In whatever part of the wide field he might be, Charlie always came at full speed when Dan whistled at the bars, and the boy was never happier than when the beautiful, fleet creature put its head on his shoulder, looking up at him with fine eyes full of intelligent affection.
"We understand one another without any palaver, don't we, old fellow ?" Dan would say, proud of the horse's confidence, and, so jealous of his regard, that he told no one how well the friendship prospered, and never asked anybody but Teddy to accompany him on these daily visits.
Mr.Laurie came now and then to see how Charlie got on, and spoke of having him broken to harness in the autumn.
"He won't need much taming, he is such a gentle, fine-tempered brute.

I shall come out and try him with a saddle myself some day," he said, on one of these visits.
"He lets me put a halter on him, but I don't believe he will bear a saddle even if you put it on," answered Dan, who never failed to be present when Charlie and his master met.
"I shall coax him to bear it, and not mind a few tumbles at first.

He has never been harshly treated, so, though he will be surprised at the new performance, I think he won't be frightened, and his antics will do no harm." "I wonder what he would do," said Dan to himself, as Mr.Laurie went away with the Professor, and Charlie returned to the bars, from which he had retired when the gentlemen came up.
A daring fancy to try the experiment took possession of the boy as he sat on the topmost rail with the glossy back temptingly near him.
Never thinking of danger, he obeyed the impulse, and while Charlie unsuspectingly nibbled at the apple he held, Dan quickly and quietly took his seat.

He did not keep it long, however, for with an astonished snort, Charlie reared straight up, and deposited Dan on the ground.

The fall did not hurt him, for the turf was soft, and he jumped up, saying, with a laugh, "I did it anyway! Come here, you rascal, and I'll try it again." But Charlie declined to approach, and Dan left him resolving to succeed in the end; for a struggle like this suited him exactly.