108 THE LION. 



" He was lying down, lialf asleep, staring vacantly 

 on the persons who had preceded me. All of a 

 sudden he raises his head ; his eyes are dilated ; a 

 nervous movement contracts every muscle of his 

 face ; the tip of his tail trembles ; he has seen the 

 spahi uniform, but he has not yet recognised his 

 old master. In the meantime his anxious glance 

 was surveying me from head to foot, as if he was 

 striving to recall some remembrance. I came 

 close to him, and, unable longer to contain my 

 emotion, I stretched out my hand to him through 

 the bars of his cage. 



" This was indeed a truly touching moment for 

 me and for all those present. Without ceasing to 

 devour me with his eyes, Hubert applied his nose 

 to my hand and began to inhale deeply, while at 

 each inspiration his eye became more clear, more 

 soft, more affectionate. Under the uniform, which 

 he had at once recognised, he was now beginning 

 to recognise the friend ; and I saw that one word 

 would suffice to dispel every remaining doubt. 



" ' Hubert,' I said, caressing him, ' my old 

 soldier.' 



"It was enough. With one furious bound ho 

 sprang against the iron bars of his prison, which 

 groaned arid shook again under this powerful shock. 



"My 1'riends, frightened at the movement, had 

 drawn back hastily, entreating me to do the same. 



" Noble animal ! who spreads terror and awe even 

 in the rapturous bursts of affection ! 



" Hubert was standing up, clinging to the bars, 

 endeavouring to break the obstacle whicli separated 



