ion which followed, seizing him around the body with a strength
equal to his own, he dragged him, along with himself, over the low table
of rock on which they had both stood, upon the soft earth below. Here
they grappled with each other, neither having arms, and relying solely
upon skill and muscle.

The movement was too sudden, the surprise too complete, not to give an
ascendency to the invaders, of which they readily availed themselves.
The possession of the fortress was now in fact divided between them; and
a mutual consciousness of their relative equality determined the two
parties, as if by common consent, quietly to behold the result of the
affair between the leaders. They had once recovered their feet, but were
both of them again down, Munro being uppermost. Every artifice known to
the lusty wrestlers of this region was put in exercise, and the struggle
was variously contested. At one time the ascendency was clearly with the
one, at another moment it was transferred to his opponent; victory, like
some shy arbiter, seeming unwilling to fix the palm, from an equal
regard for both the claimants. Munro still had the advantage; but a
momentary pause of action, and a sudden evolution of his antagonist, now
materially altered their position, and Dexter, with the sinuous agility
of the snake, winding himself completely around his opponent, now
whirled him suddenly over and brought himself upon him. Extricating his
arms with admirable skill, he was enabled to regain his knee, which was
now closely pressed upon the bosom of the prostrate man, who struggled,
but in vain, to free himself from the position.

The face of the ruffian, if we may so call the one in contradistinction
to the other, was black with fury; and Munro felt that his violation of
the flag of truce was not likely to have any good effect upon his
destiny. Hitherto, beyond the weapons of nature's furnishing, they had
been unarmed. The case was no longer so; for Dexter, having a momentary
use of his hand, provided himself with a huge dirk-knife, guarded by a
string which hung around his neck, and was usually worn in his bosom: a
sudden jerk threw it wide, and fixed the blade with a spring.

It was a perilous moment for the fallen man, for the glance of the
victor, apart from the action, indicated well the vindictive spirit
within him; and the landlord averted his eyes, though he did not speak,
and upraised his hands as if to ward off the blow. The friends of