But I found it impossible to advance; the concourse was too great,--it was stifling: carts, waggons, cannon, were overturned; bullocks lay struggling on the ground, unable to rise, and striking out at all who approached them.

The cries of persons trodden underfoot echoed everywhere.

I was fainting with hunger and terror: I could scarcely see; for daylight was nearly closed.

At the corner of a street I perceived two horses tied to a stake, and they completely barred my passage; the crowd pressed them against me; and I was squeezed between them and the wall: I screamed to the soldiers to take and ride off with them; but my voice was not heard or attended to.

A young man on horseback passed by me, with a mild and sad countenance: I cried out to him, catching his hand, 'Oh! sir, have pity on a poor woman, near her confinement, and perishing with want and fatigue: I can go no further.' The stranger burst into tears, and replied: 'I am a woman, too: we shall perish together; for nothing can penetrate into yonder street.' We both remained expecting our fate.
"In the meantime, the faithful Bontemps, servant of M.de Lescure, not seeing my daughter, sought for her everywhere,--found her at length, and carried her off in his arms.