When Dougal and I returned to camp, we found that Cameron, Old Uncle and the boys had packed everything away and were ready to leave immediately. Despite our desperate desire to gallop home, we were now short one horse, and so our progress was to be heavily slowed. Dougal and Cameron agreed to travel on foot, with Old Uncle and Andrew on one horse, and me and my grandson Gerald on the other.
We travelled back towards home for the entire morning, without incident. Cameron and Dougal spoke quietly to each other as they walked a few yards behind our horses. Old Uncle rode listening to Andrew’s childish chatter and answering his endless questions with a patient and subtle joy. As the afternoon rolled by I came to enjoy my vicarious education through Andrew of Chinese culture. I learned with i
