greyfriars bobby-第11节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　James　Brown　dropped　his　pipe。

〃It's　maist　michty！〃　he　said。

Mr。　Traill　got　to　his　feet　briskly。　〃I'll　just　tak'　the　dog　with　me；　Mr。　Brown。　On　marketday　I'll　find　the　farmer　that　owns　him　and　send　him　hame。　As　you　say；　a　kirkyard's　nae　place　for　a　dog　to　be　living　neglected。　Come　awa'；　Bobby。〃

Bobby　looked　up；　but；　as　he　made　no　motion　to　obey；　Mr。　Traill　stooped　and　lifted　him。

From　sheer　surprise　at　this　unexpected　move　the　little　dog　lay　still　a　moment　on　the　man's　arm。　Then；　with　a　lithe　twist　of　his　muscular　body　and　a　spring；　he　was　on　the　ground；　trembling；　reproachful　for　the　breach　of　faith；　but　braced　for　resistance。

〃Eh；　you're　no'　going？〃　Mr。　Traill　put　his　hands　in　his　pockets；　looked　down　at　Bobby　admiringly；　and　sighed。　〃There's　a　dog　after　my　ain　heart；　and　he'll　have　naething　to　do　with　me。　He　has　a　mind　of　his　ain。　I'll　just　have　to　be　leaving　him　here　the　two　days；　Mr。　Brown。〃

〃Ye　wullna　leave　'im！　Ye'll　tak'　'im　wi'　ye；　or　I'll　hae　to　put　'im　oot。　Man；　I　couldna　haud　the　place　gin　I　brak　the　rules。〃

〃Youwillno'puttheweedogout！〃　Mr。　Traill　shook　a　playful；　emphatic　finger　under　the　big　man's　nose。

〃Why　wull　I　no'？〃

〃Because；　man；　you　have　a　vera　soft　heart；　and　you　canna　deny　it。〃　It　was　with　a　genial；　confident　smile　that　Mr。　Traill　made　this　terrible　accusation。

〃Ma　heart's　no'　so　saft　as　to　permit　a　bit　dog　to　scandalize　the　deid。〃

〃He's　been　here　two　days；　you　no'　knowing　it；　and　he　has　scandalized　neither　the　dead　nor　the　living。　He's　as　leal　as　ony　Covenanter　here；　and　better　conducted　than　mony　a　laird。　He's　no　the　quarrelsome　kind；　but；　man；　for　a　principle　he'd　fight　like　auld　Clootie。〃　Here　the　landlord's　heat　gave　way　to　pure　enjoyment　of　the　situation。　〃Eh；　I'd　like　to　see　you　put　him　out。　It　would　be　another　Flodden　Field。〃

The　angry　caretaker　shrugged　his　broad　shoulders。

〃Ye　can　see　it；　gin　ye　stand　by；　in　juist　one　meenit。　Fecht　as　he　may；　it　wull　soon　be　ower。〃

Mr。　Traill　laughed　easily；　and　ventured　the　opinion　that　Mr。　Brown's　bark　was　worse　than　his　bite。　As　he　went　through　the　gateway　he　could　not　resist　calling　back　a　challenge：　〃I　daur　you　to　do　it。〃

Mr。　Brown　locked　the　gate；　went　sulkily　into　the　lodge；　lighted　his　cutty　pipe；　and　smoked　it　furiously。　He　read　a　Psalm　with　deliberation；　poked　up　an　already　bright　fire；　and　glowered　at　his　placid　gude　wife。　It　was　not　to　be　borneto　be　defied　by　a　ten…inch…high　terrier；　and　dared；　by　a　man　a　third　under　his　own　weight；　to　do　his　duty。　After　an　hour　or　so　he　worked　himself　up　to　the　point　of　going　out　and　slamming　the　door。

At　eight　o'clock　Mr。　Traill　found　Bobby　on　the　pavement　outside　the　locked　gate。　He　was　not　sorry　that　the　fortunes　of　unequal　battle　had　thrown　the　faithful　little　dog　on　his　hospitality。　Bobby　begged　piteously　to　be　put　inside；　but　he　seemed　to　understand　at　last　that　the　gate　was　too　high　for　Mr。　Traill　to　drop　him　over。　He　followed　the　landlord　up　to　the　restaurant　willingly。　He　may　have　thought　this　champion　had　another　solution　of　the　difficulty；　for　when　he　saw　the　man　settle　comfortably　in　a　chair　he　refused　to　lie　on　the　hearth。　He　ran　to　the　door　and　back；　and　begged　and　whined　to　be　let　out。　For　a　long　time　he　stood　dejectedly。　He　was　not　sullen；　for　he　ate　a　light　supper　and　thanked　his　host　with　much　polite　wagging；　and　he　even　allowed　himself　to　be　petted。　Suddenly　he　thought　of　something；　trotted　briskly　off　to　a　corner　and　crouched　there。

Mr。　Traill　watched　the　attractive　little　creature　with　interest　and　growing　affection。　Very　likely　he　indulged　in　a　day…dream　that；　perhaps；　the　tenant　of　Cauldbrae　farm　could　be　induced　to　part　with　Bobby　for　a　consideration；　and　that　he　himself　could　win　the　dog　to　transfer　his　love　from　a　cold　grave　to　a　warm　hearth。

With　a　spring　the　rat　was　captured。　A　jerk　of　the　long　head　and　there　was　proof　of　Bobby's　prowess　to　lay　at　his　good　friend's　feet。　Made　much　of；　and　in　a　position　to　ask　fresh　favors；　the　little　dog　was　off　to　the　door　with　cheerful；　staccato　barks。　His　reasoning　was　as　plain　as　print：　〃I　hae　done　ye　a　service；　noo　tak'　me　back　to　the　kirkyaird。〃

Mr。　Traill　talked　to　him　as　he　might　have　reasoned　with　a　bright　bairn。　Bobby　listened　patiently；　but　remained　of　the　same　mind。　At　last　he　moved　away；　disappointed　in　this　human　person；　discouraged；　but　undefeated　in　his　purpose。　He　lay　down　by　the　door。　Mr。　Traill　watched　him；　for　if　any　chance　late　comer　opened　the　door　the　masterless　little　dog　would　be　out　into　the　perils　of　the　street。　Bobby　knew　what　doors　were　for　and；　very　likely；　expected。　some　such　release。　He　waited　a　long　time　patiently。　Then　he　began　to　run　back　and　forth。　He　put　his　paws　upon　Mr。　Traill　and　whimpered　and　cried。　Finally　he　howled。

It　was　a　dreadful；　dismal；　heartbroken　howl　that　echoed　back　from　the　walls。　He　howled　continuously；　until　the　landlord；　quite　distracted；　and…concerned　about　the　peace　of　his　neighbors；　thrust　Bobby　into　the　dark　scullery　at　the　rear；　and　bade　him　stop　his　noise。　For　fully　ten　minutes　the　dog　was　quiet。　He　was　probably　engaged　in　exploring　his　new　quarters　to　find　an　outlet。　Then　he　began　to　howl　again。　It　was　truly　astonishing　that　so　small　a　dog　could　make　so　large　a　noise。

A　battle　was　on　between　the　endurance　of　the　man　and　the　persistence　of　the　terrier。　Mr。　Traill　was　speculating　on　which　was　likely　to　be　victor　in　the　contest；　when　the　front　door　was　opened　and　the　proprietor　of　the　Book　Hunter's　Stall　put　in　a　bare；　bald　head　and　the　abstracted　face　of　the　book…worm　that　is　mildly　amused。

〃Have　you　tak'n　to　a　dog　at　your　time　o'　life；　Mr。　Traill？〃

〃Ay；　man；　and　it　would　be　all　right　if　the　bit　dog　would　just　tak'　to　me。〃

This　pleasantry　annoyed　a　good　man　who　had　small　sense　of　humor；　and　he　remarked　testily　〃The　barkin'　disturbs　my　customers　so　they　canna　read。〃　The　place　was　a　resort　for　student　laddies　who　had　to　be　saving　of　candles。

〃That's　no'　right；〃　the　landlord　admitted；　sympathetically。　〃'Reading　mak'th　a　full　man。'　Eh；　what　a　deeference　to　the　warld　if　Robbie　Burns　had　aye　preferred　a　book　to　a　bottle。〃　The　bookseller　refused　to　be　beguiled　from　his　just　cause　of　complaint　into　the　flowery　meads　of　literary　reminiscences　and　speculations。

〃You'll　stop　that　dog's　cleaving　noise；　Mr。　Traill；　or　I'll　appeal　to　the　Burgh　police。〃

The　landlord　returned　a　bland　and　child…like　smile。　〃You'd　be　weel　within　your　legal　rights　to　do　it；　neebor。〃

The　door　was　shut　with　such　a　business…like　click　that　the　situation　suddenly　became　serious。　Bobby's　vocal　powers；　however；　gave　no　signs　of　diminishing。　Mr。　Traill　quieted　the　dog　for　a　few　moments　by　letting　him　into　the　outer　room；　but　the　swiftness　and　energy　with　which　he　renewed　his　attacks　on　the　door　and　on　the　man's　will　showed　plainly　that　the　truce　was　only　temporary。　He　did　not　know　what　he　meant　to　do　except　that　he　certainly　had　no　intention　of　abandoning　the　little　dog。　To　gain　time　he　put　on　his　hat　and　coat；　picked　Bobby　up；　and　opened　the　door。　The　thought　occurred　to　him　to　try　the　gate　at　the　upper　end　of　the　kirkyard　or；　that　failing；　to　get　into　Heriot's　Hospital　grounds　and　put　Bobby　over　the　wall。　As　he　opened　the　door；　however；　he　heard　Geordie　Ross's　whistle　around　the　bend　in　Forest　Road。

〃Hey；　laddie！〃　he　called。　〃Come　awa'　in　a　meenit。〃　When　the　sturdy　boy　was　inside　and　the　door　safely　shut；　he　began　in　his　most　guileless　and　persuasive　tone：　〃Would　you　like　to　earn　a　shulling；　Geordie？〃

〃Ay；　I　would。　Gie　it　to　me　i'　pennies　an'　ha'pennies；　Maister　Traill。　It　seems　mair；　an'　mak's　a　braw　jinglin'　in　a　pocket。〃

The　price　was　paid　and　the　tale　told。　The　quick　championship　of　the　boy　was　engaged　for　the　gallant　dog；　and　Geordie's　eyes　sparkled　at　the　prospect　of　dark　adventure。　Bobby　was　on　the　floor　listening；　ears　and　eyes；　brambly　muzzle　and　feathered　tail　alert。　He　listened　with　his　whole；　small；　excited　body；　and　hung　on　the　answer　to　the　momentous　question。

〃Is　there　no'　a　way　to　smuggle　the　bit　dog　into　the　kirkyard？〃

It　appeared　that　nothing　was　easier；　〃aince　ye　ken　hoo。〃　Did　Mr。　Traill　know　of　the　internal　highway　through　the　old　Cunzie　Neuk　at　the　bottom　of　the　Row？　One　went　up　the　stairs　on　the　front　to　the　low；　timbered　gallery；　then　through　a　passage　as　black　as　〃Bluidy〃　McKenzie's　heart。　At　the　end　of　that；　one　came　to　a　peep…hole　of　a　window；　set　out　on　wooden　brackets；　that　hung　right　over　the　kirkyard　wall。　From　that　window　Bobby　could　be　dropped　on　a　certain　noble　vault；　from　which　he　could　jump　to　the　ground。

〃Twa　meenits'　wark；　stout　hearts；　sleekit　footstaps；　an'　the　fearsome　deed　is　done；〃　declared　twelve…year…old　Geordie；　whose　sense　of　the　dramatic　matched　his　daring。

But　when　the　deed　was　done；　and　the　two　stood　innocently　on　the　brightly　lighted　approach　to　the　bridge；　Mr。　Traill　had　his　misgivings。　A　well…respected　business　man　and　church…member；　he　felt　uneasy　to　be　at　the　mercy　of　a　laddie　who　might　be　boastful。

〃Geordie；　if　you　tell　onybody　about　this　I'll　have　to　give　you　a　licking。〃

〃I　wullna　tell；〃　Geordie　reassured　him。　〃It's　no'　so　respectable；　an'　syne　ma　mither'd　gie　me　anither　lickin'；　an'　they'd　gie　me　twa　more　awfu'　aces；　an'　black　marks　for　a　month；　at　Heriot's。〃



V。

Word　had