greyfriars bobby-第15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！
arked him。
As soon as the door of the caretaker's lodge opened he would have to creep under the fallen slab again。 To lie in such a cramped position； hour after hour； day after day； was enough to break the spirit of any warm blooded creature that lives。 It was an exquisite form of torture not long to be endured。 And to get his single meal a day at Mr。 Traill's place Bobby had to watch for the chance opening of the wicket to slip in and out like a thief。 The furtive life is not only perilous； it outrages every feeling of an honest dog。 It is hard for him to live at all without the approval and the cordial consent of men。 The human order hostile； he quickly loses his self…respect and drops to the pariah class。 Already wee Bobby had the look of the neglected。 His pretty coat was dirty and unkempt。 In his run across country； leaves； twigs and burrs had become entangled in his long hair； and his legs and underparts were caked with mire。
Instinctively any dog struggles to escape the fate of the outcast。 By every art he possesses he ingratiates himself with men。 One that has his usefulness in the human scheme of things often is able to make his own terms with life； to win the niche of his choice。 Bobby's one talent that was of practical value to society was his hunting instinct for every small animal that burrows and prowls and takes toll of men's labor。 In Greyfriars kirkyard was work to be done that he could do。 For quite three centuries rats and mice had multiplied in this old sanctuary garden from which cats were chased and dogs excluded。 Every breeze that blew carried challenges to Bobby's offended nose。 Now； in the crisp gray dawn； a big rat came out into the open and darted here and there over the powdering of dry snow that frosted the kirkyard。
A leap； as if released from a spring； and Bobby captured it。 A snap of his long muzzle； a jerk of his stoutly set head； and the victim hung limp from his grip。 And he followed another deeply seated instinct when he carried the slain to Auld Jock's grave。 Trophies of the chase were always to be laid at the feet of the master。
〃Gude dog！ eh； but ye're a bonny wee fechter！〃 Auld Jock had always said after such an exploit； and Bobby had been petted and praised until he nearly wagged his crested tail off with happiness and pride。 Then he had been given some choice tidbit of food as a reward for his prowess。 The farmer of Cauldbrae had on such occasions admitted that Bobby might be of use about barn and dairy； and Mr。 Traill had commended his capture of prowlers in the dining…room。 But Bobby was 〃ower young〃 and had not been 〃put to the vermin〃 as a definite business in life。 He caught a rat； now and then； as he chased rabbits； merely as a diversion。 When he had caught this one he lay down again。 But after a time he got up deliberately and trotted down to the encircling line of old courtyarded tombs。 There were nooks and crannies between and behind these along the wall into which the caretaker could not penetrate with sickle； rake and spade； that formed sheltered runways for rodents。
A long； low； weasel…like dog that could flatten himself on the ground； Bobby squeezed between railings and pedestals； scrambled over fallen fragments of sculptured urns； trumpets； angels' wings； altars； skull and cross…bones； and Latin inscribed scrolls。 He went on his stomach under holly and laurel shrubs； burdocks；thistles； and tangled； dead vines。 Here and there he lay in such rubbish as motionless as the effigies careen on marble biers。 With the growing light grew the heap of the slain on Auld Jock's grave。
Having done his best； Bobby lay down again； worse in appearance than before； but with a stouter heart。 He did not stir； although the shadows fled； the sepulchers stood up around the field of snow； and slabs and shafts camped in ranks on the slope。 Smoke began to curl up from high； clustered chimney…pots； shutters were opened； and scantily clad women had hurried errands on decaying gallery and reeling stairway。 Suddenly the Castle turrets were gilded with pale sunshine； and all the little cells in the tall； old houses hummed and buzzed and clacked with life。 The University bell called scattered students to morning prayers。 Pinched and elfish faces of children appeared at the windows overlooking the kirkyard。 The sparrows had instant news of that； and the little winged beggars fluttered up to the lintels of certain deep…set casements； where ill…fed bairns scattered breakfasts of crumbs。
Bobby watched all this without a movement。 He shivered when the lodge door was heard to open and shut and heavy footsteps crunched on the gravel and snow around the church。 〃Juist fair silly〃 on his quaking legs he stood up； head and tail drooped。 But he held his ground bravely； and when the caretaker sighted him he trotted to meet the man； lifted himself on his hind legs； his short； shagged fore paws on his breast； begging attention and indulgence。 Then he sprawled across the great boots； asking pardon for the liberty he was taking。 At last； all in a flash； he darted back to the grave； sniffed at it； and stood again； head up； plumy tail crested； all excitement； as much as to say：
〃Come awa' ower； man； an' leuk at the brave sicht。〃
If he could have barked； his meaning would have carried more convincingly； but he 〃hauded 'is gab〃 loyally。 And； alas； the caretaker was not to be beguiled。 Mr。 Traill had told him Bobby had been sent back to the hill farm； but here he was； 〃perseestent〃 little rascal； and making some sort of bid for the man's favor。 Mr。 Brown took his pipe out of his mouth in surprised exasperation； and glowered at the dog。
〃Gang awa' oot wi' ye！〃
But Bobby was back again coaxing undauntedly； abasing himself before the angry man； insisting that he had something of interest to show。 The caretaker was literally badgered and cajoled into following him。 One glance at the formidable heap of the slain； and Mr。 Brown dropped to a seat on the slab。
〃Preserve us a'！〃
He stared from the little dog to his victims； turned them over with his stout stick and counted them； and stared again。 Bobby fixed his pleading eyes on the man and stood at strained attention while fate hung in the balance。
〃Guile wark！ Guile wark！ A braw doggie； an' an unco' fechter。 Losh！ but ye're a deil o' a bit dog！〃
All this was said in a tone of astonished comment； so non…committal of feeling that Bobby's tail began to twitch in the stress of his anxiety。 When the caretaker spoke again； after a long； puzzled frowning； it was to express a very human bewilderment and irritation。
〃Noo； what am I gangin' to do wi' ye？〃
Ah； that was encouraging！ A moment before； he had ordered Bobby out in no uncertain tone。 After another moment he referred the question to a higher court。
〃Jeanie； woman； come awa' oot a meenit； wull ye？〃
A hasty pattering of carpet…slippered feet on the creaking snow； around the kirk； and there was the neatest little apple…cheeked peasant woman in Scotland； 〃snod〃 from her smooth； frosted hair； spotless linen mutch and lawn kerchief； to her white； lamb's wool stockings。
〃Here's the bit dog I was tellin' ye aboot； an' see for yersel' what he's done noo。〃
〃The wee beastie couldna do a' that！ It's as muckle as his ain wecht in fou' vermin！〃 she cried。
〃Ay； he did。 Thae terriers are sperity； by the ordinar'。 Ane o' them； let into the corn exchange a murky nicht； killed saxty in ten meenits； an' had to be dragged awa' by the tail。 Noo； what I am gangin' to do wi' the takin' bit I dinna ken。〃
It is very certain that simple Mistress Jean Brown had never heard of Mr。 Dick's advice to Miss Betsy Trotwood on the occasion when young David Copperfield presented himself； travel…stained and weary； before his good aunt。 But out of her experience of wholesome living she brought forth the same wise opinion。
〃I'd gie him a gude washin' first of a'； Jamie。 He leuks like some puir； gaen…aboot dog。〃 And she drew her short； blue…stuff gown back from Bobby's grateful attentions。
Mr。 Brown slapped his corduroy…breeked knee and nodded his grizzled head。 〃Richt ye are。 It's maist michty； noo； I wadna think o' that。 When I was leevin' as an under gairdener wi' a laird i' Argyleshire I was aye aboot the kennels wi' the gillies。 That was lang syne。 The sma' terrier dogs were aye washed i' claes tubs wi' warm water an' soap。 Come awa'； Bobby。〃
The caretaker got up stiffly； for such snell weather was apt to give him twinges in his joints。 In him a youthful enthusiasm for dogs had suddenly revived。 Besides； although he would have denied it； he was relieved at having the main issue； as to what was to be done with this four…footed trespasser； side…tracked for a time。 Bobby followed him to the lodge at an eager trot； and he dutifully hopped into the bath that was set on the rear doorstep。 Mr。 Brown scrubbed him vigorously； and Bobby splashed and swam and churned the soapy water to foam。 He scrambled out at once； when told to do so； and submitted to being dried with a big； tow…linen towel。 This was all a delightful novelty to Bobby。 Heretofore he had gone into any convenient tam or burn to swim； and then dried himself by rolling on the heather and running before the wind。 Now he was bundled up ignominiously in
