Away they went toward the east, with lighter hearts and higher spirits than either had known before for many a day. To Joe it seemed that he was doing no more than his duty in riding away with Old Charlie. He was too inexperienced to know that he had no right to seize the horse in this way, even though the animal was his father’s lawful property. He was too much confused by his sufferings and excitement, moreover, to have a nice sense of propriety in such a matter. As he passed the boat he had just left, Joe noticed that there was a light in the cabin window. He heard a noise there as of something falling. To his ears came distinctly the sound of angry words from Captain Bill. CHAPTER V. HOMEWARD BOUND. The window of the telegraph office on the canal at Ellenville faces the tow-path. Although day was breaking and the sky was cloudless, the telegraph operator was still working by the light of an oil lamp. He was taking a message, which, when it was reduced to writing, read as follows:-- Stop boy on gray horse going east. Horse stolen from me. Coming at once to claim property. WILLIAM ROSENCAMP. The operator, with the telegram in his hand, went out at the door and looked up the canal. As he did so he saw bearing down upon him a gray horse ridden by a boy. It was Joe with Old Charlie. Both boy and horse were splashed with mud, and bore evidence of having come far and fast through the night. The operator stepped quickly out upon the tow-path, and threw up his hand, with the telegram still fluttering in it. “Stop!” he shouted. “Hold up, there!” Joe reined in Old Charlie, and the young man seized the improvised bridle. “Where are you going with this horse?” he asked. “Home,” replied Joe, promptly. “Isn’t this Bill Rosencamp’s horse?” “No, sir,” said the boy, stoutly; “he isn’t. He’s my father’s horse! He was stolen, and I’m takin’ him back home.” “Didn’t Captain Bill have him?” “Yes, but he hadn’t any right to him, and he abused him, too.” “Didn’t you take him without Captain Bill’s knowledge?” “Of course I did! I couldn’t have got ’im at all if I hadn’t.” “Well, I guess you’d better get off and let me take charge of the horse, and we’ll investigate this matter a little. Come,” he called, as Joe hesitated, “get down! Get down, I say!” The boy let himself wearily to the ground. Several men and boys who were standing near the offices and on the tow-path came crowding about. “The superintendent is due here soon,” said the operator. “He’s coming up with the paymaster, and he’ll settle it.” On the canal the superintendent’s authority was almost absolute. Local authorities deferred to him in all matters pertaining to the canal and its employes, unless the law were formally invoked.