s course, Ralph could not
help biting his lip with the mortification he felt from this
circumstance, and which he was compelled to suppress; and we hazard
nothing in the assertion when we say, that, had his sympathies been at
all enlisted with the assailing party, the sarcasm of its leader would
have hurried him into the very first rank of attack. As it was, such was
its influence upon him, that, giving spur to his steed, he advanced to a
position which, while it afforded him a clear survey of the whole field,
exposed his person not a little to the shot of either party, as well
from without as from within the beleaguered district.

The invading force soon commenced the affair. They came to the attack
after the manner of the Indians. The nature of forest-life, and its
necessities, of itself teaches this mode of warfare. Each man took his
tree, his bush, or stump, approaching from cover to cover until within
rifle-reach, then patiently waiting until an exposed head, a side or
shoulder, leg or arm, gave an opportunity for the exercise of his skill
in marksmanship. To the keen-sighted and quick, rather than to the
strong, is the victory; and it will not be wondered at, if, educated
thus in daily adventure, the hunter is enabled to detect the slightest
and most transient exhibition, and by a shot, which in most cases is
fatal, to avail himself of the indiscretion of his enemy. If, however,
this habit of life begets skill in attack and destruction, it has not
the less beneficial effect in creating a like skill and ingenuity in the
matter of defence. In this way we shall account for the limited amount
of injury done in the Indian wars, in proportion to the noise and
excitement which they make, and the many terrors they occasion.

The fight had now begun in this manner, and, both parties being at the
outset studiously well sheltered, with little or no injury--the shot
doing no more harm to the enemy on either side than barking the branch
of the tree or splintering the rock behind which they happened
individually to be sheltered. In this fruitless manner the affray had
for a little time been carried on, without satisfaction to any
concerned, when Munro was beheld advancing, with the apology for a flag
which he had used before, toward the beleaguered fortress. The parley he
called for was acceded to, and Dexter again made his appearance.

"What, tired already, Wat? The game is, to be sure, a shy one; but have
patience, old fell