I think I have the answer.” He rushed from the room.

Alec and the Black were still at the far end of the field when Henry reached the fence. He called, but the boy didn’t hear him. Henry turned away from the field at the creaking of the iron gate and saw Mr. Ramsay walking hurriedly up the driveway. It was obvious that Alec’s father had dressed as hastily as Henry, for his shirt was unbuttoned, his hair was uncombed and he wore slippers instead of shoes.

When Mr. Ramsay reached him, Henry saw the concern in the man’s eyes. “Alec’s all right,” he said assuredly.

“I suppose he is.” Mr. Ramsay’s gaze remained on Alec and the Black for some time before he turned to Henry. “He’s certainly not having any trouble with him,” he added. “But what do you think, Henry? How dangerous is the Black?”

Henry avoided Mr. Ramsay’s eyes. “You got to have respect for what any horse might do,” he said. “An’ Alec has plenty of respect for the Black.”

“I know that, Henry,” Mr. Ramsay paused. “Then you don’t think Alec will have any trouble with him?”

Henry turned to him. “There are some things you can’t explain,” he replied slowly. “The Black’s willingness to do what Alec wants him to do is one of ’em. Under normal circumstances I think Alec will always be able to control him.”

“ ‘Under normal circumstances,’ ” Mr. Ramsay repeated. “What do you mean by that, Henry?”

Nodding his head toward Alec and the Black, Henry said, “The two of ’em alone just like they are now.”

“But that’s the way it’s going to be,” Mr. Ramsay returned quickly.

“Not if people find out the Black’s here,” Henry said. “They’ll have Alec racin’ him before he knows it. All the kid is thinkin’ about now is to keep the Black for himself, but once the press start building up interest in a race between the Black and some of the other champs, especially Satan, he’ll race him just to find out for himself which is the fastest horse. It’s in him to find out one way or another, and if a race is more or less forced on him, he’ll go through with it.”

“And you don’t think the Black should race. Is that it, Henry?”

“I know he’d cause a lot of trouble on a track, what with all the excitement and other stallions around. An’ I doubt that his love for Alec would be strong enough to overcome his natural instinct to fight. I may be wrong … but I’d sooner not find out by watching it.”

“I suppose you’re right, Henry,” Mr. Ramsay said gravely. “But there’s a chance no one will know he’s here.”

“You can’t keep a horse like the Black where everyone can see him without somebody gettin’ wise,” Henry returned quickly. “But I got an idea, Mr.