Part 5 (1/2)

The reporter looked around the room with its soft shaded lights and its comfortable-looking furniture, then at Alec and his father and mother. ”Guess you couldn't blame him for wanting to get back to this,” Joe said.

”You bet!” Alec agreed.

His mother sat down on the couch and Alec sat beside her, his arm still in hers. His father was filling his pipe in his favorite chair in the corner. ”All right, son,” he said. ”Tell us all about it.”

”Well,” Alec began, ”it was a few days after I left Uncle Ralph at Bombay that we stopped at a small Arabian port on the Red Sea-”

The clock on top of the radio ticked off the minutes as Alec told his story. Once more he was on the Drake and seeing the Black for the first time. He forgot that his mother, his father and Joe Russo were listening to him. He was in the storm, hearing the roar of the gale and the smas.h.i.+ng of the waves against the boat. He heard the loud crack of lightning as it struck the s.h.i.+p. Then the Black was dragging him through the water-hours and hours they battled the waves in the darkness. He roamed the island, fighting against starvation. He discovered the carragheen that had saved them both. He rode the stallion for the first time-that wild, never-to-be-forgotten ride! Then the fire, that awful fire, which turned out to be a blessing in disguise. The joy that was his when he saw the sailors dragging their boat up the beach. Rio de Janeiro-home....

He finished, and there was silence. His mother's hand was gripping his. The clock ticked loudly. It seemed to say, ”You're home ... you're home ...”

His father's pipe had gone out. ”I don't know what to say, son”-he broke the silence-”except that G.o.d must have been with you-and with us.” He turned to Mrs. Ramsay. ”We're pretty thankful, aren't we, Mother?”

Alec felt the pressure of her hand. ”Yes,” she answered, ”we have much to be thankful for.”

”I can understand now how you love that horse,” Joe Russo said.

”Yes, Alec,” said his father, ”I can promise you now he'll always have a place here with us.”

”If it wasn't for him-that wild, untamed animal-” his mother said.

Joe Russo stood up. ”I want to thank you for letting me stay,” he said. ”If there is anything I can ever do-”

Mr. Ramsay rose from his chair. ”That's all right. Glad to have helped you,” he said. ”Good night.” He held out his hand.

”Good night, sir.” He smiled at Alec and his mother. ”Take good care of that horse,” he said to the boy.

”You bet I will,” answered Alec. ”And thanks for all you've done.”

Not long after Joe left, Alec said good night to his parents and went to bed. The excitement of being home and sleeping in his own bed again made him restless. He lay awake for an hour, then he fell into a sound sleep.

Suddenly a shrill whistle awakened him. He opened his eyes sleepily. Had he been dreaming or had he actually heard the Black scream? The night was still. A minute pa.s.sed. Then he heard the whistle again-it was the Black.

Alec jumped out of bed. The clock on his dresser told him it was only a little after twelve! He was wide awake as he pulled on his robe and quickly ran down the stairs and out the door. He heard the Black scream again as he entered the gate. Lights flashed on in Henry's house-then in the houses near by. The Black was waking everyone up! Alec sprinted toward the barn. He reached the door. The light was on!

The Black screamed when he saw him. His head reached far out over the stall.

”Dio mio!” a voice was moaning from inside Napoleon's stall. Alec couldn't see anybody-only old Napoleon, who stood trembling on the far side of his stall. His frightened eyes turned beseechingly toward Alec. ”Dio mio!” came the voice again.

”h.e.l.lo,” yelled Alec. ”Who's there?”

The Black pawed nervously at the floor of his stall. Then Alec saw a hand move over the top of Napoleon's door and cautiously push it open. Suddenly, like a charging fullback, a man plunged through the stall door.

He swept past and was outside before Alec could catch a glimpse of him. The Black whistled again. ”Hey, Black,” yelled Alec, ”take it easy!” Then he ran toward the door and looked out into the night. Alec saw a man standing beside Henry, who had just arrived on the scene. It was Tony, the huckster, owner of Napoleon! Poor Tony, he'd probably been frightened to death at the sight of the Black in the stall next to Napoleon!

”h.e.l.lo, Tony,” Alec called as he made his way toward him. Some of the neighbors, their robes pulled hastily about them, were coming up the driveway. Then the sound of a police siren reached Alec's ears. ”Gosh,” he said as a police car turned into the driveway. ”Tony, you're all right, aren't you?” he asked.

”Sure, he's all right,” answered Henry, grinning. ”The Black just surprised him.”

Tony only nodded. He was still too scared to speak. A small crowd gathered around them. ”What's the matter here?” asked the policeman as he got out of his car.

”Nothing serious, officer,” Henry spoke up. ”I own this barn and took in another horse tonight, unknown to Tony here. They both sorta surprised each other-that's about all there is to it.”

”That right?” the officer asked Tony.

Tony found his voice. ”Si,” he said, ”that's-a right. I ver' busy make-a better the harness sore on my Nappy when I look-a up and see heem. He sure make-a me the surprise all right.”

The crowd laughed at Tony's comments. ”Well,” said the policeman, ”guess everything's all right around here, then. Who owns the horse?”

”I do, sir,” Alec answered.

”You're rather young to own a horse that does such a big job of scaring people.” The officer smiled.

”I just brought him to New York yesterday,” Alec replied. ”He's still pretty nervous, but he'll get over it.”

”He sounds like quite a horse. Would you mind letting me take a look at him?” the policeman asked.

”Be glad to,” Alec said.

The small crowd moved forward, pus.h.i.+ng Tony in front of them. Alec stopped at the door of the barn. ”Most of you will have to watch from here,” he said. ”Too many people will get him excited again.”

The Black neighed softly as Henry, Alec, Tony and the policeman approached the stall. Napoleon stuck his head over the stall door and neighed at the sight of Tony, who hung back. The Black still pawed at the floor of his stall. Alec rubbed his nose.

”He's a beauty,” the policeman said. ”I've always had a weakness for horses ever since I spent two years on the mounted force. Don't know as I've ever seen one like this, though.” He paused, then after watching the Black a few minutes, he continued, ”Yep, looks like everything's okay around here-and I have to get back to the station. So long.” He left, taking the crowd with him.

Tony stayed in the barn with Alec and Henry. Gingerly he moved toward Napoleon, keeping one watchful eye on the Black. The stallion pushed his head forward. He neighed. ”He likes you and Napoleon,” Alec said.

Tony reached a hand to the Black's muzzle, then jerked it away quickly as the stallion shook his head. Alec and Henry laughed. ”Si,” said Tony, ”I like-a heem, too, after a while!”

A short time later, Alec once again climbed the stairs to his bedroom. Luckily his parents were both sound sleepers-it was better that they didn't know of the commotion the Black had made.

Alec climbed wearily back into bed. He was really tired now. He glanced at the clock-two-fifteen-and he wanted to be over to the barn early the next morning! His head fell back on the pillow. He was soon fast asleep.

ESCAPE.

9.

The next morning when Alec opened his eyes, he saw the familiar high school banners hanging on the walls. It was good to be in his own room again. Then right away he wondered how the Black was after his rumpus of last night! Alec turned on his side and looked out the window. The sun was rising. It must be around six o'clock.

Not much sleep-but then he was accustomed to that after the last few months. The leaves on the trees were turning a bright autumn red. He was glad his father had told him he wouldn't have to go to school today. ”One more day won't hurt,” he had said, ”and it'll give you a chance to accustom yourself again.” He knew what his father had really meant was that it would give him a chance to accustom the Black to his new surroundings!

Alec jumped out of bed and ran to the bathroom. He took a cold shower, dressed and tiptoed down the stairs. He opened the door and went out into the crisp morning air. It was quiet as only early morning can be. The gra.s.s was wet with a heavy dew. He walked down the street, softly whistling to himself. A safe distance away from the house he began to sing.

He found the gate ajar. Someone must be there already-perhaps Tony! He ran up the road toward the barn, and heard a deep ba.s.s voice coming from inside. ”San-ta Lu-ci-a, Santa Lu-cia!” Sure, that couldn't be anyone else but Tony! The barn door was open. Alec saw the little Italian sitting on a chair, his eyes fastened on the two stalls from which were coming deep munching sounds.