"Now Cabell and I," he said, "belong to the same clan. My mother and his father are third cousins, which makes us fourth cousins, or fifth is it? But whether fourth or fifth, we're cousins just the same. All the people of our blood are supposed to stand together, and do stand together. Oh, it has its delights! It makes us sufficient unto ourselves! The old Dominion is a world in itself, complete in all its parts." "But you have to come to Philadelphia to see a great city and get a taste of metropolitan life," said Colden. Then a discussion, friendly but warm arose as to the respective merits of the Virginia and Pennsylvania provinces, and when it was at its height and the attention of all the others was absorbed in it, Tayoga leaned over and whispered to Robert: "What did you see at the door, Dagaeoga?" Robert was startled. So, the Onondago was watching, after all. He might have known that nothing would escape his attention. "I saw Garay, the spy," he replied in the same tone. "And the man at the little table was the captain of the slave ship on which you were taken?" "The same." "It bodes ill, Dagaeoga. You must watch." "I will, Tayoga." The crowd in the great room of the George Inn increased and the young group remained, eager to watch it. It was a reflex of the life in the colonies, at the seat of conflict, and throbbing with all the emotions of a great war that enveloped nearly the whole civilized world. A burly fellow, dressed as a teamster, finally made his voice heard above the others. "I tell you men," he said, "that we must give up Albany! Our army has been cut to pieces! Montcalm is advancing with twenty thousand French regulars, and swarms of Indians! They control all of Lake George as well as Champlain! Hundreds of settlers have already fallen before the tomahawk, and houses are burning along the whole border! I have it from them that have seen the fires." There was a sudden hush in the crowd, followed by an alarmed murmur. The man's emphasis and his startling statements made an impression. "Go on, Dobbs! Tell us about it!" said one. "What do you know?" asked another. He stood up, a great tall man with a red face. "My cousin has been in the north," he said, "and he's seen rangers, some that have just escaped from the Indians, barely saving their hair. He heard from them that the King of France has sent a big army to Canada, and that another just as big is on the way. It won't be a week before you see the French flag from the hills of Albany, and wise men are already packing ready to go to New York." There was another alarmed hush. "This fellow must be stopped," said Colden. "He'll start a panic." "Dagaeoga has the gift of words," whispered a voice in Robert's ear, "and now is the time to use it." Nothing more was needed. Robert was on fire in an instant, and, standing upon his chair, asked for attention. "Your pardon a moment, Mr. Dobbs," he said, "if I interrupt you." "Why it's only a boy!" a man exclaimed.