I had witnessed three such exhibitions; and the manner in which I had seen one of the former knock down and lacerate a bull with a single blow of its paw, was enough to make me cautious about giving the old she an opportunity of exhibiting her prowess upon myself. The remembrance of such scenes was enough to have made me surrender myself to positive despair. I had not, however, quite come to that. A scheme for regaining my liberty at length suggested itself; and I believe it was through smoking the cigar that the happy idea occurred to me. To the branch on which I was sitting was attached a tuft of a singular parasitive plant. It was a species of "Spanish moss," or "old man's beard," so called, from the resemblance of its long white filamentary leaves to the hairs of a venerable pair of whiskers. The plant itself had long since perished, as I could tell from its withered appearance. Its long filaments hung from the limb, crisp and dry as curled horse-hair. Reaching towards it, I collected a quantity of the thread-like leaves, and placed them, so that I could conveniently lay hands upon them when wanted. My next move was to take out the stopper of my brandy flask--which done, I turned the flask upside down, and spilled nearly the whole of its contents upon the back of the bear. What was left I employed to give a slight moistening to the bunch of Spanish moss. I now drew forth my lucifers--when, to my chagrin, I saw that there was but one match left in the box! What if it should miss fire, or even if igniting, I should fail with it to light the dry leaves? I trembled as I dwelt upon the possibility of a failure. Perhaps my life depended upon the striking of that one match? I felt the necessity of being careful. A slight shaking of the hand would frustrate my well-contrived scheme. Cautiously did I draw the match over the steel filings on the box, too cautiously, for no crackling accompanied the friction. I tried again; but this time, to my horror, I saw the little dump of phosphorus that should have blazed up, break from the end of the stick, and fall to the bottom of the tree! I came very near falling myself, for the bright hope that had illumed my mind was now extinguished; and the darkness of despondency once more set over my soul. Soon, however, a new idea came into my mind--restoring my hopes as suddenly as they had departed. There was fire in the stump of the cigar still sticking between my lips. The match was yet in my hand; and I saw that there remained upon it a portion of the phosphoric compound. I applied its point to the coal of the cigar; and had the gratification of beholding it blaze upwards. I now kindled the Spanish moss, which, saturated with the brandy, soon became a blaze; and this strange torch I at once dropped on the back of the bear.