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the first time and to smell, too, the redbuds and the dogwood blooming beside the paddock fence. It would be a good life for him, a really good life, with everything a horse could want. He would have the best of everything, because that’s the way it was at Nursery Stud.
    â€œHello, Danny.”
    He turned quickly at the sound of the woman’s voice, recognizing it. “Hello, Mrs. Kane,” he answered.
    Together they watched Mahubah’s colt, Danny waiting for the woman to pass judgment on him. There weren’t many women who could have taken over a man’s job as Mrs. Kane had done since her husband’s death. She ran things now. She was the superintendent of the big farm and it was no easy job.
    So keep your eyes and ears open
, he cautioned himself.
You can learn a lot from her. As you were told last night, you’re lucky to get your start with good people. So listen to everything Mrs. Kane has to say.
    â€œHe could be the best of this year’s crop, Danny,” she said,her keen eyes following Mahubah’s colt.
    â€œHe’s got the size for it,” the boy answered.
    â€œAnd the breeding,” she added. “In fact, Mr. Belmont has such high hopes for this colt that I just sent him a telegram at his New York office.”
    â€œYou don’t usually?”
    â€œNo, not usually. I knew he’d be specially interested in this one’s arrival,” she said.
    â€œAnd you?”
    She smiled. “I have high hopes for him, too.”
    â€œYou’ve bred other Rock Sand mares to Fair Play,” he said. “Have any of the colts shown anything?”
    â€œThere’s just one of racing age,” she answered. “His name is Sands of Pleasure, and he’s been winning. There’ll be other winners of this cross. Mr. Belmont is sure of it.”
    Her gaze left the boy for Mahubah. “She is a fine mare,” Mrs. Kane went on. “She is not loaded with fat and she has produced a strong and vigorous colt who will require little attention. He looks as if he has the resistance to withstand infection from most any quarter.”
    â€œIs he her first colt?”
    â€œNo, her second. Her first is a full sister to this colt, and we named her Masda. She is now in training and showing good speed.”
    â€œThen Masda should give you an idea what to expect from
him
,” he said.
    â€œPerhaps … and perhaps not. One never knows what to expect even with the same mother and father, Danny. Like children, they can be very different.”
    A cloud passed over the sun and suddenly the weather turned cold and gloomy. The boy felt a chill pass over him, and he turned to Mrs. Kane to find her, too, shivering a little.
    â€œI must go now, Danny,” she said quickly. “Watch him for us. Don’t let him get into any trouble.”
    His gaze followed her. Everybody was busy here at the farm. They went from one foal to another, from one horse to another. He was the only one satisfied with watching just one colt.
    The chill swept over him again. His eyes turned skyward. There were ominous clouds, running before a high wind and almost certain to bring rain. But it was far more than the threatening storm that bothered him, if only momentarily.
    The world he lived in was not so different from the world of a foal. When everything went well, as it had gone last night, it was thrilling and exciting. When it did not, it was terrifying.
    At home and school the talk was that soon the United States would be at war with Germany, entering the terrible conflict that was already being waged in Europe. If that happened, this colt might never know the career for which he was born.
    Suddenly the sun broke through the clouds. Danny smiled again. It was wrong to have such gloomy thoughts on the colt’s birthday. This was
his
day and they should make the most of it!
    The colt was trying to imitate his mother, spreading his awkward legs and bending