greyfriars bobby-第19节

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d　duties　of　the　man。

Straight　down　the　length　of　the　empty　market　the　laddies　ran；　through　the　crooked；　fascinating　haunt　of　horses　and　jockeys　in　the　street　of　King's　Stables；　then　northward　along　the　fronts　of　quaint　little　handicrafts　shops　that　skirted　Castle　Crag。　By　turning　westward　into　Queensferry　Street　a　very　few　minutes　would　have　brought　them　to　a　bit　of　buried　country。　But　every　expedition　of　Edinburgh　lads　of　spirit　of　that　day　was　properly　begun　with　challenges　to　scale　Castle　Rock　from　the　valley　park　of　Princes　Street　Gardens　on　the　north。

〃I　daur　ye　to　gang　up！〃　was　all　that　was　necessary　to　set　any　group　of　youngsters　to　scaling　the　precipice。　By　every　tree　and　ledge；　by　every　cranny　and　point　of　rock；　stoutly　rooted　hazel　and　thorn　bush　and　clump　of　gorse；　they　climbed。　These　laddies　went　up　a　quarter　or　a　third　of　the　way　to　the　grim　ramparts　and　came　cautiously　down　again。　Bobby　scrambled　higher；　tumbled　back　more　recklessly　and　fell；　head　over　heels　and　upside　down；　on　the　daisied　turf。　He　righted　himself　at　once；　and　yelped　in　sharp　protest。　Then　he　sniffed　and　busied　himself　with　pretenses；　in　the　elaborate　unconcern　with　which　a　little　dog　denies　anything　discreditable。　There　were　legends　of　daring　youth　having　climbed　this　war…like　cliff　and　laying　hands　on　the　fortress　wall；　but　Geordie　expressed　a　popular　feeling　in　declaring　these　tales　〃a'　lees。〃

〃No'　ony　laddie　could　gang　a'　the　way　up　an'　come　doon　wi'　'is　heid　no'　broken。　Bobby　couldna　do　it；　an'　he's　mair　like　a　wild　fox　than　an　ordinar'　dog。　Noo；　we're　the　Light　Brigade　at　Balaklava。　Chairge！〃

The　Crimean　War　was　then　a　recent　event。　Heroes　of　Sebastopol　answered　the　summons　of　drum　and　bugle　in　the　Castle　and　fired　the　hearts　of　Edinburgh　youth。　Cannon　all　around　them；　and　〃theirs　not　to　reason　why；〃　this　little　band　stormed　out　Queensferry　Street　and　went　down；　hand　under　hand；　into　the　fairy　underworld　of　Leith　Water。

All　its　short　way　down　from　the　Pentlands　to　the　sea；　the　Water　of　Leith　was　then　a　foaming　little　river　of　mills；　twisting　at　the　bottom　of　a　gorge。　One　cliff…like　wall　or　the　other　lay　to　the　sun　all　day；　so　that　the　way　was　lined　with　a　profusion　of　every　wild　thing　that　turns　green　and　blooms　in　the　Lowlands　of　Scotland。　And　it　was　filled　to　the　brim　with　bird　song　and　water　babble。

A　crowd　of　laddies　had　only　to　go　inland　up　this　gorge　to　find　wild　and　tame　bloom　enough　to　bury　〃Jinglin'　Geordie〃　all　over　again　every　year。　But　adventure　was　to　be　had　in　greater　variety　by　dropping　seaward　with　the　bickering　brown　water。　These　waded　along　the　shallow　margin；　walked　on　shelving　sands　of　gold；　and；　where　the　channel　was　filled；　they　clung　to　the　rocks　and　picked　their　way　along　dripping　ledges。　Bobby　missed　no　chance　to　swim。　If　he　could　scramble　over　rough　ground　like　a　squirrel　or　a　fox；　he　could　swim　like　an　otter。　Swept　over　the　low　dam　at　Dean　village；　where　a　cup…like　valley　was　formed；　he　tumbled　over　and　over　in　the　spray　and　was　all　but　drowned。　As　soon　as　he　got　his　breath　and　his　bearings　he　struck　out　frantically　for　the　bank；　shook　the　foam　from　his　eyes　and　ears；　and　barked　indignantly　at　the　saucy　fall。　The　white　miller　in　the　doorway　of　the　gray…stone；　red…roofed　mill　laughed；　and　anxious　children　ran　down　from　a　knot　of　storybook　cottages　and　gay　dooryards。　〃I'll　gie　ye　ten　shullin's　for　the　sperity　bit　dog；〃　the　miller　shouted；　above　the　clatter　of　the'　wheel　and　the　swish　of　the　dam。

〃He　isna　oor　ain　dog；〃　Geordie　called　back。　〃But　he　wullna　droon。　He's　got　a　gude　heid　to　'im；　an'　wullna　be　sic　a　bittie　fule　anither　time。〃

Indeed　he　had　a　good　head　on　him！　Bobby　never　needed　a　second　lesson。　At　Silver　Mills　and　Canon　Mills　he　came　out　and　trotted　warily　around　the　dam。　Where　the　gorge　widened　to　a　valley　toward　the　sea　they　all　climbed　up　to　Leith　Walk；　that　ran　to　the　harbor；　and　came　out　to　a　wonder…world　of　water…craft　anchored　in　the　Firth。　Each　boy　picked　out　his　ship　to　go　adventuring。

〃I'm　gangin'　to　Norway！〃

Geordie　was　scornful。　〃Hoots；　ye　tame　pussies。　Ye're　fleid　o'　gettin'　yer　feet　wat。　I'll　be　rinnin'　aff　to　be　a　pirate。　Come　awa'　doon。〃

They　followed。　the　leader　along　shore　and　boarded　an　abandoned　and　evil…smelling　fishingboat。　There　they　ran　up　a　ragged　jacket　for　a　black　flag。　But　sailing　a　stranded　craft　palled　presently。

〃Nae；　I'm　gangin'　to　be　a　Crusoe。　Preserve　me！　If　there's　no'　a　futprint　i'　the　sand　Bobby's　ma　sma'　man　Friday。〃

Away　they　ran　southward　to　find　a　castaway's　shelter　in　a　hollow　on　the　golf　links。　Soon　this　was　transformed　into　a　wrecker's　den；　and　then　into　the　hiding…place　of　a　harried　Covenanter　fleeing　religious　persecution。　Daring　things　to　do　swarmed　in　upon　their　minds；　for　Edinburgh　laddies　live　in　a　city　of　romantic　history；　of　soldiers；　of　near…by　mountains；　and　of　sea　rovings。　No　adventure　served　them　five　minutes；　and　Bobby　was　in　every　one。　Ah；　lucky　Bobby；　to　have　such　gay　playfellows　on　a　sunny　afternoon　and　under　foot　the　open　country！

And　fortunate　laddies　to　have　such　a　merry　rascal　of　a　wee　dog　with　them！　To　the　mile　they　ran；　Bobby　went　five；　scampering　in　wide　circles　and　barking　and　louping　at　butterflies　and　whaups。　He　made　a　detour　to　the　right　to　yelp　saucily　at　the　red…coated　sentry　who　paced　before　the　Gothic　gateway　to　the　deserted　Palace　of　Holyrood；　and　as　far　to　the　left　to　harry　the　hoofs　of　a　regiment　of　cavalry　drilling　before　the　barracks　at　Piershill。　He　raced　on　ahead　and　swam　out　to　scatter　the　fleet　of　swan　sailing　or　the　blue　mirror　of　Duddingston　Loch。

The　tired　boys　lay　blissfully　up　the　sunny　side　of　Arthur's　Seat　in　a　thicket　of　hazel　while　Geordie　carried　out　a　daring　plan　for　which　privacy　was　needed。　Bobby　was　solemnly　arraigned　before　a　court　on　the　charge　of　being　a　seditious　Covenanting　meenister；　and　was　required　to　take　the　oath　of　loyalty　to　English　King　and　Church　on　pain　of　being　hanged　in　the　Grassmarket。　The　oath　had　been　duly　written　out　on　paper　and　greased　with　mutton　tallow　to　make　it　more　palatable。　Bobby　licked　the　fat　off　with　relish。　Then　he　took　the　paper　between　his　sharp　little　teeth　and　merrily　tore　it　to　shreds。　And；　having　finished　it；　he　barked　cheerful　defiance　at　the　court。　The　lads　came　near　rolling　down　the　slope　with　laughter；　and　they　gave　three　cheers　for　the　little　hero。　Sandy　remarked；　〃Ye　wadna　think；　noo；　sic　a　sonsie　doggie　wad　be　leevin'　i'　the　murky　auld　kirkyaird。〃

Bobby　had　learned　the　lay　of　the　tipped…up　and　scooped…out　and　jumbled　auld　toon；　and　he　led　the　way　homeward　along　the　southern　outskirts　of　the　city。　He　turned　up　Nicolson　Street；　that　ran　northward；　past　the　University　and　the　old　infirmary。　To　get　into　Greyfriars　Place　from　the　east　at　that　time　one　had　to　descend　to　the　Cowgate　and　climb　out　again。　Bobby　darted　down　the　first　of　the　narrow　wynds。

Suddenly　he　turned　'round　and　'round　in　bewilderment；　then　shot　through　a　sculptured　door　way；　into　a　well…like　court；　and　up　a　flight　of　stone　stairs。　The　slamming　of　a　shutter　overhead　shocked　him　to　a　standstill　on　the　landing　and　sent　him　dropping　slowly　down　again。　What　memories　surged　back　to　his　little　brain；　what　grief　gripped　his　heart；　as　he　stood　trembling　on　a　certain　spot　in　the　pavement　where　once　a　long　deal　box　had　rested！

〃What　ails　the　bittie　dog？〃　There　was　something　here　that　sobered　the　thoughtless　boys。　〃Come　awa'；　Bobby！〃

At　that　he　came　obediently　enough。　But　he　trotted　down　the　very　middle　of　the　wynd；　head　and　tail　low；　and　turned　unheeding　into　the　Saturday…evening　roar　of　the　Cowgate。　He　refused　to　follow　them　up　the　rise　between　St。　Magdalen's　Chapel　and　the　eastern　parapet　of　the　bridge；　but　kept　to　his　way　under　the　middle　arch　into　the　Grassmarket。　By　way　of　Candlemakers　Row　he　gained　the　kirkyard　gate；　and　when　the　wicket　was　opened　he　disappeared　around　the　church。　When　Bobby　failed　to　answer　calls；　Mr。　Brown　grumbled；　but　went　after　him。　The　little　dog　submitted　to　his　vigorous　scrubbing　and　grooming；　but　he　refused　his　supper。　Without　a　look　or　a　wag　of　the　tail　he　was　gone　again。

〃Noo；　what　hae　ye　done　to'im？　He's　no'　like　'is　ainsel'　ava。〃

They　had　done　nothing；　indeed。　They　could　only　relate　Bobby's　strange　behavior　in　College　Wynd　and　the　rest　of　the　way　home。　Mistress　Jeanie　nodded　her　head；　with　the　wisdom　of　women　that　is　of　the　heart。

〃Eh；　Jamie；　that　wad　be　whaur　'is　maister　deed　sax　months　syne。〃　And　having　said　it　she　slipped　down　the　slope　with　her　knitting　and　sat　on　the　mound　beside　the　mourning　little　dog。

When　the　awe…struck　lads　asked　for　the　story　Mr。　Brown　shook　his　head。　〃Ye　spier　Maister　Traill。　He　kens　a'　aboot　it；　an'　syne　he　can　talk　like　a　beuk。〃

Before　they　left　the　kirkyard　the　laddies　walked　down　to　Auld　Jock's　grave　and　patted　Bobby　on　the　head；　and　they　went　away　thoughtfully　to　their　scattered　homes。

As　on　that　first　morning　when　his　grief　was　new；　Bobby　woke　to　a　Calvinistic　Sabbath。　There　were　no　rattling　carts　or　hawkers　crying　their　wares。　Steeped　in　sunshine；　the　Castle　loomed　golden　into　the　blue。　Tenement　dwellers　slept　late；　and　then　moved　about　quietly。　Children　with　unwontedly　clean　faces　came　out　to　galleries　and　stairs　to　study　their　catechisms。　Only　the　birds　were　unaware　of　the　seven