HEROIC CONDUCT OF A FRENCH GIRL.

Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume V, Issue 123, 8 September 1853, Page 4

HEROIC CONDUCT OF A FRENCH GIRL.

In the night of the 11th of August last, during a violent thunderstorm, cries of distress were heard under the walls of the ruined chateau of Gaillac (Lot), then inhabited by three rustic families. The cries were " Help, help ; my wife is murdered; lam a lost man ; it is Albarel that is killing us." Albarel was one of the inhabitants of the chateau, and was the terror of the district. The voice of distress was that of another of the inmates, named Fau, who, with his wife, had been prevented from coming home till late by the violence of the storm. The third family living in the chateau consisted of a man and his wife named llarlhc, and their daughter A'ielorine, a girl scarcely turned 13 years of age. At the sound of the dreaded name of Albarel, who that morning oidy had threatened to strike Yiclorine's mother, Uarlhc and his wife were struck dumb with terror, but little Yictoriue juinpc d out of bed, rushed to her parents' chamber, and exclaimed, "Oh, father! take a gun and go out.'' Seeing that lie hesitated, she added, "If you will not, I will go myself; it shall never be said that a man was killed at our door for want of help." Stimulated by this appeal the father went out, but it was too late. Fau was mortally wounded, and his wife dead. Meanwhile Yictoriue hid herself in the corner of a doorway through which Albarel supposing bin) to be the murderer, must pass to gain his own lodgings. She presently heard the assassin approach with stealthy step. The slightest movement, and her life would have been sacrificed to the fury of a desperate ruffian armed and reeking with blood. She remained firm, assured herself of the identity of Albarel, saw him creep into his chamber, and instantly went in search of the olflcers of justice. Upon her evidence Albarel was sentenced to hard labour for life. The Emperor on hearing of Yiclorine's courageous action, sent a watch to the Minister of Justice, and wrote with his own hand upon the envelope enclosing it, " For Yictoriue Uarlhc, to be presented to her in a solemn silting of the Court of Assizes." Pursuant 1° the Emperor's desire a solemn silling of the Imperial Court of Cahors was held on Feb. 271 h last. Yictoriue was conducted by the usher tolhe witness scat in the centre of the court, and there, in the presence or the prefect of the department, a full bench of judges, the assize jury, and a large assemblage of the gentry of the department, the watch was presented to her by M. Joly, the presiding judge. M. Joly, in the course of a long speech, said that heroism had in all time been the natural production of the department of the Lot, and enumerated a long list of worthies born in the province from the time Of tllO Romans downwards. After the delivery of this-speech the prefect presented Yictoriue with a medal of honour of the first class and a purse ofluOf. on the part of (lie Minister of Justice; and at the condition of the ceremony the jury requested that the speeches of the President Joly and the prefect might be printed, and that each of them might be allowed to have a copy.— Bill's Weekly Messenger, March 19