greyfriars bobby-第2节

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ated　little　muff　of　pluck　and　fury；　and　nipped　the　caretaker's　shins。　There　was　a　howl　of　pain；　and　a　〃maist　michty〃　word　that　made　the　ancient　tombs　stand　aghast。　Master　and　dog　were　hustled　outside　the　gate　and　into　a　rabble　of　jeering　slum　gamin。

What　a　to…do　about　a　miserable　cat！　To　Bobby　there　was　no　logic　at　all　in　the　denouement　to　this　swift；　exciting　drama。　But　he　understood　Auld　Jock's　shame　and　displeasure　perfectly。　Good…tempered　as　he　was　gay　and　clever；　the　little　dog　took　his　punishment　meekly；　and　he　remembered　it。　Thereafter；　he　passed　the　kirk　yard　gate　decorously。　If　he　saw　a　cat　that　needed　harrying　he　merely　licked　his　little　red　chopsthe　outward　sign　of　a　desperate　self…control。　And；　a　true　sport；　he　bore　no　malice　toward　the　caretaker。

During　that　first　summer　of　his　life　Bobby　learned　many　things。　He　learned　that　he　might　chase　rabbits；　squirrels　and　moor…fowl；　and　sea…gulls　and　whaups　that　came　up　to　feed　in　plowed　fields。　Rats　and　mice　around　byre　and　dairy　were　legitimate　prey；　but　he　learned　that　he　must　not　annoy　sheep　and　sheep…dogs；　nor　cattle；　horses　and　chickens。　And　he　discovered　that；　unless　he　hung　close　to　Auld　Jock's　heels；　his　freedom　was　in　danger　from　a　wee　lassie　who　adored　him。　He　was　no　lady's　lap…dog。　From　the　bairnie's　soft　cosseting　he　aye　fled　to　Auld　Jock　and　the　rough　hospitality　of　the　sheep　fold。　Being　exact　opposites　in　temperaments；　but　alike　in　tastes；　Bobby　and　Auld　Jock　were　inseparable。　In　the　quiet　corner　of　Mr。　Traill's　crowded　dining…room　they　spent　the　one　idle　hour　of　the　week　together；　happily。　Bobby　had　the　leavings　of　a　herring　or　haddie；　for　a　rough　little　Skye　will　eat　anything　from　smoked　fish　to　moor…fowl　eggs；　and　he　had　the　tidbit　of　a　farthing　bone　to　worry　at　his　leisure。　Auld　Jock　smoked　his　cutty　pipe；　gazed　at　the　fire　or　into　the　kirk…yard；　and　meditated　on　nothing　in　particular。

In　some　strange　way　that　no　dog　could　understand；　Bobby　had　been　separated　from　Auld　Jock　that　November　morning。　The　tenant　of　Cauldbrae　farm　had　driven　the　cart　in；　himself；　and　that　was　unusual。　Immediately　he　had　driven　out　again；　leaving　Auld　Jock　behind；　and　that　was　quite　outside　Bobby's　brief　experience　of　life。　Beguiled　to　the　lofty　and　coveted　driver's　seat　where；　with　lolling　tongue；　he　could　view　this　interesting　world　between　the　horse's　ears；　Bobby　had　been　spirited　out　of　the　city　and　carried　all　the　way　down　and　up　to　the　hilltop　toll…bar　of　Fairmilehead。　It　could　not　occur　to　his　loyal　little　heart　that　this　treachery　was　planned　nor；　stanch　little　democrat　that　he　was；　that　the　farmer　was　really　his　owner；　and　that　he　could　not　follow　a　humbler　master　of　his　own　choosing。　He　might　have　been　carried　to　the　distant　farm；　and　shut　safely　in　the　byre　with　the　cows　for　the　night；　but　for　an　incautious　remark　of　the　farmer。　With　the　first　scent　of　the　native　heather　the　horse　quickened　his　pace；　and；　at　sight　of　the　purple　slopes　of　the　Pentlands　looming　homeward；　a　fond　thought　at　the　back　of　the　man's　mind　very　naturally　took　shape　in　speech。

〃Eh；　Bobby；　the　wee　lassie　wull　be　at　the　tap　o'　the　brae　to　race　ye　hame。〃

Bobby　pricked　his　drop　ears。　Within　a　narrow　limit；　and　concerning　familiar　things；　the　understanding　of　human　speech　by　these　intelligent　little　terriers　is　very　truly　remarkable。　At　mention　of　the　wee　lassie　he　looked　behind　for　his　rough　old　friend　and　unfailing　refuge。　Auld　Jock's　absence　discovered；　Bobby　promptly　dropped　from　the　seat　of　honor　and　from　the　cart　tail；　sniffed　the　smoke　of　Edinboro'　town　and　faced　right　about。　To　the　farmer's　peremptory　call　he　returned　the　spicy　repartee　of　a　cheerful　bark。　It　was　as　much　as　to　say：

〃Dinna　fash　yersel'！　I　ken　what　I'm　aboot。〃

After　an　hour's　hard　run　back　over　the　dipping　and　rising　country　road　and　a　long　quarter　circuit　of　the　city；　Bobby　found　the　high…walled；　winding　way　into　the　west　end　of　the　Grassmarket。　To　a　human　being　afoot　there　was　a　shorter　cut；　but　the　little　dog　could　only　retrace　the　familiar　route　of　the　farm　carts。　It　was　a　notable　feat　for　a　small　creature　whose　tufted　legs　were　not　more　than　six　inches　in　length；　whose　thatch　of　long　hair　almost　swept　the　roadway　and　caught　at　every　burr　and　bramble；　and　who　was　still　so　young　that　his　nose　could　not　be　said　to　be　educated。

In　the　market…place　he　ran　here　and　there　through　the　crowd；　hopefully　investigating　narrow　closes　that　were　mere　rifts　in　precipices　of　buildings；　nosing　outside　stairs；　doorways；　stables；　bridge　arches；　standing　carts；　and　even　hob…nailed　boots。　He　yelped　at　the　crash　of　the　gun；　but　it　was　another　matter　altogether　that　set　his　little　heart　to　palpitating　with　alarm。　It　was　the　dinner…hour；　and　where　was　Auld　Jock？

Ah！　A　happy　thought：　his　master　had　gone　to　dinner！

A　human　friend　would　have　resented　the　idea　of　such　base　desertion　and　sulked。　But　in　a　little　dog's　heart　of　trust　there　is　no　room　for　suspicion。　The　thought　simply　lent　wings　to　Bobby's　tired　feet。　As　the　market…place　emptied　he　chased　at　the　heels　of　laggards；　up　the　crescent…shaped　rise　of　Candlemakers　Row；　and　straight　on　to　the　familiar　dining…rooms。　Through　the　forest　of　table　and　chair　and　human　legs　he　made　his　way　to　the　back；　to　find　a　soldier　from　the　Castle；　in　smart　red　coat　and　polished　boots；　lounging　in　Auld　Jock's　inglenook。

Bobby　stood　stock　still　for　a　shocked　instant。　Then　he　howled　dismally　and　bolted　for　the　door。　Mr。　John　Traill；　the　smooth…shaven；　hatchet…faced　proprietor；　standing　midway　in　shirtsleeves　and　white　apron；　caught　the　flying　terrier　between　his　legs　and　gave　him　a　friendly　clap　on　the　side。

〃Did　you　come　by　your　ainsel'　with　a　farthing　in　your　silky…purse　ear　to　buy　a　bone；　Bobby？　Whaur's　Auld　Jock？〃

A　fear　may　be　crowded　back　into　the　mind　and　stoutly　denied　so　long　as　it　is　not　named。　At　the　good　landlord's　very　natural　question　〃Whaur's　Auld　Jock？〃　there　was　the　shape　of　the　little　dog's　fear　that　he　had　lost　his　master。　With　a　whimpering　cry　he　struggled　free。　Out　of　the　door　he　went；　like　a　shot。　He　tumbled　down　the　steep　curve　and　doubled　on　his　tracks　around　the　market…place。

At　his　onslaught；　the　sparrows　rose　like　brown　leaves　on　a　gust　of　wind；　and　drifted　down　again。　A　cold　mist　veiled　the　Castle　heights。　From　the　stone　crown　of　the　ancient　Cathedral　of　St。　Giles；　on　High　Street；　floated　the　melody　of　〃The　Bluebells　of　Scotland。〃　No　day　was　too　bleak　for　bell…ringer　McLeod　to　climb　the　shaking　ladder　in　the　windy　tower　and　play　the　music　bells　during　the　hour　that　Edinburgh　dined。　Bobby　forgot　to　dine　that　day；　first　in　his　distracted　search；　and　then　in　his　joy　of　finding　his　master。

For；　all　at　once；　in　the　very　strangest　place；　in　the　very　strangest　way；　Bobby　came　upon　Auld　Jock。　A　rat　scurrying　out　from　a　foul　and　narrow　passage　that　gave　to　the　rear　of　the　White　Hart　Inn；　pointed　the　little　dog　to　a　nook　hitherto　undiscovered　by　his　curious　nose。　Hidden　away　between　the　noisy　tavern　and　the　grim；　island　crag　was　the　old　cock…fighting　pit　of　a　ruder　day。　There；　in　a　broken…down　carrier's　cart；　abandoned　among　the　nameless　abominations　of　publichouse　refuse；　Auld　Jock　lay　huddled　in　his　greatcoat　of　hodden　gray　and　his　shepherd's　plaid。　On　a　bundle　of　clothing　tied　in　a　tartan　kerchief　for　a　pillow；　he　lay　very　still　and　breathing　heavily。

Bobby　barked　as　if　he　would　burst　his　lungs。　He　barked　so　long；　so　loud；　and　so　furiously；　running　'round　and　'round　the　cart　and　under　it　and　yelping　at　every　turn；　that　a　slatternly　scullery　maid　opened　a　door　and　angrily　bade　him　〃no'　to　deave　folk　wi'　'is　blatterin'。〃　Auld　Jock　she　did　not　see　at　all　in　the　murky　pit　or；　if　she　saw　him；　thought　him　some　drunken　foreign　sailor　from　Leith　harbor。　When　she　went　in；　she　slammed　the　door　and　lighted　the　gas。

Whether　from　some　instinct　of　protection　of　his　helpless　master　in　that　foul　and　hostile　place；　or　because　barking　had　proved　to　be　of　no　use　Bobby　sat　back　on　his　haunches　and　considered　this　strange；　disquieting　thing。　It　was　not　like　Auld　Jock　to　sleep　in　the　daytime；　or　so　soundly；　at　any　time；　that　barking　would　not　awaken　him。　A　clever　and　resourceful　dog；　Bobby　crouched　back　against　the　farthest　wall；　took　a　running　leap　to　the　top　of　the　low　boots；　dug　his　claws　into　the　stout；　home　knitted　stockings；　and　scrambled　up　over　Auld　Jock's　legs　into　the　cart。　In　an　instant　he　poked　his　little　black　mop　of　a　wet　muzzle　into　his　master's　face　and　barked　once；　sharply；　in　his　ear。

To　Bobby's　delight　Auld　Jock　sat　up　and　blinked　his　eyes。　The　old　eyes　were　brighter；　the　grizzled　face　redder　than　was　natural；　but　such　matters　were　quite　outside　of　the　little　dog's　ken。　It　was　a　dazed　moment　before　the　man　remembered　that　Bobby　should　not　be　there。　He　frowned　down　at　the　excited　little　creature；　who　was　wagging　satisfaction　from　his　nose…tip　to　the　end　of　his　crested　tail；　in　a　puzzled　effort　to　remember　why。

〃Eh；　Bobby！〃　His　tone　was　one　of　vague　reproof。　〃Nae　doot　ye're　fair　satisfied　wi'　yer　ainsel'。〃

Bobby's　feathered　tail　drooped；　but　it　still　quivered；　all　ready　to　wag　again　at　the　slightest　encouragement。　Auld　Jock　stared　at　him　stupidly；　his　dizzy　head　in　his　hands。　A　very　tired；　very　draggled　little　dog；　Bobby　dropped　beside　his　master；　pantin