Los Angeles daily herald., 1886-11-07
THE LION HUNTERS PET.
story of Gerard, the Great French
Lion Hunter.

The story is told of Gerard, the great
lion hunter, that he captured whelp
in the mountains of label. Mezours, Al
giers, named it Hubert, and brought it
up as he would bring up dog from
puppyhood. After some time his huge
pet, becoming too dangerous to go at
large, Gerard made present of the ami.
NAL to his friend, the DUO d'Aumaie,
and Hubert travelled to Paris in a big
cage, bemoaning his separation from his
old master. The next year Gerard hims
self visited Paris ON leave of absence
from the army, and went at once to the
Jardin des Plantes to see his exiled fa.
write. He describes the interview as
follows:
Hubert was lying down, half asleep,
regarding at intervals with half-shut eyes
tine persons who were passing and re-
passing before him. Ali of sudden he
raised his head, his tail moved, his eyes
dilated, and nervous motion con-
tracted the muscles of his face. He had
seen the uniform of the Spahis, but had
not yet recognized his friend. drew
nearer and nearer, and no longer able to
restrain my emotion Istretched my hand
out to him through the bars.
Without ceasing his earnest gaze he
applied his nose to my hand and drew in
knowledge with long breath. At each
inhalation his attitude became more no.
BILE, his look more satisfied and affec-
tionate. Under the uniform that had
been so dear to him he began to recog-
nize the friend of his heart.
7 roJt ha& ! ,Ix, aa1n1 n etpnla xpnr1
to dissipate all doubt.
Hubert" said, as laid my hand
on him, "my old soldier p
Not another. With furious bound
and note of welcome he sprang against
the iron bars, that bent and trembled
with the blow. My friend fed in terror,
calling on me to do the same. Noble
animal You made the world tremble
in your estacies 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 l abandoned to his
caresses, while with his paws he gently
trioQ 10 urHW ule W illui' ~ any oho
tried to come near he fell into frenzies OF
rage, and when the visitors fell back to
distance he became calm and caressing
as before, handling me with his huge
paws, rubbing against the bars, and
licking my hand, while every gesture
and moan and look told of his Joy and
of his love.
When l turned to leave him he shook
the gallery with his heartrending roars;
and it was not till had gone back to
him twenty times, and tried to make
him understand that would come again,
that succeeded in quitting the place.
After that / came to see my friend
daily, sometimes spending several hours
with him in his cage. Bat after awhile
noticed that he became sad and dis.
pirited, and when the keepers alluded
to his furious agitation and excitement
every time l left him, and attributed his
worn-out and changed appearances to
this cause, took their advice and made
my visits as seldom as possible. One
day, some four months from the time OF
my first meeting with him in Paris, ]
entered the garden and one of the keepes
came forward, saluting aud sAia &" Don't
come any more, sir, Hubert 10 dead"