108 
THE LION. 
“ He was lying down, half 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 h'e 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 
w r ould suffice to dispel every remaining doubt. 
££ c Hubert,’ I said, caressing him, £ my old 
soldier.’ 
C£ It was enough. With one furious bound he 
sprang against the iron bars of his prison, which 
groaned and shook again under this powerful shock. 
‘ £ My friends, frightened at the movement, had 
drawn back hastily, entreating me to do the same. 
ce 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 which separated 
