but one of them, thinking, perhaps, that the devil was afraid of dogs, set loose upon her a bull dog with an iron collar. The little savage seeing him advancing in a fury, kept her ground without flinching, grasping her little club with both hands, and stretching herself to one side, in order to give greater scope to her blow. Perceiving the dog within her reach, she discharged such a terrible blow on his head as laid him dead at her feet.[1] Elated with her victory, she jumped several times over the dead carcase of the dog. Then she tried to open a door, which not being able to effect, she ran back to the country towards the river, and mounting a tree, fell quietly asleep.
The late Viscount d'Epinoy happened to be then at his country house of Songi; where, having heard the various accounts of the little savage that had appeared on his grounds, he gave orders to catch her; and particularly to the shepherd who had discovered her the first in a vineyard.
One of the country people, by a very simple thought, but which was attributed to his great
knowledge
- ↑ Some persons who knew the young savage soon after her first appearance, give a different account of the adventure of the dog, placing it at Chalons, soon after she was caught. It is however certain, that the girl was not at all afraid of a great dog, having on several occasions given proofs of the contrary.
