The skirmishing was still suffered, therefore, to
continue on the ground where it had begun, whenever a momentary exposure
of the person of besieged or besieger afforded any chance for a
successful shot. Nor was this game very hazardous to either party. The
beleaguered force, as we have seen, was well protected. The assailants,
having generally dismounted, their horses being placed out of reach of
danger, had, in the manner of their opponents, taken the cover of the
rising ground, or the fallen tree, and in this way, awaiting the
progress of events, were shielded from unnecessary exposure. It was only
when a position became awkward or irksome, that the shoulder or the leg
of the unquiet man thrust itself too pertinaciously above its shelter,
and got barked or battered by a bullet; and as all parties knew too well
the skill of their adversaries, it was not often that a shoulder or leg
became so indiscreetly prominent.
As it was, however, the squatters, from a choice of ground, and a
perfect knowledge of it, together with the additional guards and
defences which they had been enabled to place upon it, had evidently the
advantage.
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