Breakfast was the same as supper the night before; bacon, bannock and tea. It was hardly a sociable meal. Wat having given his word to make no further attempts to do away with himself, was freed of the handcuffs. The little man sat on his heels, all the bounce gone out of him, drearily shoving the food down his throat. Julia, her great eyes fixed on him, made no pretence of eating, and McNab could look at nothing but Julia. Bull Bracker, already suspicious, scowled poisonously at the constable. Only Brinklow seemed to be upborne by an inner cheerfulness.
While they were eating, the sound of hoofbeats made itself heard. A single horseman was approaching from the direction of the settlement.
Brinklow said: “If my theory about this case is correct, I bet I can tell you who is coming.”
McNa
