Some were
pushed into the water and screamed aloud that they were about to drown,
and when the dawn of the morning came, misery, wretchedness, and fear
were to be seen on every face.
During the whole day and night, Henri was either on the bank, or passing
between it and the town. He had, early in the day, stripped himself of
his coat, and when the evening came, he could not find it. Wet through,
in his shirt sleeves, this young generalissimo passed the first night
of his command, guarding the entrance into his little vessels;
prohibiting more than eight from embarking at a time; striving to his
uttermost that none but the weak and aged should be taken over; solacing
the sufferings of those near him; bidding the wretched not to despair,
and pointing to the opposite shore as the land of hope, where they would
soon again find plenty, comfort, and triumph.
He was still at the same duty on the following morning, reckoning up,
with something like despair, the small number of those who had as yet
passed over, and the multitude who were yet to pass, when the young
Chevalier came down to him with the news that Madame de Lescure, and her
sister-in-law were in St.
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