The Black Stallion

After several days of recovery, Alec gets out of bed and reacquaints himself with the Black in his stall in the hold of the ship. He calms him and grooms him. They spend the rest of the voyage inseparably.

Several days later, they sail into Rio de Janeiro. His parents sent money for Alec to board a ship from Rio to New York City. Alec thanks the captain for graciously saving him. The captain does not charge Alec for his room, board, and saving the Black. Pat tells Alec that, in his experience, a horse like the Black is perfect for racing.

When Alec puts the Black aboard the ship bound for New York, there is another group of animals nearby, including several horses. A chestnut stallion almost the same size as the Black begins to fight with the stallion and the Black knocks the chestnut to the ground. Alec is stunned as he watches the fight: “the squeals of terror from the other horses mingled with the screams […] The Black shrieked—louder than Alec had ever heard him before” (53). Neither horse sustains a serious injury. Spectators and deck hands, frightened, dash away as Alec struggles to control the Black. Eventually, he gets the stallion up the gang plank into the ship and takes him down into the hold where there is a stall.