Alec Ramsey is a passenger on the Tramp steamer called the Drake leaving Bombay, India, headed toward his home in the United States. He plans to travel through the Gulf of Aden and the Suez Canal, around the Mediterranean coast to England. There he will board the passenger ship the Majestic and sail to New York City. Alec enjoyed his time in India with his Uncle Ralph, a missionary, who taught him a lot about riding horses. Alec loves horses and is excited to be sailing off the coast the Arabian Desert, near the origin of the world’s best horses, and isn’t daunted by the vast desert view.

On the way home the Drake stops at an Arabian port and the ship takes on a giant black stallion. Alec has never seen a horse so awe-inspiring. The horse is incredibly difficult to handle and injures a deckhand in the struggle to get him on board. Finally, they put the stallion in a stall on the main deck. For the remainder of the journey, the horse kicks against the inside of the stall, which sailors reinforce. At night, Alec goes to the horse's stall and puts sugar cubes on the railing. Though the horse never comes to him, he takes the sugar.