During all this time, the bear had been energetically trying to pull
down, or eat up, the tree; and I only felt secure, when I saw that she
had not the ability to do either.
But the business upon which I was bound to Sonora now came before my
mind. It seemed to have become greatly magnified in importance, so much
so, that I began to fancy, that all my hopes for the future depended on
my finding Stormy Jack before twelve o'clock. Time was rapidly passing,
without my making any progress towards the place of appointment.
"What shall I do?" was the thought that seemed to run like hot lead
through my skull.
The excited state I was in hindered the enjoyment I usually have in
smoking a good cigar; and the fire of the one I had lit soon became
extinguished.
Imbued with the belief that smoking tranquillises an agitated mind, and
brings it to a fitter state for contemplation, I relighted the cigar.
I knew from the implacable disposition of the grizzly bear, that the old
she that besieged me was not likely to leave the tree so long as I was
in it; and the length of my captivity would probably depend on which of
us could longest resist the demands of hunger.
My cigars--unlike some that I have often been compelled to smoke--could
not be used as _substitute for food_: since they were composed neither
of turnip tops nor cabbage leaves.
The day was intensely hot; and I had grown thirsty--a sensation that
brandy would not remove. The longer I kept my perch, the more my
impatience pained me, indeed, life seemed not worth possessing, unless I
met Stormy at the time he had appointed. I felt the terrible exigency;
but could not think of a way to respond to it. There was every
probability of the next day finding me no nearer Sonora, but much nearer
death, than I was then. The agony of thirst--which the feverish anxiety
caused by my forlorn condition each moment increased--would of itself
make an end of me.
The idea of descending from the tree, and fighting the bear with my
bowie-knife, was too absurd to be entertained for a moment. To do so
would be to court instant death.
I have already stated that at the time of which I write, California was
disgraced by such spectacles as combats between a grizzly bear and a
bull.
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.
Just as I had expected, the brandy, with which I had wetted the shaggy
coat of the bear, became instantly ignited into a whishing, spluttering
flame, which seemed to envelope the whole body of the animal!
But I was not allowed to have a long look at the conflagration I had
created: for the moment the bear felt the singeing effects of the blaze,
she broke away from the bottom of the tree, and retreated over the
nearest ridge, roaring as she went like a tropical hurricane!
Never before had I beheld a living creature under such an elevated
inspiration of fear.
Her cries were soon answered by another grizzly, not far away; and I
knew that no time was to be squandered in making my escape from the
place.
I quickly descended from the tree; and the distance I got over, in the
succeeding ten minutes, was probably greater than I had ever done before
in twice the time.
Volume Two, Chapter III.