Yet there was "method in their madness;" for they congregated in a crowd before beginning, and sat down on their haunches.

Then one, which seemed to be the conductor, raised his snout to the sky and uttered a long, low, melancholy wail.

The others took it up by twos and threes, until the whole pack had their noses pointing to the stars and their throats distended to the uttermost, while a prolonged yell filled the air.
Then it sank gradually, one or two (bad performers probably) making a yelping attempt to get it up again at the wrong time.

Again the conductor raised his nose, and out it came--full swing.

There was no vociferous barking.