He finished dressing and slowly limped to the door. “Have to get to the Black before he tears the place apart.” He folded the radiogram and placed it carefully in his pocket. “Thanks, Pat,” he said.

“Don’t stay on your feet too long, son,” Pat warned. “Remember what the Doc said.”

When Alec entered the hold, he heard the Black’s pounding above the bedlam of the other horses and cattle. He came to the horse’s stall and saw his dark head raised above the door. His large eyes moved nervously about. Alec called—the stallion’s head jerked toward him. His nostrils quivered and he neighed. Alec reached a hand out. “Hello, fella,” he said, “did you miss me?” The stallion shook his head and thrust his nose toward him. Alec ran his hand across the soft muzzle.

He took from his pocket an apple which he had saved from his breakfast. He held it out to the Black, who swept it out of his hand. Alec picked up the currycomb and brush from the floor, opened the door and went inside. “Guess it was tough on you, fella, but they didn’t have any choice,” he said. The next hour he spent in brushing the Black until his body shone brilliantly.

The days passed quickly for Alec, as he spent most of his time in the hold with the Black. His leg healed and was soon as good as ever. The captain and Pat at first attempted to get him interested in the boat and the voyage, but at last they gave up. The friendship between the boy and the stallion was something too much for them to understand.

The captain’s hand rose to his chin as he and Pat watched Alec inside the stall. “Y’know, Pat,” he said, “it’s almost uncanny the way those two get along—a wild beast like that, a killer, and yet gentle as a kitten when the boy’s around.”

Pat nodded. “Yes, sir,” he said, “one of the strangest things I’ve ever seen. I wonder where it’ll take them?”

Five days later they steamed into Rio de Janeiro. The captain delegated Pat to go with Alec to the wireless office, where he could secure the money his family had sent him, and help arrange for his sailing to the United States.

As Alec walked with Pat through the South American city, he thought how close he was getting to home. He was on the last leg of his journey! They reached the office and went in. Pat spoke to the man at the desk in Portuguese. After a few minutes the man handed him a pen, and Alec signed his name. Then he was handed his money.

Next they went to the ticket office. There they found that the next boat for the United States would sail the following day. Alec had just enough money for himself and the Black, and he booked passage. He looked at Pat. “That doesn’t leave me anything for the captain and you fellows.”