greyfriars bobby-第12节

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　they'd　gie　me　twa　more　awfu'　aces；　an'　black　marks　for　a　month；　at　Heriot's。〃



V。

Word　had　been　left　at　all　the　inns　and　carting　offices　about　both　markets　for　the　tenant　of　Cauldbrae　farm　to　call　at　Mr。　Traill's　place　for　Bobby。　The　man　appeared　Wednesday　afternoon；　driving　a　big　Clydesdale　horse　to　a　stout　farm　cart。　The　low…ceiled　dining…room　suddenly　shrank　about　the　big…boned；　long　legged　hill　man。　The　fact　embarrassed　him；　as　did　also　a　voice　cultivated　out　of　all　proportion　to　town　houses；　by　shouting　to　dogs　and　shepherds　on　windy　shoulders　of　the　Pentlands。

〃Hae　ye　got　the　dog　wi'　ye？〃

Mr。　Train　pointed　to　Bobby；　deep　in　a　blissful；　after　dinner　nap　under　the　settle。

The　farmer　breathed　a　sigh　of　relief；　sat　at　a　table；　and　ate　a　frugal　meal　of　bread　and　cheese。　As　roughly　dressed　as　Auld　Jock；　in　a　metal…buttoned　greatcoat　of　hodden　gray；　a　woolen　bonnet；　and　the　shepherd's　twofold　plaid；　he　was　a　different　species　of　human　being　altogether。　A　long；　lean；　sinewy　man　of　early　middle　age；　he　had　a　smooth…shaven；　bony　jaw；　far…seeing　gray　eyes　under　furzy　brows；　and　a　shock　of　auburn　hair。　When　he　spoke；　it　was　to　give　bits　out　of　his　own　experience。

〃Thae　terriers　are　usefu'　eneugh　on　an　ordinar'　fairm　an'　i'　the　toon　to　keep　awa'　the　vermin；　but　I　wadna　gie　a　twa…penny…bit　for　ane　o'　them　on　a　sheep…fairm。　There's　a　wee　lassie　at　Cauldbrae　wha　wants　Bobby　for　a　pet。　It　wasna　richt　for　Auld　Jock　to　win　'im　awa'　frae　the　bairn。〃

Mr。　Traill's　hand　was　lifted　in　rebuke。　〃Speak　nae　ill；　man；　Auld　Jock's　dead。〃

The　farmer's　ruddy　face　blanched　and　he　dropped　his　knife。　〃He's　no'　buried　so　sane？〃

〃Ay；　he's　buried　four　days　since　in　Greyfriars　kirkyard；　and　Bobby　has　slept　every　night　on　the　auld　man's　grave。〃

〃I'll　juist　tak'　a　leuk　at　the　grave；　moil；　gin　ye'll　hae　an　ee　on　the　dog。〃

Mr。　Traill　cautioned　him　not　to　let　the　caretaker　know　that　Bobby　had　continued　to　sleep　in　the　kirkyard；　after　having　been　put　out　twice。　The　farmer　was　back　in　ten　minutes；　with　a　canny　face　that　defied　reading。　He　lighted　his　short　Dublin　pipe　and　smoked　it　out　before　he　spoke　again。

〃It's　ower　grand　for　a　puir　auld　shepherd　body　to　be　buried　i'　Greyfriars。〃

〃No'　so　grand　as　heaven；　I'm　thinking。〃　Mr。　Traill's　response　was　dry。

〃Ay；　an'　we're　a'　coontin'　on　gangin'　there；　but　it's　a　prood　thing　to　hae　yer　banes　put　awa'　in　Greyfriars；　ance　ye're　through　wi'　'em！〃

〃Nae　doubt　the　gude　auld　man　would　rather　be　alive　on　the　Pentland　braes　than　dead　in　Greyfriars。〃

〃Ay；〃　the　farmer　admitted。　〃He　was　fair　fond　o'　the　hills；　an'　no'　likin'　the　toon。　An'；　moil；　he　was　a　wonder　wi'　the　lambs。　He'd　gang　wi'　a　collie　ower　miles　o'　country　in　roarin'　weather；　an'　he'd　aye　fetch　the　lost　sheep　hame。　The　auld　moil　was　nane　so　weel　furnished　i'　the　heid；　but　bairnies　and　beasts　were　unco'　fond　o'　'im。　It　wasna　his　fau't　that　Bobby　was　aye　at　his　heels。　The　lassie　wad　'a'　been　after'im；　gin　'er　mither　had　permeeted　it。〃

Mr。　Traill　asked　him　why　he　had　let　so　valuable　a　man　go；　and　the　farmer　replied　at　once　that　he　was　getting　old　and　could　no　longer　do　the　winter　work。　To　any　but　a　Scotchman　brought　up　near　the　sheep　country　this　would　have　sounded　hard；　but　Mr。　Traill　knew　that　the　farmers　on　the　wild；　tipped…up　moors　were　themselves　hard　pressed　to　meet　rent　and　taxes。　To　keep　a　shepherd　incapacitated　by　age　and　liable　to　lose　a　flock　in　a　snow…storm；　was　to　invite　ruin。　And　presently　the　man　showed；　unwittingly；　how　sweet　a　kernel　the　heart　may　lie　under　the　shell　of　sordid　necessity。

〃I　didna　ken　the　auld　man　was　fair　ill　or　he　micht　hae　bided　at　the　fairm　an'　tak'n　'is　ain　time　to　dee　at　'is　ease。〃

As　Bobby　unrolled　and　stretched　to　an　awakening；　the　farmer　got　up；　took　him　unaware　and　thrust　him　into　a　covered　basket。　He　had　no　intention　of　letting　the　little　creature　give　him　the　slip　again。　Bobby　howled　at　the　indignity；　and　struggled　and　tore　at　the　stout　wickerwork。　It　went　to　Mr。　Traill's　heart　to　hear　him；　and　to　see　the　gallant　little　dog　so　defenseless。　He　talked　to　him　through　the　latticed　cover　all　the　way　out　to　the　cart；　telling　him　Auld　Jock　meant　for　him　to　go　home。　At　that　beloved　name；　Bobby　dropped　to　the　bottom　of　the　basket　and　cried　in　such　a　heartbroken　way　that　tears　stood　in　the　landlord's　eyes；　and　even　the　farmer　confessed　to　a　sudden　〃cauld　in　'is　heid。〃

〃I'd　gie　'im　to　ye；　mon；　gin　it　wasna　that　the　bit　lassie　wad　greet　her　bonny　een　oot　gin　I　didna　fetch　'im　hame。　Nae　boot　the　bit　tyke　wad　'a'　deed　gin　ye　hadna　fed　'im。〃

〃Eh；　man；　he'll　no'　bide　with　me；　or　I'd　be　bargaining　for　him。　And　he'll　no'　be　permitted　to　live　in　the　kirkyard。　I　know　naething　in　this　life　more　pitiful　than　a　masterless；　hameless　dog。〃　And　then；　to　delay　the　moment　of　parting　with　Bobby；　who　stopped　crying　and　began　to　lick　his　hand　in　frantic　appeal　through　a　hole　in　the　basket；　Mr。　Traill　asked　how　Bobby　came　by　his　name。

〃It　was　a　leddy　o'　the　neeborhood　o'　Swanston。　She　cam'　drivin'　by　Cauldbrae　i'　her　bit　cart　wi'　shaggy　Shetlands　to　it　an'　stapped　at　the　dairy　for　a　drink　o'　buttermilk　frae　the　kirn。　Syne　she　saw　the　sonsie　puppy　loupin'　at　Auld　Jock's　heels；　bonny　as　a　poodle；　but　mair　knowin'。　The　leddy　gied　me　a　poond　note　for　'im。　I　put　'im　up　on　the　seat；　an'　she　said　that　noo　she　had　a　smart　Hieland　groom　to　match　'er　Hieland　steeds；　an'　she　flicked　the　ponies　wi'　'er　whup。　Syne　the　bit　dog　was　on　the　airth　an'　flyin'　awa'　doon　the　road　like　the　deil　was　after　'im。　An'　the　leddy　lauched　an'　lauched；　an'　went　awa'　wi'oot　'im。　At　the　fut　o'　the　brae　she　was　still　lauchin'；　an'　she　ca'ed　back：　'Gie　'im　the　name　o'　Bobby；　gude　mon。　He's　left　the　plow…tail　an's　aff　to　Edinburgh　to　mak'　his　fame　an'　fortune。'　I　didna　ken　what　the　leddy　meant。〃

〃Man；　she　meant　he　was　like　Bobby　Burns。〃

Here　was　a　literary　flavor　that　gave　added　attraction　to　a　man　who　sat　at　the　feet　of　the　Scottish　muses。　The　landlord　sighed　as　he　went　back　to　the　doorway；　and　he　stood　there　listening　to　the　clatter　of　the　cart　and　rough…shod　horse　and　to　the　mournful　howling　of　the　little　dog；　until　the　sounds　died　away　in　Forest　Road。

Mr。　Traill　would　have　been　surprised　to　know；　perhaps；　that　the　confines　of　the　city　were　scarcely　passed　before　Bobby　stopped　protesting　and　grieving　and　settled　down　patiently　to　more　profitable　work。　A　human　being　thus　kidnapped　and　carried　away　would　have　been　quite　helpless。　But　Bobby　fitted　his　mop　of　a　black　muzzle　into　the　largest　hole　of　his　wicker　prison；　and　set　his　useful　little　nose　to　gathering　news　of　his　whereabouts。

If　it　should　happen　to　a　dog　in　this　day　to　be　taken　from　Ye　Olde　Greyfriars　Dining…Rooms　and　carried　southward　out　of　Edinburgh　there　would　be　two　miles　or　more　of　city　and　suburban　streets　to　be　traversed　before　coming　to　the　open　country。　But　a　half　century　or　more　ago　one　could　stand　at　the　upper　gate　of　Greyfriars　kirkyard　or　Heriot's　Hospital　grounds　and　look　down　a　slope　dotted　with　semi…rustic　houses；　a　village　or　two　and　water…mills；　and　then　cultivated　farms；　all　the　way　to　a　stone…bridged　burn　and　a　toll…bar　at　the　bottom　of　the　valley。　This　hillside　was　the　ancient　Burghmuir　where　King　James　of　old　gathered　a　great　host　of　Scots　to　march　and　fight　and　perish　on　Flodden　Field。

Bobby　had　not　gone　this　way　homeward　before；　and　was　puzzled　by　the　smell　of　prosperous　little　shops；　and　by　the　park…like　odors　from　college　campuses　to　the　east；　and　from　the　well…kept　residence　park　of　George　Square。　But　when　the　cart　rattled　across　Lauriston　Place　he　picked　up　the　familiar　scents　of　milk　and　wool　from　the　cattle　and　sheep　market；　and　then　of　cottage　dooryards；　of　turned　furrows　and　of　farmsteads。

The　earth　wears　ever　a　threefold　garment　of　beauty。　The　human　person　usually　manages　to　miss　nearly　everything　but　the　appearance　of　things。　A　few　of　us　are　so　fortunate　as　to　have　ears　attuned　to　the　harmonies　woven　on　the　wind　by　trees　and　birds　and　water；　but　the　tricky　weft　of　odors　that　lies　closest　of　all；　enfolding　the　very　bosom　of　the　earth；　escapes　us。　A　little　dog；　traveling　with　his　nose　low；　lives　in　another　stratum　of　the　world；　and　experiences　other　pleasures　than　his　master。　He　has　excitements　that　he　does　his　best　to　share；　and　that　send　him　flying　in　pursuit　of　phantom　clues。

From　the　top　of　the　Burghmuir　it　was　easy　going　to　Bobby。　The　snow　had　gone　off　in　a　thaw；　releasing　a　multitude　of　autumnal　aromas。　There　was　a　smell　of　birch　and　beech　buds　sealed　up　in　gum；　of　berries　clotted　on　the　rowan…trees；　and　of　balsam　and　spice　from　plantations　of　Highland　firs　and　larches。　The　babbling　water　of　the　burn　was　scented　with　the　dead　bracken　of　glens　down　which　it　foamed。　Even　the　leafless　hedges　had　their　woody　odors；　and　stone　dykes　their　musty　smell　of　decaying　mosses　and　lichens。

Bobby　knew　the　pause　at　the　toll…bar　in　the　valley；　and　the　mixed　odors　of　many　passing　horses　and　men；　there。　He　knew　the　smells　of　poultry　and　cheese　at　a　dairy…farm；　of　hunting　dogs　and　riding…leathers　at　a　sportsman's　trysting　inn；　and　of　grist　and　polluted　water　at　a　mill。　And　after　passing　the　hilltop　toll…bar　of　Fairmilehead；　dipping　across　a　narrow　valley　and　rounding　the　base　of　a　sentinel　peak；　many　tame　odors　were　left　behind。　At　the　bu