Three mornings later, Alec weakly rose to his feet and walked up to the stallion. The ship had stopped rolling. “Hello, Boy,” he said. “I see you’re as spry as ever!” The stallion’s ears pricked forward and he shook his head.

A groom came up. “How d’you feel, kid?” he asked.

“A little weak,” Alec said, “but otherwise okay.” He paused. “How much longer before we reach New York?”

“About two more days,” the groom answered, “unless we run into some more rough weather—but I think we’ve had our share of it.”

“I hope so,” Alec said—and he meant it.

Two days later the ship’s whistle blew for Quarantine, where the boat was to be inspected before passing into New York harbor. The Quarantine inspectors entered the hold and went from stall to stall, examining the horses. Alec noticed that each groom produced papers and showed them to the officer in charge. What would he do when they came to him? Perhaps it would be better if he went over now and explained why he didn’t have any. Alec started toward the officer. Suddenly the Black’s scream stopped him in his tracks. He turned and saw that one of the inspectors had crossed the hold and was opening the stallion’s door. “Watch out!” shouted Alec, but he was too late. The Black reared and struck out with his front feet, striking the man and sending him flying against the door.

Alec rushed to the stall and flung himself between the stallion and the inspector. Desperately he grabbed the halter. The Black’s frightened eyes never left the man on the floor. The inspector, spluttering angrily, climbed to his feet. Alec felt relieved; if he was angry, he couldn’t be hurt very badly. His trouser was ripped where the Black had struck him, but there were no other signs of injury.

The other inspectors came running. “What’s the matter here?” asked the officer in charge.

“This horse attacked me, sir!” said the man. “He’s a dangerous animal.”

The officer walked closer to the door. “What have you to say about it?” he asked Alec, who was tightly holding the Black’s halter.

Alec looked at the tall, sharp-featured man, and wondered whether the officer could prevent the Black from entering the country. He felt sick at the thought. They just couldn’t do that. He met the officer’s eyes. “I’m sorry about what happened, sir, and I know he wouldn’t have done what he did if your inspector hadn’t entered the stall like that. You see, he isn’t used to people, sir. No one has ever been near him except me.”

The officer’s eyes traveled over the stallion. Then he walked toward the door and went inside. Alec took a firmer grip on the halter. “It’s all right, Black,” he said. “Whoa, Boy.” The stallion moved uneasily.

The officer walked slowly around him. “He’s quite a horse. Is he yours?” he asked.

“Yes, sir,” answered Alec.

“Are your papers all in order?”

“I haven’t any, sir, but the captain told me it would be all right. We were in a shipwreck and—”