Page:An account of a savage girl.djvu/61

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A wild Girl.
33

told, however, by M. de L——, that he never knew any thing of these arms: But I have already observed, that this gentleman only saw Le Blanc for the first time in that house, two years after her capture. She was then dressed in a kind of vest, or, as she says herself, a jacquet of stuff, which, by M. de L——'s account, did not hinder her, upon seeing a door open that led to a large pond, to run and throw herself into it, to swim round all its sides, and to land upon a piece of dry ground she found in it, where she fell at eating frogs.

It appears, that after the escape of these two children, from whatever place it was, being then capable of any other views or intentions than those of liberty and self-preservation, they pursued no other rout than chance or necessity presented. At night, when, according to Le Blanc, they saw more distinctly than in the day, (which however must not be understood literally, though her eyes do still retain somewhat of that faculty) they travelled about in search of food and drink. The small game which they catched sitting, and the roots of trees, were their provisions; their arms and nails supplying the place of caterer and cook. They passed the day either in holes, in bushes, or upon trees, as the nature of the place permitted. The trees were their refuge against the wild beasts which they discover-ed;