THE TRADING-POST. 163 



height of an ordinary man from the top of these 

 pickets, is carried along the sides of this square, 

 so as to enable anyone to peep over without 

 being in danger from an arrow or bullet. The 

 entrance is closed by two massive gates, an inner 

 and outer; all the houses the chief trader's, 

 employes', trading-house, fur-room, and stores 

 are within the square. The trade-room is 

 cleverly contrived so as to prevent a sudden 

 rush of Indians ; the approach, from outside the 

 pickets, is by a long narrow passage, bent at an 

 acute angle near the window of the trade-room, 

 and only of a sufficient width to admit one savage 

 at a time. (This precaution is necessary, inas- 

 much as, were the passage straight, they would 

 inevitably shoot the trader.) 



At the angles nearest the Indian village are 



o o 



two bastions, octagonal in shape, and of a very 

 doubtful style of architecture. Four embrasures 

 in each bastion would lead the uninitiated to 

 believe in the existence of as many formidable 

 cannon, with rammers, sponges, neat piles of 

 round- shot and grape, magazines of powder, and 

 ready hands to load and fire and, at the slightest 

 symptom of hostility, to work havoc and de- 

 struction, on any red- skinned rebels daring to 

 dispute the supremacy of the Hudson's Bay 



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