Free The Young Black Stallion by Walter Farley Page A

cavern. He ignored the cavern but studied the tall growth to either side of it. The slight movement he perceived might have been caused by the night breeze or an animal slinking through the weeds. He didn’t know which it was, but he cautioned himself to proceed slowly and not take any chances.
    As he continued up the slope and drew level with the cavern, his searching eyes made out a spotted shape in the tall grass. Its size made him stop abruptly, for he had never seen a leopard as large as this one. As he’d thought, the animal was an old male, well over two hundred pounds.
    The leopard was aware of his presence, but had not slunk away. Instead, he uttered a faint hiss, his lips curled back in a snarl.
    Rashid took several steps backward, for he had unknowingly ventured too close. The giant leopard was no more than ten feet away, close enough for him to see the large black spots on the fawn-colored head. Close enough, too, for the animal to leap on him with a rush of tremendous speed if he chose to.
    The snarl from the leopard’s curled lips was followed by a loud growl. There was every sign of his being a man-eater, for he had not backed off. And yet Rashid knew that the growls might be meant only as a warning for him to stay away. They would increase if he remained where he was while the leopard bolstered his own courage, lashing himself into a fury. Only if the leopard attacked would the scout actually know if he was a man-eater or not.
    Not wanting to find out, Rashid backed away still farther down the incline. But his eyes never left the spot where the leopard hid. Close at hand he found a long stick he could use as a club. He picked it up and waited.
    Finally the growls ended and there was more movement in the tall grass as the leopard slunk away. Encouraged that he was free from attack, Rashid followed him, taking advantage of every bush and stone for cover so as to remain unseen by his prey. He flattened himself to the ground when necessary, as invisible as the leopard he followed. Occasionally he would hear a rough, rasping sound from the leopard as the animal proclaimed his right to the territory. But most of the time the leopard silently made his way through the tall grass as if he knew well where he was going.
    It was only a short time later that Rashid knew too.Directly ahead the black colt lay on the ground, apparently to take the weight off his injured foreleg.
    A faint hiss came from the leopard as he lay concealed in the high grass, followed immediately by a bloodcurdling growl. Hearing the leopard, Shêtân attempted to get to his feet, his movements labored as he struggled to get his injured leg beneath him.
    Rashid knew he had only a few seconds to act if he was to prevent the leopard’s attack on the colt. He hoped to scare off the leopard by waving his club furiously in the air. He had used this means before in his encounters with leopards and it had worked. Yet he realized this leopard was not one of the timid ones who would run away at first sight of a threatening human being.
    As the leopard approached the black colt his growls increased in volume, making a terrific noise. Knowing he had no time to lose and had no other choice, the scout ran forward, waving the club.
    The leopard came out of the grass with lightning speed and with two mighty leaps reached the black horse. He leapt upon his back, attempting to seize the colt’s throat with his powerful fangs and forcing the colt to fall away from him so he could avoid the thrashing hooves. Shêtân screamed with pain and tried to shake off the leopard, who lay with heaving flanks across his prey. Rashid rushed forward, shouting and waving his club in the air before bringing it down hard against the head of the leopard.
    The leopard let go his grip on the colt and turned his blood-smeared mouth toward his attacker. He growled hideously, his eyes blazing with hatred.
    Rashid jumped away as the leopard came at him, but he wasn’t quick enough to