"Who's been a-chasing you?
What scared you ?" "Read that notice, sir, tacked up at the bridge entrance," urged Dick.
Alighting, and drawing a pair of spectacles from a vest pocket, the farmer complied.
"Mad dog, eh ?" he drawled.

"Sho!" "Did you see anything of the brute ?" called Darry.
"No; I didn't," answered the farmer.

"Don't believe there is any mad dog along the way, either.

I've reined up and talked with neighbors during the last hour and a half along the way.
They didn't mention nothin' 'bout any peevish dogs.

Now, it stands to reason that the officers would have stopped and warned folks along the road, don't it?
And the neighbors would have passed the gossip with me, wouldn't they ?" "Didn't you see any officers coming from this way ?" asked Dick.
"Nary one," rejoined the farmer.