Alec led the Black into the barn. In the box stall nearest the door was Napoleon, his old gray head hanging out over the stall door. He whinnied when he saw the Black and drew his head back into the stall.

“Shall I put him next to Napoleon there, Mr. Dailey?” Alec asked. “Do you think it’ll be safe? He gets pretty nervous sometimes.”

“Sure, put him there. Old Napoleon will be more of a help to him than anything—steady him down.” Henry went over to a corner of the barn and picked up a bale of straw which he carried back into the stall and spread around. “We’ll borrow some of Tony’s straw for bedding. He won’t mind. Now you can put him in, son,” he said. “There are a few things that need to be fixed, but I guess it’ll hold him—you can do a better job tomorrow.”

“Thanks,” Alec said.

“What are you going to feed him tonight, Alec? Did you think of that?” his father asked.

“Gee, that’s right!” said Alec. “I had forgotten!” He turned to Henry. “Where do you think I could get some feed, Mr. Dailey?”

“Well, Tony gets his down at the feed store on the corner of Parsons and Northern, but I imagine they’re closed now. But you can use some of Tony’s and pay him back when you get your own.”

“Great,” answered Alec. He led the Black into the stall next to Napoleon’s. It was a little run-down, but it was roomy, and Alec could tell that the stallion liked it. He stood very patiently while Alec removed his halter and rubbed him down. Then Henry handed Alec a pail of feed and Alec dumped it into the Black’s box.

Old Napoleon stuck his head curiously over the board between the stalls. The Black saw him, strode over and sniffed suspiciously. Napoleon didn’t move. Alec was afraid they might fight. Then the Black put his head over into Napoleon’s stall and whinnied. Napoleon whinnied back.

Henry laughed. “See, what’d I tell you? They’re friends already.”

Alec left the stall, feeling more easy about the Black than at any time since they had begun the long journey home. “I’m glad he liked Napoleon,” he said. “Perhaps I can leave him now. He has to learn to be alone sometime.”

“He looks as though he’ll be all right,” said his father. “In fact, he seems to like it here. He isn’t so wild, after all!”

“He’s all right, Dad, when he gets used to things. It’s just when something new upsets him that he gets out of control.”

“Well, son, let’s go home and see your mother. She’s probably worrying herself to death.”

Joe Russo spoke up. “I hate to make a nuisance of myself, Mr. Ramsay, but I’d like to go along and get your son’s story. It has all the earmarks of a good yarn and I certainly could use one!”

Alec’s father smiled. “Sure, it’s all right. Glad to have you. This is a day of celebration for us, you know!”