the wood and returned to the house
Next day they returned to the scene of action to
search for the case but they found only a
quantity of blood and bone the size of finger,
,,-b.ch apnanrpl IN b. 1. n "A boIp hnnp
The hunter found good-sized root of tree
bitten through by the teeth of the lion within
two Yards of the place where he had been sitting.
The lion had retreated along the stream, there
fore his footsteps were etiaced. and he could not
then follow him.
Next day sixty Arabs some on horseback and
some on foot, started off on an expedition against
the wounded lion. Gerard gives a humorous
description of the scene, the false alarms and
the assumed courage of these heroes. The Cd
tastrophe is all that We have sufficient space to
give.
Gerard had crossed the stream, and was about
to remount his horse, when he saw the cavaliers,
the schek at their head, galloprg away in AL
directions, followed by the lion on three legs,
his wounded limb trailing under him. lie at
length stopped, sulky and threatening near Il
little thcket, into which he retrcated.
Gerard proceeded towards the thickct, when
the lion. rushing upon him, was met by ball
from his rifle, which struck him above the right
eye, and he fell He, however, recovered him
self instantly with the force and suddenness OF
Il spring of steel. As he reared up on his hind
legs, another ball reached his heart, and put an
end to his misery.
"On examining the lion at Bone" says Ge-
rard, Il found that the bali over the eye had
not penetrated the hone 1t was hattened on
the surface to about the thickness of franc
piece
We will mention one more conflict. among the
many on record, which took place on the I'd OF
Sd of January lS47. in which the SPahi Rost
lang and another Arab were severel, wounded
by the lion. For ten days together Gerard. af
ter having twice wounded this beast, followed
and watched for him, until he was rewarded by
finding him dead in the woods.
On one occasion, when he had just fired a
and killed a lion, he was suddenly confronted
| by another, which made a spring at him. Fir
ing his second barrel he rolled him over, NOR
tally wounded. The lion, however, recovered
himself, and sprang upon the hunter and fo
five minutes the man and monster were strug
Cling together on the ground. The hunter
however, managed to plant his knife in the Ii
ons heart and conquered
Gerard succeeded in capturing two lion-cub
when they were about the size of cats, mali
and female. The female soon died, but the mali
lived and was for some time kind Of pet o
the hunter, and favorite in the regiment He
however, when he grew older, took to his faith
er's trade, and, although gentle with and mucl
attached to his master, he became dangerous Il
others. 1t was, therefore, necessary to confin
him, and eventually he was placed in the me
nagerie at Paris. Some time afterward, Gerard
when on visit to Paris, went to see his ol
protege The beast Immediately recognized him
and testified his delight by endeavoring to breal
through all opposition to get at his friend. II
did not long survive his incarceration.
The character which Gerard gives Of the lior
generally, is not at all favorable one He tell
us that most of what has been written, with re
gard to his noble qualities, generosity, &c,
absolute romance and nonsense.
This is his account of the lion This AM
NAL, which has been thought to beeenerous an
almost rational, invariably attacks man when b
thinks he can do so without risk. Like the ca
to whom he is nearly related, he waits for hi
prey, and crouches before springing upon i
Like all animals of the species of which he is tn
type, the lion is essentially nocturnal beas
During the day he is timid and dares not az
proach the habitation of man and he often a