THE DESTRUCTION OF SZEGEDIN. 23 



flood yet another twelve hours, or at least till day- 

 light dawned 1 



For a few seconds at a time there would be perfect 

 stillness, then the wind came doAvn the street with a 

 rush and a roar that made one start. Each blast that 

 blew was fiercer than the previous one, and the wind 

 came with fatal precision from the very point most 

 dangerous to the safety of our last ramparts. 



Some officers, who had been on the dike all day, 

 were seated at our table. We had spoken a few 

 words together, but they could not tell us anything 

 more than we all knew. Suddenly the door was 

 thrown open a soldier, breathless with running, 

 entered, and saluting his officer, cried out, " All is 

 over, the waters are coming." 



We rushed into the street, on towards the town- 

 hall, but the excitement was so great, that it was 

 impossible to push through the crowd and effect an 

 entrance. A company of soldiers were guarding the 

 door, trying in vain to keep the people back. Num- 

 bers were flying from the lower part of the town, 

 some trying to drag their household goods with them, 

 others terror-stricken seemed only to think where 

 they might be safe, crowding where there was a 

 crowd. 



Finding it was not possible to get into the town- 

 hall, I thought I would see what was really happening 

 at the dike ; and with this view, I turned toAvards 

 the long street that leads to the alfold railway. The 



