As they started up with strained ears there came floating on the wind faint but unmistakable sounds that somehow thrilled the listeners through and through.
[CHAPTER XIII—THE MYSTERY OF THE PINE WOODS]
“What in the dickens can it all mean?” exclaimed Ethan Allen.
“I’m all up in the air about it,” admitted Lub, helplessly.
“I heard several shots from guns!” declared X-Ray Tyson, positively enough.
“Yes, we all did,” affirmed Phil; “and there was a howl in the bargain that sounded to me like that of a dog.”
“Whew! I bet you one of their animals has gone mad, and had to be shot!” burst out Lub, in still further excitement.
“What, at this season of the year?” cried X-Ray; “I thought curs only went mad in the heat of summer, and that was why they called a part of August the dog days.”
“That isn’t a fact, is it, Phil?” appealed Lub.
“They used to think so,” came the reply, “but of late it’s been learned that the heat has little if anything to do with a dog going mad. Because they always run with their tongues hanging out people had an idea the heat affected them. On the contrary the very sight of water causes a mad dog to go into spasms. It’s just a terrible disease, and in cities is said to be more frequent in winter than in summer.”