bastions built of logs at the corners,
and a gallery running all round inside close to the top of the walls, so
that the defenders of the place could fire over the palisades, if need
be, at their assailants. There was a small iron cannon in each bastion.
One large gate formed the entrance, but this was only opened to admit
horsemen or carts; a small wicket in one leaf of the gate formed the
usual entrance.

The buildings within the fort consisted of three little houses, one
being a store, the others dwelling-houses, about which several men and
women and Indian children, besides a number of dogs, were grouped.
These immediately surrounded the trappers as they dismounted. "Who
commands here?" inquired Redhand.

"I do," said the sentinel before referred to, pushing aside the others
and stepping forward, "at least I do at present. My name's McLeod. He
who ought to command is drunk. He's _always_ drunk."

There was a savage gruffness in the way in which McLeod said this that
surprised the visitors, for his sturdy-looking and honest countenance
seemed to accord ill with such tones.

"An' may I ask who _he_ is?" said Redhand.

"Oh yes, his name's Macgregor--you can't see him to-night, though.
There'll be bloody work here before long if he don't turn over a new
leaf--"

McLeod checked himself as if he felt that he had gone too far. Then he
added, in a tone that seemed much more natural to him, "Now, sirs, come
this way. Here," (turning to the men who stood by), "look to these
horses and see them fed. Come into the hall, friends, an' the squaws
will prepare something for you to eat while we have a smoke and a talk
together."

So saying, this changeable man, who was a strange compound of a trapper
and a gentleman, led the way to the principal dwelling-house, and,
throwing open the door, ushered his guests into the reception hall of
the Mountain Fort.

CHAPTER ELEVEN.

ORIGINAL EFFORTS IN THE ART OF PAINTING--FUR-TRADING HOSPITALITY--
WONDERFUL ACCOUNTS OF THE WILD MAN OF THE WEST, FROM AN EYE-WITNESS--
BUFFALO HUNTING, SCALPING, MURDERING, AND A SUMMARY METHOD OF INFLICTING
PUNISHMENT.

The reception hall of the Mountain Fort, into which, as we have stated,
the trappers were ushered by McLeod, was one of those curious apartments
which were in those days (and in a few cases still are) created for the
express purpose of "astonishing the natives!"

It was a square room, occupying the centre of the house, a