greyfriars bobby-第10节

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onsole　the　self…accusing　man。

〃Could　I　no'？　Ye　dinna　ken　me　as　weel　as　ye　micht。〃　The　disgusted　landlord　tumbled　into　broad　Scotch。　〃Gie　me　to　do　it　ance　mair；　an'　I'd　chairge　Auld　Jock　wi'　thievin'　ma　siller；　wi'　a　wink　o'　the　ee　at　the　police　to　mak'　them　ken　I　was　leein'；　an'　syne　they'd　hae　hustled　'im　aff；　willy…nilly；　to　a　snug　bed。〃

The　energetic　little　man　looked　so　entirely　capable　of　any　daring　deed　that　he　fired　the　caretaker　into　enthusiastic　search　for　Bobby。　It　was　not　entirely　dark；　for　the　sky　was　studded　with　stars；　snow　lay　in　broad　patches　on　the　slope；　and　all　about　the　lower　end　of　the　kirkyard　supper　candles　burned　at　every　rear　window　of　the　tall　tenements。

The　two　men　searched　among　the　near…by　slabs　and　table…tombs　and　scattered　thorn　bushes。　They　circled　the　monument　to　all　the　martyrs　who　had　died　heroically；　in　the　Grassmarket　and　elsewhere；　for　their　faith。　They　hunted　in　the　deep　shadows　of　the　buttresses　along　the　side　of　the　auld　kirk　and　among　the　pillars　of　the　octagonal　portico　to　the　new。　At　the　rear　of　the　long；　low　building；　that　was　clumsily　partitioned　across　for　two　pulpits；　stood　the　ornate　tomb　of　〃Bluidy〃　McKenzie。　But　Bobby　had　not　committed　himself　to　the　mercy　of　the　hanging　judge；　nor　yet　to　the　care　of　the　doughty　minister；　who；　from　the　pulpit　of　Greyfriars　auld　kirk；　had　flung　the　blood　and　tear　stained　Covenant　in　the　teeth　of　persecution。

The　search　was　continued　past　the　modest　Scott　family　burial　plot　and　on　to　the　west　wall。　There　was　a　broad　outlook　over　Heriot's　Hospital　grounds；　a　smooth　and　shining　expanse　of　unsullied　snow　about　the　early　Elizabethan　pile　of　buildings。　Returning；　they　skirted　the　lowest　wall　below　the　tenements；　for　in　the　circling　line　of　courtyarded　vaults；　where　the　〃nobeelity〃　of　Scotland　lay　haughtily　apart　under　timestained　marbles；　were　many　shadowy　nooks　in　which　so　small　a　dog　could　stow　himself　away。　Skulking　cats　were　flushed　there；　and　sent　flying　over　aristocratic　bones；　but　there　was　no　trace　of　Bobby。

The　second　tier　of　windows　of　the　tenements　was　level　with　the　kirkyard　wall；　and　several　times　Mr。　Traill　called　up　to　a　lighted　casement　where　a　family　sat　at　a　scant　supper

〃Have　you　seen　a　bit　dog；　man？〃

There　was　much　cordial　interest　in　his　quest；　windows　opening　and　faces　staring　into　the　dusk；　but　not　until　near　the　top　of　the　Row　was　a　clue　gained。　Then；　at　the　query；　an　unkempt；　illclad　lassie　slipped　from　her　stool　and　leaned　out　over　the　pediment　of　a　tomb。　She　had　seen　a　〃wee；　wee　doggie　jinkin'　amang　the　stanes。〃　It　was　on　the　Sabbath　evening；　when　the　well…dressed　folk　had　gone　home　from　the　afternoon　services。　She　was　eating　her　porridge　at　the　window；　〃by　her　lane；〃　when　he　〃keeked　up　at　her　so　knowing；　and　begged　so　bonny；〃　that　she　balanced　her　bit　bowl　on　a　lath；　and　pushed　it　over　on　the　kirkyard　wall。　As　she　finished　the　story　the　big；　blue　eyes　of　the　little　maid；　who　doubtless　had　herself　known　what　it　was　to　be　hungry；　filled　with　tears。

〃The　wee　tyke　couldna　loup　up　to　it；　an'　a　deil　o'　a　pussy　got　it　a'。　He　was　so　bonny；　like　a　leddy's　pet；　an'　syne　he　fell　ower　on　the　snaw　an'　creepit　awa'。　He　didna　cry　oot；　but　he　was　a'　but　deid　wi'　hunger。〃　At　the　memory　of　it　soft…hearted　Ailie　Lindsey　sobbed　on　her　mother's　shoulder。

The　tale　was　retold　from　one　excited　window　to　another；　all　the　way　around　and　all　the　way　up　to　the　gables；　so　quickly　could　some　incident　of　human　interest　make　a　social　gathering　in　the　populous　tenements。　Most　of　all；　the　children　seized　upon　the　touching　story。　Eager　and　pinched　little　faces　peered　wistfully　into　the　melancholy　kirkyard。

〃Is　he　yer　ain　dog？〃　crippled　Tammy　Barr　piped　out；　in　his　thin　treble。　〃Gin　I　had　a　bonny　wee　dog　I'd　gie　'im　ma　ain　brose；　an'　cuddle　'im；　an'　he　couldna　gang　awa'。〃

〃Nae；　laddie；　he's　no'　my　dog。　His　master　lies　buried　here；　and　the　leal　Highlander　mourns　for　him。〃　With　keener　appreciation　of　its　pathos；　Mr。　Traill　recalled　that　this　was　what　Auld　Jock　had　said：　〃Bobby　isna　ma　ain　dog。〃　And　he　was　conscious　of　wishing　that　Bobby　was　his　own；　with　his　unpurchasable　love　and　a　loyalty　to　face　starvation。　As　he　mounted　the　turfed　terraces　he　thought　to　call　back：

〃If　you　see　him　again；　lassie；　call　him　'Bobby；'　and　fetch　him　up　to　Greyfriars　Dining…Rooms。　I　have　a　bright　siller　shulling；　with　the　Queen's　bonny　face　on　it；　to　give　the　bairn　that　finds　Bobby。〃

There　was　excited　comment　on　this。　He　must；　indeed；　be　an　attractive　dog　to　be　worth　a　shilling。　The　children　generously　shared　plans　for　capturing　Bobby。　But　presently　the　windows　were　closed；　and　supper　was　resumed。　The　caretaker　was　irritable。

〃Noo；　ye'll　hae　them　a'　oot　swarmin'　ower　the　kirkyaird。　There's　nae　coontin'　the　bairns　o'　the　neeborhood；　an'　nane　o'　them　are　so　weel　broucht　up　as　they　micht　be。〃

Mr。　Traill　commented　upon　this　philosophically：　〃A　bairn　is　like　a　dog　in　mony　ways。　Tak'　a　stick　to　one　or　the　other　and　he'll　misbehave。　The　children　here　are　poor　and　neglected；　but　they're　no'　vicious　like　the　awfu'　imps　of　the　Cowgate；　wha'd　steal　from　their　blind　grandmithers。　Get　on　the　gude　side　of　the　bairns；　man；　and　you'll　live　easier　and　die　happier。〃

It　seemed　useless　to　search　the　much　longer　arm　of　the　kirkyard　that　ran　southward　behind　the　shops　of　Greyfriars　Place　and　Forest　Road。　If　Bobby　was　in　the　enclosure　at　all　he　would　not　be　far　from　Auld　Jock's　grave。　Nearest　the　new…made　mound　were　two　very　old　and　dark　table…tombs。　The　farther　one　lay　horizontally；　on　its　upright　〃through　stanes；〃　some　distance　above　the　earth。　The　supports　of　the　other　had　fallen；　and　the　table　lay　on　their　thickness　within　six　inches　of　the　ground。　Mr。　Traill　and　the　caretaker　sat　upon　this　slab；　which　testified　to　the　piety　and　worth　of　one　Mistress　Jean　Grant；　who　had　died　〃lang　syne。〃

Encroached　upon；　as　it　was；　by　unlovely　life；　Greyfriars　kirkyard　was　yet　a　place　of　solitude　and　peace。　The　building　had　the　dignity　that　only　old　age　can　give。　It　had　lost　its　tower　by　an　explosion　of　gunpowder　stored　there　in　war　time；　and　its　walls　and　many　of　the　ancient　tombs　bore　the　marks　of　fire　and　shot。　Within　the　last　decade　some　of　the　Gothic　openings　had　been　filled　with　beautiful　memorial　windows。　Despite　the　horrors　and　absurdities　and　mutilation　of　much　of　the　funeral　sculpturing；　the　kirkyard　had　a　sad　distinction；　such　as　became　its　fame　as　Scotland's　Westminster。　And；　there　was　one　heavenward　outlook　and　heavenly　view。　Over　the　tallest　decaying　tenement　one　could　look　up　to　the　Castle　of　dreams　on　the　crag；　and　drop　the　glance　all　the　way　down　the　pinnacled　crest　of　High　Street；　to　the　dark　and　deserted　Palace　of　Holyrood。　After　nightfall　the　turreted　heights　wore　a　luminous　crown；　and　the　steep　ridge　up　to　it　twinkled　with　myriad　lights。　After　a　time　the　caretaker　offered　a　well…considered　opinion。

〃The　dog　maun　hae　left　the　kirkyaird。　Thae　terriers　are　aye　barkin'。　It'd　be　maist　michty　noo；　gin　he'd　be　so　lang　i'　the　kirkyaird；　an'　no'　mak'　a　blatterin'。〃

As　a　man　of　superior　knowledge　Mr。　Traill　found　pleasure　in　upsetting　this　theory。　〃The　Highland　breed　are　no'　like　ordinar'　terriers。　Noisy　enough　to　deave　one；　by　nature；　give　a　bit　Skye　a　reason　and　he'll　lie　a'　the　day　under　a　whin　bush　on　the　brae；　as　canny　as　a　fox。　You　gave　Bobby　a　reason　for　hiding　here　by　turning　him　out。　And　Auld　Jock　was　a　vera　releegious　man。　It　would　no'　be　surprising　if　he　taught　Bobby　to　hold　his　tongue　in　a　kirkyard。〃

〃Man；　he　did　that　vera　thing。〃　James　Brown　brought　his　fist　down　on　his　knee；　for　suddenly　he　identified　Bobby　as　the　snappy　little　ruffian　that　had　chased　the　cat　and　bitten　his　shins；　and　Auld　Jock　as　the　scandalized　shepherd　who　had　rebuked　the　dog　so　bitterly。　He　related　the　incident　with　gusto。

〃The　auld　man　cried　oot　on　the　misbehavin'　tyke　to　haud　'is　gab。　Syne；　ye　ne'er　saw　the　bit　dog's　like　for　a　bairn　that'd　haen　a　lickin'。　He'd　'a'　gaen　into　a　pit；　gin　there'd　been　ane；　an'　pu'd　it　in　ahind　'im。　I　turned　'em　baith　oot；　an'　told　'em　no'　to　come　back。　Eh；　man；　it's　fearsome　hoo　ilka　body　comes　to　a　kirkyaird；　toes　afore　'im；　in　a　long　box。〃

Mr。　Brown　was　sobered　by　this　grim　thought　and　then；　in　his　turn；　he　confessed　a　slip　to　this　tolerant　man　of　the　world。　〃The　wee　deil　o'　a　sperity　dog　nipped　me　so　I　let　oot　an　aith。〃

〃Ay；　that's　Bobby。　He　would　no'　be　afraid　of　onything　with　hide　or　hair　on　it。　Man；　the　Skye　terriers　go　into　dens　of　foxes　and　wildcats；　and　worry　bulls　till　they　tak'　to　their　heels。　And　Bobby's　sagacious　by　the　ordinar'。〃　He　thought　intently　for　a　moment；　and　then　spoke　naturally；　and　much　as　Auld　Jock　himself　might　have　spoken　to　the　dog。

〃Whaur　are　ye；　Bobby？　Come　awa'　oot；　laddie！〃

Instantly　the　little　dog　stood　before　him　like　some　conjured　ghost。　He　had　slipped　from　under　the　slab　on　which　they　were　sitting。　It　lay　so　near　the　ground；　and　in　such　a　mat　of　dead　grass；　that　it　had　not　occurred　to　them　to　look　for　him　there。　He　came　up　to　Mr。　Traill　confidently；　submitted　to　having　his　head　patted；　and　looked　pleadingly　at　the　caretaker。　Then；　thinking　he　had　permission　to　do　so；　he　lay　down　on　the　mound。　James　Brown　dropped　his　pipe。

〃It's　maist　michty！〃　he　said。

Mr。　Traill　got　to　his　feet　briskl