Page:Account of a most surprising savage girl, who was caught wild in the woods of Champagne, a province in France.pdf/10

 terrible of all were uttered by her on the approach of any unknown person with an intention to take hold of her, at which she discovered a horror that appeared altogether extraordinary. Of this she once gave a strong instance; A man who had heard of her abhorreuce of being touched resolved nevertheless to embrace her in spite of the danger that he ran in going too near her. She had in her hand at the time, a piece of raw beef which she was devouring with great satisfaction. The instant she saw the man near her arm, she gave him such a violent stroke on the face, both with her hand, and the piece of flesh she held in it, that he was so stunned and blinded, as to be scarce able to keep his feet. The savage at the same time believing the strangers around to be so many enemies, who intended to murder her, or dreading, perhaps, punishment for what she had done, sprung out of their hands towards a window, through which she had a view of trees and a river intending to jump from it, and so make her escape which she certainly would have done. if they had not again caught hold of her.