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.
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