HE WELCOMES ME IN PARIS. 331 



dilated, a nervous motion contracted the muscles of his face ; he 

 had seen the uniform of the spahis, but had not yet recognized 

 his friend. He had scented the air of the desert, and heard 

 again the trumpets of Guelma, but had not yet recognized 

 the plains of his native land. Nevertheless his searching eye 

 scanned me from head to foot, over and over again, 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. 



Oh ! it was touching, that moment of growing recognition ! 



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 that it only needed a single word to dissipate all 

 doubt. 



" Hubert!" I said, as I laid my hand on him, " my old 

 soldier /" 



Not another word. With a furious bound and a note of 

 welcome, he sprang against the iron bars, that bent and 

 shivered with the blow. My friends fled in terror, calling to 

 me to do the same. 



Noble animal ! you made the world tremble even in your 

 ecstasies 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 buildings 

 with his roars of joy and anger. 



His enormous tongue licked the hand that I abandoned to 

 his caresses, w T hile with his paws he gently tried to draw me 

 to him. If any one attempted to come near, he fell into 

 frenzies of rage, and when the visitors fell back to a distance, 



