than the most beautiful sunshine, illumined the scene, and again showed me the lion, still standing in the same place. I saw him the better because he was so much raised above me; and he loomed up proudly magnificent, standing as he was in majestic repose, with his head high in air, and his flowing mane undulating in the wind and falling to his knees. It was a black lion, of noble form and the largest size. As he presented his side to me, I aimed just behind his shoulder, and fired.

I heard a fierce roar of mingled pain and rage echoing up the hills with the report of my gun, and then from under the smoke I saw the lion bounding upon me.

Saadi, roused the second time that night from his slumbers, sprang to his gun, and was about to fire over my shoulder. With a motion of my arm I pushed aside the barrel of his gun, and when the beast, still roaring furiously, was within three steps of me, I fired my second barrel directly into his breast.

Before I could seize my companion's gun, the lion rolled at my feet, bathing them in the blood that gushed in torrents from his throat. He had fallen so near me that I could have touched him from where I stood.

In looking for my balls, I found the first one just behind the shoulder, where I had intended it to hit; but the second, that had been fired in haste, and almost at hazard, had given the mortal wound. From this moment I learned that it is not enough to aim correctly in order to kill a lion, and that it is a feat infinitely more serious than I had at first supposed.

It was a long while before the Arabs could believe that the lion was really dead, or venture into the presence of the fallen monarch of the forest. But when assured that their dread enemy, from whom they had suffered so much, could no longer harm them, they overwhelmed me with thanks and congratulations.

The men, with stately grace, kissed the hem of my garment, or my rifle that lay at my side, saying, "May God strengthen your arm and bless you."

The women kissed my hand, saying, "God bless the mother that bore you."

The mothers lifted up their children in their arms, that they might touch me and kiss me, saying, "Don't be afraid; he only harms the lion; he is our friend and brother."

I can say, with all sincerity, that there were no voices so sweet as those which named my mother's name, that asked me her age, and when I had left her, if I ever heard from her now when far away, if I wanted to see her, and if she were ever coming to their country; and that ended their questions by invoking a thousand blessings on her honored head.

The death of the lion had truly been a blessing, since it summoned to my mind such pleasant remembrances of a far-away home, and of a mother whom I so dearly loved. No sweeter praise could have been bestowed; no greater triumph could have been won.

XXXIV. - HUBERT, THE TAME LION.

GERARD.

In the month of February, 1846, I found two lion's cubs in the forest, a male and a female. The former, to which I gave the name of Hubert, was a third larger than his sister; and his dignified deportment and gentle grace won all hearts at first sight. While the little lioness shunned all observation, and received the caresses showered upon her only with blows and scratches, Hubert stretched himself out on the hearth, and looked round with a quiet air of wonder, without the least apparent wildness.

When I rejoined the army, I took with me my two adopted children. The female soon departed this life, and went where the good lions go. Her early demise, in the bud of her youthful days, was owing to a difficulty in teething-a process of nature very dangerous to the leonine family, unaided as they are generally by suitable medical advice. But her brother

grew apace; and as day after day brought forth some new evidence of childish grace, he became beloved by all who knew him.

I write these lines with a chastened sorrow, to recall the many acts and infantile graces of my child Hubert, that will be a pleasant memory, not only to myself, but to the many comrades of his early days, whose lonely hours were enlivened by his quaint gambols and affectionate caresses.

When Hubert first joined the squadron, his name was entered on a little book as a second rate private of dragoons, awaiting promotion. Every thing he did of any moment was immediately recorded in this book, together with all his marches and campaigns.

As he grew older and stronger, he grew dangerous; and his excess of animal spirits betrayed him into many acts of mischief. In the spring of 1847, he was condemned to perpetual imprisonment; and I, his dearest friend, was charged with the execution of the sentence. Hubert soon found him

self the lonely tenant of an iron cage.

With the first days of his imprisonment, I would occasionally come to his cage in the evening to while away some of his lonely hours. As soon as the door was opened, he would bound joyously out; and then, after kissing each other in the tenderest manner, we would commence a game of hide-andseek. One evening, however, he embraced me so lovingly that I should have been crushed had not my comrades run to my aid, and with their scabbards relieved me from his formidable caresses. This was the last time that we indulged in this game together; and yet I can do my friend the justice to say that I never saw the least bad intent on his part, for whenever he was gambolling with me, or any other of his acquaintances, he always avoided using his teeth or claws; and his manners were ever most kind and affectionate.

In the autumn of 1847, it was determined that Hubert should be sent to Paris; and I was ordered to accompany him. The captain of the vessel that carried us across the Mediter

ranean allowed me to have the cage open for a few hours at a time, when Hubert was eating his meals, having first stretched cables across the deck to prevent the curious passengers from coming too near my pet. As soon as the door was opened, Hubert came out, and after thanking me for the privilege, after his fashion, and giving me as many tokens of his regard as the circumstances would permit, he walked up and down the deck as far as his chain would allow him to go. Then he ate his breakfast, which usually consisted of a beefsteak of about ten pounds, and having completed his ablutions, and made his toilet, he would lie down in the sun to take a nap. When the hour of recreation was passed, he entered his cell, deafening us a little with his complaints against the narrowness of his berth, and then awaited very patiently his dinner time.

Upon reaching Toulon, we separated, he to go to Marseilles, and I to see my family. I was soon in the arms of those I loved best on earth; and yet all the while, in spite of my occupations and pleasures, I felt a void that nothing could fill. Hubert was ever at my side, if not in person, at least in spirit; and I constantly mistook the sound of the mountain torrents for the first low tones of his voice. I could not stay away from him any longer, and returned to Marseilles.

XXXV. —THE SAME, CONCLUDED.

ALTHOUGH it had been only a few weeks since I had left my child, I could not help feeling shocked at the change that was apparent in his whole bearing. He was no longer the same being. After the first joy of meeting had passed, he relapsed into the same mournful indifference. His look seemed to say to me, " Why did you leave me? Where am I? Where are they taking me to? You have come back, but will you stay?"

I was so much moved by his mute eloquence, that I could not remain in the room with him, but left it abruptly. As I

went out, I heard him bounding in his cage, roaring with anger. I hastened back to his side, when he became calm, and laid himself down against the bars, where I could pat him with my hand. In a little while he went to sleep with my arm resting on his head, and I stole away on tiptoe, so as not to trouble his repose. Sleep is the great oblivion, as well for the lion as for man.

The next time I saw Hubert was at the Garden of Plants, in Paris, on the first day of January, 1848. I was accompanied by a lady and her daughter, who desired to be present at my first interview with him.

On entering the department of the garden appropriated to wild animals, I was astonished at the narrow limits in which they were obliged to live, in mortal repose, and repelled by the pestilential odor that exhaled from the dens, which the hyenas and other unclean beasts might endure, but which most surely would kill the lions and panthers animals with clean, sleek skins, that are neatness personified. While I was slowly approaching the cage of my friend, thinking of the unpleasant subjects that had been suggested to my mind, he 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 contracted the muscles of his face. He had seen the uniform of the troop, but had not yet recognized his friend. Nevertheless, his searching eye scanned me from head to foot, as though seeking some point of recognition. I drew nearer and nearer, and no longer able to restrain my emotion, I stretched out 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 affectionate. Under the uniform that had been so dear to him, he began to recognize the friend of his heart. I felt that it needed only a single word to dissipate all doubt.

"Hubert," I said, as I laid my hand upon him, “my old soldier."