tried his nerves a good deal, for if he took Crusoe for a wolf, he must have thought him a very giant of the pack.
By degrees they broke into a furious gallop, and after breathing him well, Dick returned and tied him to the tree. Then he rubbed him down again, and gave him another drink. This time the horse smelt his new master all over, and Dick felt that he had conquered him by kindness. No doubt the tremendous run of the day before could scarcely be called kindness, but without this he never could have brought kindness to bear on so wild a steed.
Next day Dick gave the wild horse his second lesson, and his name. He called him “Charlie,” after a much-loved companion in the Mustang Valley, And long and heartily did Dick Varley laugh as he told the horse his future designation in the presence of Crusoe, for it struck him as somewhat ludicrous that a mustang which, two days ago, pawed the earth in all the pride of freedom, should come down to carry a hunter and be named Charlie.
The next piece of instruction began by Crusoe being led up under Charlie’s nose, and while Dick patted the dog with his right hand, he patted the horse with his left. It backed a good deal at first and snorted, but Crusoe walked slowly and quietly in front of him several times, each time coming nearer, until he again stood under his nose; then, the horse smelt him nervously, and gave a sigh of relief when he found that Crusoe paid no attention to him whatever. Dick then ordered the dog to lie down at Charlie’s feet, and went to the camp to fetch his rifle, and buffalo robe, and pack of meat. These and other things were presented for inspection, one by one, to the horse, who arched his neck, and put forward his ears, and eyed them, but smelt them and seemed more easy in his mind.
Next the buffalo robe was rubbed over his nose, then over his eyes and head, then down his neck and shoulder, and lastly was placed on his back. Then it was taken off and flung on; after that it was strapped on, and the various little items of the camp were attached to it. This done, Dick took up his rifle and let him smell it; then he put his hand on Charlie’s shoulder, vaulted on and rode away.
Charlie’s education was completed, and our hero’s journey began again with prospect of its speedy termination.
In this course of training through which Dick put his wild horse he had been at much greater pains and had taken far
