He reached them in time to hear the veterinarian say, “The test horse will be here tomorrow, and we have decided to take blood samples of your horses then. After the inoculation of the test horse, there won’t be anything to do but wait. You can feel free to leave your horses in our care, well knowing that everything possible will be done for them. Or you can stay … whichever suits your plans better. If no evidence of swamp fever is disclosed in the test horse, clean bills of health will be given your horses in forty days. I would like to ask that you leave with me your forwarding address if you decide to leave Mountainview. We would, of course, have to get in touch with you immediately if swamp fever developed in your horse.”

The State Veterinarian turned to his assistants, and it was obvious to all that the meeting was over. Taking Alec by the arm, Henry said, “Let’s get our stuff out of the vans and put it in the stall between Satan and the Black; then we’ll feed ’em and have just enough time to get back to the inn before dark.”

“Can’t we stay here, Henry?”

“No, they don’t want us sleeping in the barn. Besides, we’ll do better at the inn nights. We’ll be needin’ our rest with forty long days ahead of us.”

“I only hope it’s forty days,” Alec said. “I wouldn’t want anything to happen sooner.”

Mr. Ramsay went along with them to help unload their tack. But Tony, unnoticed by the others, stayed behind, and as soon as the huckster saw them enter Henry’s van he moved closer to the veterinarian. Patiently he waited until the veterinarian moved away from his assistants and headed for the stone house. Tony followed him.

“Meester Veterinary,” he called. “One minute, please.” And when the veterinarian stopped and turned to him, Tony said, “I am good friend of Aleec Ramsay and Henree Dailey.”

The veterinarian smiled. “I’m sure you are,” he said. “What can I do for you?”

“My horse, Napoleon, he’s-a good friend of the Black and Satan.” Tony paused to look over his shoulder. “Maybe it would be better if I walk with you to your house, yes? It is something very private I wish to say to you.”

Tony waited until they had reached the wide veranda of the house before continuing. “This-a test horse I hear you and my friend Henree talk about. In him you will put the blood of the Black and Satan, yes?”

“Yes,” the veterinarian said. “Their blood along with samples from others will be inoculated into the test horse.”

“You have this-a test horse?”

“He will be here tomorrow.”

“You could use maybe another one, too? One to take the blood of Satan and the Black?”

The veterinarian’s gaze met Tony’s. “You mean your horse?”

“He one healthy horse, my Nappy,” Tony said excitedly. “He never sick in his life.”

“But I have a test horse, and one is all we need now.”

“But it’s-a better if you have two, yes?” Tony insisted. “If Napoleon no get sick, you know what you look for is in five horses, not seven. Five is smaller than seven, yes?”

“Naturally, the smaller the group the better,” the veterinarian said. “If Napoleon developed swamp fever and the other test horse didn’t, we’d know Satan or the Black—or possibly both of them—was the carrier of the disease.”

“Then you will use him,” Tony said. “You make me one happy man, Meester Veterinary.”

The veterinarian watched Tony closely. “You’re sure you want to do this? We could get along without your Napoleon now, and if by chance he should contract swamp fever from the inoculation it means certain death, you know.”

“My Nappy … I’m sure he wants it this-a way,” Tony said more soberly. “He’s-a like brother to the Black and Satan.