He found some dry moss, and by striking together two pebbles he obtained some sparks, but the moss, not being inflammable enough, did not take fire, for the sparks were really only incandescent, and not at all of the same consistency as those which are emitted from flint when struck in the same manner.
Il avait trouvé quelques mousses sèches, et, en frappant deux galets, il obtint des étincelles; mais la mousse, n'étant pas assez inflammable, ne prit pas, et, d'ailleurs, ces étincelles, qui n'étaient que du silex incandescent, n'avaient pas la consistance de celles qui s'échappent du morceau d'acier dans le briquet usuel.