The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1886-12-18
The Lion Hunters Pet.

Ict.
The story is told of Gerard, the great
lion huntcr, that he captured whelp in
the mountains of Jebei- Mezours, Algiers.
named it Hubert" and brought it up
as he would bring up dog from puppy.
hood. After some time, his huge pet
becoming too dangerous to go at large,
Gerard made present of the animal to
his friend, the Due dAumale, and HUI.
bert travelled to Paris in big cage, be-
moaning his separation from his old
master. The next year Gerard himself
visited Paris on leave of absence from
the army, and went at on to the Jardin
des Plantes to see his exiled favorite. He
describes the interview as follows:
Hubert was lying down, half asleep,
regarding at intervals with half shut
eyes the persons who were passing and
repassing before him. All of sudden
he raised his head, his tail moved, his
eyes dilated, q nervous motion con-
tracted under the muscles of his face
He had seen the uniform of the Spahis,
but had not yet recognized his friend. I
drew nearer and nearer, and no longer
able to restrain my emotion l stretched
my hand out to him through the bars.
Without oeasing his earnest gaze he
applied his nose to my hand and drew in
knowledge with long breath. At each
inhalation his attitude became more noble,
his look more satisfied and affectionate
Under the uniform that had been so
dear to him he began to recognize the
friend of his heart.
felt that it only needed single word
to dissipate all doubt.
'Hubertr 1 said, as laid my hand
on him-''my old soldier!'
Not another word. With furious
bound and note of welcome he sprang
against the iron bars, that bent and
trembled with the blow. My friends
fled in terror, calling on me to do the
same. Noble animal! You made the
world tremble even in your ecstacy of
pleasure.
Hubert was standing with his cheek
against the grating. attempting to break
down the obstacle that separated US,
magnificent to behold as he shook the
walls of the building with his roars of
Joy and anger. His enormous tongue
licked the hand that I abandoned to his
caresses, while with his paws he gently
tried to draw me to him. If any one
tried to come near me he fell into frenzies
of rage, and when the visitors fell back
to distance he bee anne calm and caress-
ing as before, handling ne with his huge
paws, rubbing against the bars, and
licking my hand, while every gesture
and moan and look told of his joy and
his love.
When 1 turned to leave him he shook
the gallery with his heart-rending roars;
and it was not till had gone back to
him twenty times, and tried 10 make him
understand that l would come again,
that 1 succeeded in quitting the place.
After that l came to see my friend
daily, sometimes spending several hours
with him in his cage. But after while
noticed that he became sad and displr-
tied, and when the keepers alluded to
his furious agitation and excitemeat
every time left him, and attributed his
WORKOUT and changed appearance to this
cause, took their advice and made nv
visits as seldom as possible. One day.
some four months from the time OF my
first meeting with him in Paris, l ems
tered the garden, and one of the keeper:
came forward, saluting, and SAID
Don't come any more, sir. Hubert Is
dead"
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