Fifteen minutes passed and they still hadn’t succeeded in getting the saddle on the Black. Henry and Alec were both tired. Yet the stallion wasn’t as excited as Alec had expected him to be. “He’s just being contrary,” he told Henry.

The Black wouldn’t leave the saddle on his back long enough for Henry to get the girth straps through the buckles. “If I could only some way get ’em through and tighten that saddle on him!” he said.

Alec thought a minute. “It’s the cinch that bothers him. Let’s lengthen it all the way on my side, then I’ll hold the saddle just above his back while you get the ends of the straps through the buckles. Once I drop the saddle, you tighten. You’ll have to work fast.…”

“Might work,” said Henry.

The Black moved nervously around. “Whoa, Boy,” Alec said. He lowered the saddle as close to the stallion’s back as possible, so Henry could get the straps into the buckles.

“All set, Henry?” Alec asked.

“Just a second,” came the answer.

The Black was looking toward the far end of the field. Henry said in a low voice, “Okay, now.”

Quickly Alec placed the saddle on the Black’s back. The stallion reared. Alec jumped to one side. Henry was dangerously close to the Black, his hands feverishly pulling the straps through the buckles. Alec saw him give a final tug, then he flung himself out of the way of the Black’s pawing hoofs. “Got it,” he shouted. “Get out of his way!”

The stallion reared again and then raced down the field, swerving and throwing his hind legs in the air. He tried desperately to get rid of the saddle. Alec and Henry watched him as he plunged around the field. Suddenly the Black reared high on his legs and then fell over backward. They heard the saddle break.

“There it goes,” said Alec.

“If he doesn’t get it off, it’ll be worth it!” answered Henry.

The Black finally climbed to his feet. The saddle was torn and broken, but still on his back. Again the stallion raced up the field, his excited eyes shifting from one side to the other. As he neared them, Alec whistled. The stallion swept past them. Alec whistled again. Suddenly the Black stopped, half-reared and turned. His ears pricked forward and he stood still for a few seconds. Then he was off again down the field, swerving and kicking.

“It’s a good thing you were able to get that cinch tight, Henry!”

“Yeah,” answered Henry, his eyes still following the Black.

Alec whistled again when the stallion came up the field. The Black stopped about thirty feet from them. Alec cautiously walked toward him.

“What’s the matter, fella? Frightened of that saddle on your back?”

The stallion turned and Alec thought he was going to run down the field again. Instead he circled and then stood still. Alec put his hand in his pocket and drew out some sugar. He held it out toward the Black. “Here, Boy.” Slowly he walked up to him and gave him the sugar. He stroked the long, sleek neck. “You’ll get used to it, fella.” He saw that the saddle was pretty well damaged but still usable.