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 fellow--we shall be at close quarters directly." It was now the time for Munro to practise the subtlety which he had designed, and a reasonable prospect of success he promised himself from the bull-headed stupidity of his opponent.

He had planned a stratagem, upon which parties, as we have seen, were despatched; and he now calculated his own movement in concert with theirs.

It was his object to protract the parley which he had begun, by making propositions for an arrangement which, from a perfect knowledge of the men he had to deal with, he felt assured would not be listened to.

In the meantime, pending the negotiation, each party left its cover, and, while they severally preserved their original relationships, and were so situated as, at a given signal, to regain their positions, they drew nearer to one another, and in some instances began a conversation.

Munro was cautious yet quick in the discussion, and, while his opponent with rough sarcasms taunted him upon the strength of his own position, and the utter inadequacy of his strength to force it, he contented himself with sundry exhortations to a peaceable arrangement--to a giving up of the possessions they had usurped, and many other suggestions of a like nature, which he well knew would be laughed at and rejected.