In Where the Red Fern Grows, what was Billy's explanation when his two hounds stopped and stared at him at the beginning of the hunt?The judge saw...

The hunt you are referring to is the runoff of the hunting
contest. Eliminations are over, and Billy's dogs have made it to the finals, along with
two other sets of dogs. The two other teams who have made it to this point are "four of
the finest hounds there are." One of the teams, a pair of handsome walker hounds, have
already won four gold cups in other contests.

When it is
Billy's time to turn his dogs loose, he unties their ropes and holds their collars for a
moment, pulling them close and whispering to them, "This is the last night. I know
you'll do your best." When he lets them go, the dogs run towards the woods, but stop
just as they reach the dark shadows, turn around, and stare straight at Billy for an
instant. The judge, noticing this, recognizes that an extraordinary communication has
occurred, and asks Billy what Old Dan and Little Ann were saying to him. Billy
responds,

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"Nothing that anyone could understand, but I can
feel that they know this hunt is important. They know it just as well as you or I"
(Chapter 16).

Billy is so
close to his dogs that he seems to be able to communicate with them in a way that is
almost uncanny. When he tells them that the hunt has great significance, they somehow
sense what he is saying, and stop for a moment to let him know they
understand.