Son of the Black Stallion Read Online Free

his job.”
    “I’ma glad,” Tony returned. “Heesa training race horses again, no?”
    “He’s working in California for Peter Boldt, who has one of the finest racing stables in the country,” Alec told him. “Boldt offered Henry the job soon after we got back from Arabia. It was a swell break!”
    “I’ma glad he’s happy, Aleec.” Laughing, Tony added, “When old men lik’a Henree an’ me are happy we can keepa up with you younga fellas.” Tony picked up his black battered hat and moved toward the door. “You will be happy, too, Aleec, when the new one arrives.
Sì
, he will come like you say. Now I feel it strong lik’a you.”
    “Thanks, Tony.” Alec smiled at his friend’s words of encouragement. Then they left the barn together.
    They parted outside the iron gate. Alec watched Tony shuffling up the tree-lined street, and then followed Sebastian as the dog ran toward home. He wished that he was as certain that Abu Ja‘ Kub ben Ishak would keep his word as he had implied in his conversation with Tony. It was true that he thought of the sheikh as his friend, and had believed him that dayin Arabia when the chieftain had said, “The Black’s first foal will be yours, Alec, and I shall send him to you.” How well he remembered those words of the sheikh! How many dreams, hopes and plans he had built upon them! They had made his leaving the Black in Arabia much easier, for he had known that before too long there would come to him a horse through whose veins would run the blood of the great black stallion. And this horse would be his, his very own, to love, to raise and to train for the track. He had raced him a million times in his dreams, had driven him thundering past the turf kings of the day as they stretched for the wire.
    And only Henry knew of his dreams and plans. For together they had discussed them on their way back from Arabia and for many months in their letters to each other. And the old trainer’s eyes had glowed as bright as his when they talked about this horse to be. But, lately, Henry’s letters had arrived less and less frequently. Alec realized that Henry was busy, for Boldt had the largest string of racers in the country and with them had won the top races last year. Yes, Alec decided as he reached the porch steps, Henry had plenty to do besides writing him, even if Henry was “only one of Boldt’s four trainers,” as he had so often written in his letters. It had been a wonderful opportunity for Henry, getting this job with Boldt. Anyone would have jumped at it. But Alec did miss him.
    When he reached the porch Alec flung himself on the hammock, and Sebastian jumped up beside him. Alec knew that his mother was out shopping, and that his father would not be home from work for at least anhour. This would be a good time to think about his horse again, to plan.…
    Then he saw the envelope propped against the flower vase on the small table. It hadn’t been there when he’d left the house. Rising from the hammock, he went over to the table and picked up the envelope. For several seconds the writing upon it seemed to become blurred and then he read again his name and the return address.
    Slowly, he walked back to the hammock and sat down. Sebastian moved over to his lap and whimpered. Alec pushed the dog’s head to one side and then hastily ripped the envelope open, removing several papers. On top, in Abu Ishak’s familiar handwriting, was a short note:
    Arabia
July 15th
    D EAR A LEC ,
    As I promised, the firstborn of Shêtân, or your Black, will be shipped to you aboard the steamer
Queen of India,
due to leave Addis on the thirtieth of this month, and arriving in New York on the twenty-eighth of August. I’m enclosing all necessary papers, the transfer of ownership, his registration in the Stud Book of Arabia, and papers to claim him upon arrival in New York. Yes, Alec, it is a colt, and he’s coal black like his sire except for a small white diamond in the center of his