After they had seen him in battle it seemed to Alcatraz that there might be some reason for the flight of the herd and yet now their running was only half-hearted; he could have raced in circles around them.  There was one change in their arrangement.  The grey mare was second, as before, but before her in place of the black ran the bay stallion who had stood down—­wind from the rest when Alcatraz first saw them.  He, perhaps, might challenge the stranger as the former leader had done.  At any rate he should have the opportunity, for the fighting blood of Alcatraz was up and he would battle with every horse in the herd until he was accepted among them as an equal.  He had a peculiar desire, also, to be up there beside the grey mare.  Their meeting had been, indeed, only in the passing, and yet there was about her—­how should one say?—­a certain something.

The moment he had made up his mind, Alcatraz flung himself about the herd and advanced with high head and bounding gallop on the new leader; but the latter had seen his former master fall and apparently had no appetite for battle.  He shortened his pace to a hand gallop, then to a mincing trot, and finally lowered his head and moved unobtrusively to the side with an absorbed interest in the first knot of bunch-grass that came his way.  To force battle on such a foe was beneath the dignity of Alcatraz, but the whole herd had stopped, every bright eye watching him; perhaps there might be others more ambitious than the bay.  He put up his head like the king of horses that he was and stepped proudly forward.  Behold, they divided and left a clear path before him; even the mare who had kicked at him when he first came up now shook her head and moved aside.  He reached the rear of the herd unopposed and turned to find that every head was still turned towards him with a bright attention that was certainly not altogether fear.

This was very strange, and while he thought it over Alcatraz dropped his head and nibbled the nearest cluster of grass.  At that, as at a signal, every head in the herd went down; it scattered carelessly here and there.  Alcatraz watched them, bewildered.  This was what he had noted when the black leader was among them; then he understood and was filled with warm content.  Truly they had accepted him not only as a member but as a master!  To prove it, he trotted to the nearest hilltop and neighed as he had heard the black neigh.  At once they bunched, looking warily towards him.  He lowered his head to nibble the grass and again they scattered to eat.  It was true.  It was true beyond shadow of doubt that from this moment he was a king with obedient subjects until, perhaps, some younger, mightier stallion challenged and beat him down.  Happily for Alcatraz such forethought was beyond his reach of mind and now he only knew the happiness of power.