We were a day and half’s ride from home. I determined that at first light, after a good breakfast, the whole company would be away as fast as we could.
The sun had been up for almost an hour, when I noticed that Dougal was not amongst us.
“Where is Dougal?” I asked, rubbing my bleary eyes.
It was our old Chinese Uncle who answered. He was reflective and solemn, sitting cross-legged by the fire. “He is not far away. Listen…his horse come now.”
The old man’s hearing was more acute than mine, for it was a whole minute before the horse’s hooves were audible to me.
Dougal rode right up to our camp and dismounted. His face was pale and saturnine.
“Mr. Dubrelle, Sir, I need to show ye something. Please get upon Cameron’s horse as soon as ye can. Cameron shall stay here a wee while with Old
