The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1886-12-03
The Lion Hunters Pet.

The story is told of Gerard, the lion
hunter, That he captured q whelp in the
mountains ot JebeI- Mezours, Algiers
named it Hubert" and brought it up
as he would bring up a dog from puppy
hood After some time his huge pet be-
coming too dangerous to go at large,
Gerard made present of the animal to
his friend, the Due d'Aumale, and
Hubert travelled to Paris in big cage,
bemoaning his separation frcm his old
master. The next year Gerard himself
visited Paris on leave of absence from
the army, and went to the Jard!n des
Plantes to see his exiled faYorite. 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 a sudden
| he raised his head, his tail moved, his
eyes dilated. a nervous motion contract
ed under the muscles of his face, He
had seen the uniform of the Spahis, but
had not yet recognized his friend. L
drew nearer and nearer, and no longer
able to restrain my emotion 1 stretched
my hand to him through the bars.
without ceasing his earnest gaze he
applied his nose to my hand and drew
in knowledge with a long breath. AT
each inhalation his attitude became
more noble, his look more satisfied and
affiectionate. Under the uniform that
had become so dear to him he began tc
recognize the friend of his heart
1 felt that it only needed a single
word to dissipate all doubt.
Hubert, 1 said as 1 laid my hand
on him, my "old soldierl"
Not another word. With a furiou!
bound and note of welcome he spIanl
against the iron bare, that bent and
trembled at the blow. Ny friends fleC
in terror, calling on me to do the same
Noble animal ! You made the worlC
tremble even in your ecstacy of pleasure
Hubert was standing with his cheel
against the grating, attempting to breaI
down the obstacle that separated us
magnificent he was to behold, as b,
shook the walls of the building with hi
roars Of JOY and anger. His enormous
tongue licked the hand that abandon
ed to his caresses, while with his paw
he gently tried to draw me to him. i
any one tried to come near me be fel
into frenZies of rage, and when the visi
tors fell back to a distance he became
calm and caressing as before, handling
me with his huge paws, rubbing agains
the bars, and licking my hand, while
every gesture and moan and lock told o.
his joy and his love.
When turned to leave him he shooI
the gallery with his heart-rending roar
and it was not until had gone back Il
him twenty times, and tried to make
him understand that 1 would come
back again, that succeeded in quittins
the place.
After that L came TO gee my friend
daily, sometimes spending several hours
with him in his cage. But after awhil,
I noticed that lie became sad and dis
pirited, and when the keepers alluded
to his furiods agitation and excitement
everv time left him, and attributed
his worn-out and changed appearance,
to thisI cause, took their advice anC
male my visits as seldom as possible
One day, about four months from tn,
time of my first meeting with him il
Paris, entered the garden, and one O.
the keepers came forward, saluting, anC
said:
Don't come any more, sir. Hubert
is dead.''