Page:Account of a most surprising savage girl, who was caught wild in the woods of Champagne, a province in France.pdf/8

 history. She was then accompanied by another black girl, a little older nor herself; but whether that was her natural colour, or whether she was only painted, like le Blanc, is uncertain; They went swimming across a river, diving to catch fishes, when they were observed by a gentleman of that neighbourhood, who, seeing nothing but their heads, now and then appeared above the water, mistook them, as he says himself, for two water-cocks, and fired at them from a good distance. Luckily, however, he missed them but the report made them dive and retire farther off.

The little le Blanc, on her part had a fish in each hand, and an eel in her teeth. After having gutted and washed them, they ate or rather devoured them. When their repast was finished they directed their course into the country, having left the river at their back. Soon after, le Blanc, perceived a chaplet on the ground which, no doubt had been dropt by some person. Being apprehensive lest her companion should deprive her of this little treasure, she stretched out her hand to take it up, upon which the other with her baton: struck her so severe a stroke on the head, that she lost the use of it