The air was oppressively still and hot.

"What can it be?" inquired Dick, looking at Joe, who

was gazing with an expression of wonder, not unmixed

with concern, at the southern sky.

"Dun'no', boy. I've bin more in the woods than in

the clearin' in my day, but I niver heerd the likes o'

that."

"It am like t'ondre," said Henri; "mais it nevair do

stop."

This was true. The sound was similar to continuous,