I'm in my backyard, and I think I hear somebody shout, "Help!"

It's faint: it could be a block or two away, and I'm not sure I've heard right

Listening, I hear it again -- and after a pause, again

The voice might sound teenaged, and it could be across the street. I can't tell if sounds weak but urgent, or if it's somebody's stupid idea of a joke. And I'm still not sure I'm hearing it right

So I start walking around my house, with my ears pricked up. I stand a moment in my driveway

There it is again: it's coming from near the house across the street, and it's insistent

It's getting louder and more insistent too, so I start walking towards their place

At the edge of the long driveway, I hear it again: "Help!" and a pause, and then "Help!" again

The cry is coming from the high thick brush that covers the hill down towards the slope

I walk up the driveway towards the house

When I'm at the cars, I hear "Help!" loud and distinct and urgent from the brush

"Are you all right?" I shout into the vegetation

"What?"

"I heard somebody yelling," I say

"Oh, I'm looking for my dog," comes the reply

I apologize for intruding and head back

Now I'm wondering if he named his other dog "Police!"