Henry laughed. “Sure,” he said, “he’s in tiptop shape!”

A few minutes after he had hung up, Alec came into the barn.

“Jim just called,” Henry said. “Everything’s all set for shipping the Black and stabling him out there—not going to be any expenses at all!” Henry looked out at the stallion in the field. “When can we shove off, Alec? Cyclone and Sun Raider are leaving tomorrow at the latest; that means they’ll have a few days to get accustomed to the track.”

“Just got through talking with Dad again,” answered Alec. “He’s letting me ride under one condition—that I stay until I finish my exams.”

“How long is that?”

“I start ’em tomorrow and have my last one Thursday morning.”

“Whew! And the race is Saturday,” said Henry.

“Yes, and Dad insists we go out there by train. He called the station and found out there’s a train that leaves Thursday afternoon that’ll get us into Chicago early Friday morning. It’s the only fair thing to do, Henry, and he has been swell about the whole thing.”

“You’re right, son. And that isn’t so bad—gets us there a day ahead of time. Maybe it’s just as well we aren’t getting there too early, seeing it’s the Black we’re racin’.”

Alec laid down his pen. There, his last exam was over! He blotted his paper carefully and looked up at the clock. Almost noon. He’d have to hurry if they were going to make the three o’clock train. He handed his paper to the teacher and walked out of the room.

In the hall he met Whiff and Bill. “How was it?” Bill asked.

“Not so bad,” Alec replied, going right ahead. They fell into step with him.

“What’s the hurry?” Whiff asked.

“Have to get home—some work to do,” Alec answered. There was going to be plenty of work before they got the Black on the train.

“How’re you comin’ with the Black?” Whiff asked.

“Okay. Why don’t you guys come around any more?”

“No, thanks,” Whiff answered. “Not any more of that horse for me—he looks too dangerous!”

“Me, either,” agreed Bill. “Talkin’ about horses, how’d you like to be ridin’ in that big race—day after tomorrow?”

Alec shrugged his shoulders.

“Should be a corker!” Bill went on. “Wonder who the mystery horse is going to turn out to be?”

“Probably some ham-and-egger,” chirped up Whiff. “Cyclone will walk away with it.”

“Not with Sun Raider in the race,” Bill said. “Who do you think’s going to win, Alec?”

Alec smiled. “Well, the only one you fellows leave me is the mystery horse—so I guess I’ll take him.”

“You’re stuck,” Bill laughed.

“We’ll see,” grinned Alec. He turned as he went out the door. “So long, fellas,” he said.

“So long.”

When he reached home, he found his father waiting for him. They didn’t talk about the race while eating lunch. Then they went over to the barn. Alec wasn’t nervous. Instead he was calm and eager to match the Black’s speed against Cyclone and Sun Raider.