THE WATCHER It was with emotion that Robert came to Albany, an emotion that was shared by his Onondaga comrade, Tayoga, who had spent a long time in a white school there.

The staid Dutch town was the great outpost of the Province of New York in the wilderness, and although his temperament was unlike that of the Dutch burghers he had innumerable pleasant memories of it, and many friends there.

It was, in his esteem, too, a fine town, on its hills over-looking that noble river, the Hudson, and as the little group rode on he noted that despite the war its appearance was still peaceful and safe.
Their way led along the main street which was broad and with grass on either side.

The solid Dutch houses, with their gable ends to the street, stood every one on its own lawn, with a garden behind it.

Every house also had a portico in front of it, on which the people sat in summer evenings, or where they visited with one another.