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Show 71 CHAPTER XL. Bent's Trading Post-Purchase Fresh Animals-Buffalo Robes-Immense Lodge-Fremont's Lodge-Doctor Ober-His Scientific Knowledge-Attachment of the Author to him-His Preparation to return to the States-Arkansas River-Giant Cotton Woods-Islands in the Arkansas-Bent's Fort destroyed by Indians-Preparations to cross the Mountains-First View of the Rocky Mountains-Bid adieu to Doctor Ober. • BENT'S HOUSE is built of adobes, or unburnt brick, one story high, in form of a hollow square, with a courtyard in the centre. One side is appropriated as his sleeping apartments, the front as a store-house, while the others are occupied by the different persons in his employ. He has a large number of horses and mules. Col. Fremont procured:from him fresh animals for all the men, leaving behind us those which were thought unable to go through. At this time Mr. Bent had but a small quantity of sugar and coffee; he supplied us, however, with all he could spare, and a considerable quantity of dried buffalo meat, moccasins and overshoes for all the men; a large buffalo-skin lodge, capable of covering twenty-five men, and one small one for Col. Fremont; buffalo robes for each man besides stockings, gloves, tobacco, etc. I breakfasted with Mr. Bent and Doctor Ober, on baked bread, made from maize ground, dried buf |