At last the window slid open enough for Charlie to squeeze through.   He sat on the roof of the truck for a moment and listened to all the noises of the stockyards.   Then flapped his big wings and sailed off.

Horace and Stuart watched as Charlie circled the pens.   Charlie perched on the gate of one of the pens and seemed to be talking to one of the horses.   Soon Charlie flew back through the window and landed on the edge of the feeding trough.

"Well boys, it seems we are at the stockyards.   I just talked to Brutus over there and he said that his farmer brought him here to sell him."

"Sell him?" whispered Horace.

"Yeah," said Charlie.   "He also told me that some of the cows are being shipped from here down south.   I figure that I can get a ride with them and get to Florida faster than if I flew.   I can rest on the cattle train and save my energy for fighting off those sea gulls when I get down there."

Horace started stamping his big feet and moving from side to side.

"Sell?   They sell horses here...or ship them away?   What if the farmer finds us in here?   He will sell me.   Oh my.   Oh dear.   I just want to go home, Stuart.   How can we get out of here?"

"Calm down there big fella," said Charlie.   "I've got an idea."

Stuart moved over to pat Horace on the nose.   Charlie sat on Horace's shoulder and started talking.

"The way I see it fellas, the farmer doesn't know that we are back here.   He has gone off to talk to some other farmers.   Horace, I'll keep watch for him out the front window.   You kick open the door and gallop off as fast as you can."

"Fast," said Horace.   "Yes, gallop fast."

Go back down the driveway and when you get to the first road, "gee right".   That should take you back to your farm.   It might be a long trip.   Do you think you can make it?"

"I can," said Horace.   "Yes...gallop fast...fast.   Stuart, you get on my back and lay as close to my neck as you can.   I am going to gallop as fast as I can!"

Charlie looked at his two friends.

"This has been quite some adventure we have had, hasn't it?   I sure am glad you took me along for the ride.   I wouldn't have missed this for the world.  I've got to get going now, the first cattle train south leaves in a few minutes."

Stuart and Horace nodded their heads.

"Stuart," said Charlie, "I'll stop by next spring and see you on my return trip.   Horace...you just keep eating those oats and stay warm this winter and I'll see you next spring too.   So long, boys," cawed Charlie as he flew out the window of the trailer.

Horace and Stuart watched as Charlie flew around in a wide circle over the stockyards.

"If it wasn't for Charlie, I never would have learned how to walk," whispered Stuart.

Charlie flew low over the trailer and then landed on the top of the train.   He waved goodbye to Horace and Stuart as the train started up and headed out of the stockyards.

"Now, it's our turn to get out of here," said Horace.

He knelt down so that Stuart could climb on his back.

"Hold on tight to my mane," said Horace.   "I'm going to gallop fast, like the wind, and I'm not stopping until I get back to my barn!"

Horace kicked at the door of the trailer and it flew open with a bang.   He raced from the trailer and took off at a gallop.   Stuart hung on tightly to Horace's mane as they raced through the stockyards.