The hobo got up and walked over to where Stuart sat.

"Well, well.   Did someone throw you away, buddy?   Why would they put you back here by the creek?   I'll bet some kids were playing with you and just left you here.   Is that what happened, buddy?"

The hobo bent down and looked at Stuart's clothes.

"You've sure got better looking clothes than I have.   I don't suppose you'd mind if I "borrowed" your clothes, now would you?   I'll look better and maybe the farmer will give me a job for awhile.   You'll just be an old pile of straw when I'm done with you."

Stuart tried not to shake and sat as still as he could.

The hobo walked back to where his things lay on the ground.   He took off his shirt and bent over to stuff in into the bag.

While his back was turned, Stuart jumped to his feet and ran into the thicket.   Horace was already kneeling down and Stuart slid onto his back.   Horace jumped up and galloped from the thicket.   The hobo was so surprised, that he fell backwards and sat down with a hard plop.   Horace raced away down the lane toward the back of the woods.

"Hey, wait for me," cawed Charlie as he swooped ahead of Horace.   "Let's make tracks and get out of here!"

Horace galloped for miles and then slowed down to a gentle trot.   His tongue was hanging out of the corner of his mouth.

"Whew!" he said.   "That was a close one boys.   I've got to walk for awhile.   I'm tuckered right out.   It's been a long, long time since I had to move that fast!"

"There's a road up ahead," said Charlie.   "Be careful when you get there.   We don't want anyone else to see us."

Horace walked carefully to the edge of the woods.   He could see a gravel pathway.   It led to a farm house and large barn.   There was one horse and several cows grazing in the field next to the barn.

"I wonder where we are?" asked Stuart.