`` I 'd keep him shut up until I broke him of the habit of playing truant , if I were you , '' said Will , as they turned into the lane . `` Don hates to be shut up , howls all the time so mournfully that I ca n't stand it , '' responded Curtis . `` Well , '' said Will , hesitatingly , `` maybe that would be better after all than letting him stray away with other dogs who may teach him bad habits . I saw Don myself one evening last week ambling down the Harbour road with that big brown dog of Sam Ventnor 's . Ventnor 's dog is beginning to have a bad reputation , you know . There have been several sheep worried lately , and -- '' `` Don would n't touch a sheep ! '' interrupted Curtis hotly . `` I daresay not , not yet . But Ventnor 's dog is under suspicion , and if Don runs with him he 'll learn the trick sure as preaching . The farmers are growling a good bit already , and if they hear of Don and Ventnor 's dog going about in company , they 'll put it on them both . Better keep Don shut up awhile , let him howl as he likes . '' `` I believe I will , '' said Curtis soberly . `` I do n't want Don to fall under suspicion of sheep-worrying , though I 'm sure he would never do it . Anyhow , I do n't want him to run with Ventnor 's dog . I 'll chain him up in the barn when I go home . I could n't stand it if anything happened to Don . After you , he 's the only chum I 've got -- and he 's a good one . '' Will agreed . He was almost as fond of Don as Curtis was . But he did not feel so sure that the dog would not worry a sheep .
Will knew XXXXX Don was suspected already , but he did not like to tell Curtis so .
After in into on than that to under until with