Ramsay, but either Alec’s father hadn’t heard what the men said, or if he had, its implication had escaped him. “I think I’ll mosey down an’ see how Alec is making out,” Henry said.

“All right, Henry,” Mr. Ramsay replied. “It might be a good idea at that. I’ll stay here with Sebastian and meet you at the van.”

As soon as Henry had made his way around the parked trucks, his pace quickened. If there was going to be any trouble with the colt he wanted to be around to help Alec. It wouldn’t do to have the colt make a bad impression on Mr. Ramsay right at the start. No, that wouldn’t do anyone any good.

Then things happened fast, almost too fast for Henry. For he was still making his way through the heavy truck traffic when he saw Alec dart past the official at the gate and run toward the plank. At the same time he heard a short high-pitched scream, an ominous counterpart of the one he knew so well … the shrill, challenging whistle of the Black! He jerked his head in the direction of the hold door and saw the black colt half in and half out of the ship. A man in blue coveralls, holding the horse, let the lead rope slide through his fingers as, frightened, he backed down the plank attempting to get away from the young colt’s striking hoofs.

“Fool!” muttered Henry. “Why doesn’t he close in on him and get his head? A baby like that ain’t goin’ to hurt him none!”

Henry could see that the young horse was frightened. And as he saw other things, small beads of light flickered in his eyes. The colt was his son, all right. Black as the ace of spades, just like his sire except for that white spot in the center of his forehead. It looked like a diamond from here. And he had all the earmarks of a good healthy colt, too. Yep, it was going to be mighty interesting watching this youngster develop.

The man holding the lead rope was standing still now. He was as scared as the colt, and the rope was taut between them. Shaking his head, the colt bared his teeth and struck the air with thrashing forefeet. Then he screamed again, and as the sound of it resounded throughout the pier shed, stevedores and truck drivers stopped their work to watch.

Then Alec was on the plank and moving quickly toward the frightened man. A slight grin flickered on Henry’s face as he saw Alec take the lead rope from the man. This was Alec’s show, all right, he thought. The kid could do it, too. No doubt about that. Henry’s gaze shifted quickly up the pier shed to where Mr. Ramsay was standing. Maybe it was better this way. Maybe Mr.