The Black walked fast out onto the fairway, and then broke into a trot. Alec turned him toward the spot where he had left Henry. “Better get off this course in a hurry,” he thought, “or they’ll have the riot squad after us for tearing up the ground!”

After riding for about five minutes, Alec saw Henry in the distance walking toward them. “Had just about given up,” Henry said when Alec rode up.

“I almost did, too,” Alec said. “Found him away over by the Hole.”

“Looks as though he’s been rolling around in the dirt.”

“He’s had a time for himself, all right,” Alec answered. “Look at the burrs on him—must have gone through a lot of underbrush.”

“We can get those off.” Henry glanced at his watch. “But right now we’d better be getting back—almost nine o’clock.”

For the first time Alec realized that he had had no breakfast and that his parents didn’t even know where he was. “Mother’ll be wondering what’s happened to me,” Alec said. Late for his first breakfast home!

“And the Missus isn’t going to be welcoming me with eager arms, either,” Henry said gravely. “Promised her I’d go down to the market this morning, but it’s too late now.”

Alec jumped off the Black and walked beside Henry, holding the Black by his halter. Soon they reached the car. “Better go by way of Colden Street,” Henry said, “and miss the traffic. Guess you’ll have to lead him—that’s the only way.”

“You drive ahead slowly, Henry, just in case I need you,” Alec said.

The car rolled out of the park and Alec and the Black followed it. Twenty minutes later, after no mishaps, they neared the stable. The stallion’s ears pricked forward when he saw the barn. “I’m going to have to build that fence higher, Henry,” Alec yelled.

“ ’Fraid so,” answered Henry, “or we’ll be spending half our time chasing this fellow around!”

Henry drove up to the barn, and Alec followed with the Black. “I’ll put him in his stall for the rest of the day, Henry,” he said.

“Good idea,” replied Henry. “He’s sure had enough exercise for one day, and so have I.”

“Me, too,” answered Alec. “I’ll put him away and then go home and eat. I’ll come back later and clean him up.”

“Okay, son. I’ll probably be seeing you—that is,” he laughed, “if I can get out!” He turned and walked toward the house.

Alec put the Black in his stall and ran a brush over his body. He put some hay in the stallion’s feed box. “There, that’ll hold you until I get back,” he said. “Be a good fellow now and take it easy, won’t you?”

The stallion pawed his foreleg into the straw and shook his head. “You’d better behave,” said Alec, laughing. “You’ve caused enough trouble for one day.” He shut the barn door and made his way home.

Alec heard the living-room clock strike nine-thirty as he walked into the house. “That you, Alec?” His mother’s voice came anxiously from the kitchen.