Page:Surprising savage girl (1).pdf/8

8 another black girl, a little older than herself; but whether that was her natural colour, or whether she was only painted, like le Blanc, is uncertain.—They were swimming across a river, and diving to catch fishes, when they were observed by a gentleman of that neighbourhood, who, seeing nothing but their heads, now and then, appearing 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 hand, that she lost the