His boy was using a saddle then, of course, but his seat was exactly the same as it had been while riding bareback at the fairs.

“Now what disappointed me so greatly was this,” Jay went on sadly. “Even though the boy was winning more than his share of races over the long-stirrup, middle-of-the-back type rider that’s currently so popular, his crouch style was being ridiculed in England. His trainer confided to me that he felt the reason for the public’s non-acceptance of the boy and his excellent style of riding was because he wasn’t ‘fashionable’!”

Jay paused, waiting for Steve to say something. But Steve was too bewildered to move his lips, much less able to get any words out. Anyone who had read the history of horse racing knew that the great American jockey Tod Sloan had successfully introduced the popular crouch style of riding in England as long ago as 1897!

“Aren’t you surprised, Steve?” Jay asked. “Doesn’t it make you furious too?”

Steve finally got his words to come. “I don’t know what you mean by ‘fashionable,’ ” he said.

“I believe the trainer meant that it was because of the color of the boy’s skin. He was black. His name was Billy Sims. Yes, I believe that’s what he was called. So many things happened during that hurried trip, and all were so very new to me. Although as I said it was only a short while ago, it’s difficult for me to remember some of the terms and language usage.”

Steve could not take his eyes off the man who sat on the grass in front of him. And when he spoke, he did not recognize his own voice. “Y-you s-said all this happened a short while ago. Do you remember the year?”

“Your year? No, I’m afraid not, Steve. I’m not very good at that kind of thing. But wait. Let’s see now.” The blue-black head suddenly turned, the clear eyes alive and dancing. “Why of course! I went to the Doncaster Sales and saw that beautiful gray colt sold. I’ve carried his picture in my wallet ever since. I clipped it from a magazine. It may give the date.”

A long wallet was drawn from the inner pocket of the striking blue suit, and then Jay read the clipping silently. Finally he said happily, “Eighteen ninety-five, Steve.”

A short while ago to Jay. But to anyone else, well over a half-century!

When Jay saw the expression on Steve’s face a somber curtain fell over his bright eyes and he spoke with concern. “Something I’ve said has startled you, Steve. Tell me what it is. I don’t want you to be frightened of me.”

“I—I’m not frightened,” Steve heard himself say. “It’s just that it h-happened so long ago.”

“Really? In your time, you mean?”

Steve could only nod, and Jay said, “I suppose I should have thought of it. Details like that always escape me.” The shadowy darkness left his eyes and the brightness returned, greater than before. “Then the crouch style of riding is now being used in racing horses?”

Steve nodded in still greater bewilderment.

“Oh, how I wish I could see them go! To think that I have to stay near the ship.