Then his eye fell on Dick and Crusoe sitting by their little fire.

Charlie looked hard at them, and then again at the horizon; and then, coming to the conclusion, no doubt, that the matter was quite beyond his comprehension, he quietly took to feeding.
Dick availed himself of the chance, and tried to catch him; but he spent an hour with Crusoe in the vain attempt, and at last they gave it up in disgust and returned to the fire, where they finished their supper and went to bed.
Next morning they saw Charlie feeding close at hand, so they took breakfast, and tried to catch him again.

But it was of no use; he was evidently coquetting with them, and dodged about and defied their utmost efforts, for there were only a few inches of line hanging to his head.

At last it occurred to Dick that he would try the experiment of forsaking him.

So he packed up his things, rolled up the buffalo robe, threw it and the rifle on his shoulder, and walked deliberately away.
"Come along, Crusoe!" he cried, after walking a few paces.
But Crusoe stood by the fire with his head up, and an expression on his face that said, "Hallo, man! what's wrong?
You've forgot Charlie! Hold on! Are you mad ?" "Come here, Crusoe!" cried his master in a decided tone.
Crusoe obeyed at once.