126 MALUS. 



The eleventh day, Malus felt himself infected with the 

 terrible disease which decimated our army. From this 

 moment I will allow him to speak for himself; science 

 may perhaps derive some advantage from the details 

 which I transcribe : 



"A burning fever, and violent pains in the head, 

 forced me to seek repose ; a continued dysentery was 

 added ; and one by one the symptoms of plague showed 

 themselves. About the same time General Grezieux 

 died. Half of the garrison had already been struck ; 

 thirty soldiers fell victims daily ; Brinquier, who had 

 taken my place in superintending the hospital, was seized 

 on the fourth day, and died forty-eight hours afterwards. 

 At this period characteristic bubo showed itself on my 

 right groin. I had all along up to this time entertained 

 hope that my disease might not be the plague ; the num- 

 ber of days I had lived since the first attack seemed to 

 indicate it ; but since the bubo appeared, and the pains 

 at the heart were redoubled, I could no longer feel any 

 doubt ; I resigned myself to my fate. I sent to Fran- 

 cisqui, who was with the wounded General Damas, the 

 articles which I wished to leave to my relations and 

 friends. I ought to remark that Francisqui was the sole 

 one of my comrades who had not abandoned me, and 

 who, in order to tranquillize me, had not hesitated to 

 come near me ; on the day of his departure he carried 

 his devotion to such an extent as to embrace me, though 

 he was then certain that I was infected. 



" Only one man in twelve escaped. St. Simon arrived 

 in Egypt and came to see me ; he was then in perfect 

 health, in two days afterwards he was dead. The siege 

 of Acre was protracted, the sick fell back on Jaffa and 

 increased the numbers of the dying ; besides this, the 



