. Lost Lenore; or, The adventures of a rolling stone . hem when wanted. My next move was to take out the stopper of my brandy-flask—which done, I turned the flask upside down, andspilled nearly the whole of its contents upon the backof the bear. What was left I employed to give a slightmoistening to the bunch of Spanish moss. I now drew forth my lucifers—when, to my chagrin, Isaw that there was but one match left in the box! What if it should miss fire, or even if igniting, I shouldfail with it to light the dry leaves ? I trembled as I dwelt upon the possibility of a my life de
. Lost Lenore; or, The adventures of a rolling stone . hem when wanted. My next move was to take out the stopper of my brandy-flask—which done, I turned the flask upside down, andspilled nearly the whole of its contents upon the backof the bear. What was left I employed to give a slightmoistening to the bunch of Spanish moss. I now drew forth my lucifers—when, to my chagrin, Isaw that there was but one match left in the box! What if it should miss fire, or even if igniting, I shouldfail with it to light the dry leaves ? I trembled as I dwelt upon the possibility of a my life depended upon the striking of that onematch? I felt the necessity of being careful. A slightshaking of the hand would frustrate my well-contrivedscheme. Cautiously did I draw the match over the steel filingson the box ; too cautiously—for no crackling accompaniedthe friction. I tried again; but this time, to my horror, I saw thelittle dump of phosphorus that should have blazed up,break from the end of the stick, and fall to the bottom ofthe tree!. But I was not allowed to have a long had createc look at the conflagration IPage 139. A CHIZZLT Otf FIUE. • 139 I cafne very near falling myself; for the bright hope thathad illumined my mind was now extinguished ; and thedarkness of despondency once more set over my soul. Soon, however, a new idea came into my mind—restoringmy hopes as suddenly as they had departed. There wasfire in the stump of the cigar still sticking between mylips. The match was yet in my hand ; and I saw that thereremained upon it a portion of the phosphoric compound. I applied its point to the coal of the cigar, and hadthe gratification of beholding it blaze upwards. I now kindled the Spanish moss, which, saturated withthe brandy, soon became a blaze ; and this strange torch Iat once dropped on the back of the bear. Just as I had expected, the brandy, with which I hadwetted the shaggy coat of the bear, became instantly ignitedinto a whishing, splutterin
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1870, booksubjectchildre, bookyear1872
