greyfriars bobby-第29节
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t the guard laughed； and other soldiers ran out of the guard houses that flanked the gate。 They would have put the noisy terrier out at once； but Bobby was off； up the curving roadway into the Castle。 The music had ceased； and the soldiers had disappeared over the rise。 Through other dark arches of masonry he ran。 On the crest were two ways to choosethe roadway on around and past the barracks； and a flight of steps cut steeply in the living rock of the ledge； and leading up to the King's Bastion。 Bobby took the stairs at a few bounds。
On the summit there was nothing at all beside a tiny； ancient stone chapel with a Norman arched and sculptured doorway； and guarding it an enormous burst cannon。 But these ruins were the crown jewels of the fortificationstheir origins lost in legendsand so they were cared for with peculiar reverence。 Sergeant Scott of the Royal Engineers himself； in fatigue…dress； was down on his knees before St。 Margaret's oratory； pulling from a crevice in the foundations a knot of grass that was at its insidious work of time and change。 As Bobby dashed up to the citadel； still barking； the man jumped to his feet。 Then he slapped his thigh and laughed。 Catching the animated little bundle of protest the sergeant set him up for inspection on the shattered breeching of Mons Meg。
〃Losh！ The sma' dog cam' by 'is ainsel'！ He could no' resist the braw soldier laddies。 'He's a dog o' discreemination；' eh？ Gin he bides a wee； noo； it wull tak' the conceit oot o' the innkeeper。〃 He turned to gather up his tools； for the first dinner bugle was blowing。 Bobby knew by the gun that it was the dinner…hour； but he had been fed at the farm and was not hungry。 He might as well see a bit more of life。 He sat upon the cannon； not in the least impressed by the honor； and lolled his tongue。
In Edinburgh Castle there was nothing to alarm a little dog。 A dozen or more large buildings； in three or four groups； and representing many periods of architecture； lay to the south and west on the lowest terraces； and about them were generous parked spaces。 Into the largest of the buildings； a long； four…storied barracks； the soldiers had vanished。 And now； at the blowing of a second bugle； half a hundred orderlies hurried down from a modern cook…house； near the summit； with cans of soup and meat and potatoes。 The sergeant followed one of these into a room on the front of the barracks。 In their serge fatigue…tunics the sixteen men about the long table looked as different from the gay soldiers of the march as though so many scarlet and gold and bonneted butterflies had turned back into sad…colored grubs。
〃Private McLean；〃 he called to his batman who； for one…and…six a week； cared for his belongings； 〃tak' chairge o' the dog； wull ye； an' fetch 'im to the non…com mess when ye come to put ma kit i' gude order。〃
Before he could answer the bombardment of questions about Bobby the door was opened again。 The men dropped their knives and forks and stood at attention。 The officer of the day was making the rounds of the forty or fifty such rooms in the barracks to inquire of the soldiers if their dinner was satisfactory。 He recognized at once the attractive little Skye that had taken the eyes of the men on the march； and asked about him。 Sergeant Scott explained that Bobby had no owner。 He was living； by permission； in Greyfriars kirkyard； guarding the grave of a long…dead； humble master； and was fed by the landlord of the dining…rooms near the gate。 If the little dog took a fancy to garrison life； and the regiment to him； he thought Mr。 Traill； who had the best claim upon him； might consent to his transfer to the Castle。 After orders； at sunset； he would take Bobby down to the restaurant himself。
〃I wish you good luck； Sergeant。〃 The officer whistled； and Bobby leaped upon him and off again； and indulged in many inconsequent friskings。 〃Before you take him home fetch him over to the officers' mess at dinner。 It is guest night； and he is sure to interest the gentlemen。 A loyal little creature who has guarded his dead master's grave for more than eight years deserves to have a toast drunk to him by the officers of the Queen。 But it's an extraordinary story； and it doesn't sound altogether probable。 Jolly little beggar！〃 He patted Bobby cordially on the side； and went out。
The news of his advent and fragments of his story spread so quickly through the barracks that mess after mess swarmed down from the upper moors and out into the roadway to see Bobby。 Private McLean stood in the door； smoking a cutty pipe； and grinning with pride in the merry little ruffian of a terrier； who met the friendly advances of the soldiers more than half…way。 Bobby's guardian would have liked very well to have sat before the canteen in the sun and gossiped about his small charge。 However； in the sergeant's sleeping…quarters above the mess…room； he had the little dog all to himself； and Bobby had the liveliest interest in the boxes and pots； brushes and sponges； and in the processes of polishing； burnishing； and pipe…claying a soldier's boots and buttons and belts。 As he worked at his valeting； the man kept time with his foot to rude ballads that he sang in such a hissing Celtic that Bobby barked； scandalized by a dialect that had been music in the ears of his ancestors。 At that Private McLean danced a Highland fling for him； and wee Bobby came near bursting with excitement。 When the sergeant came up to make a magnificent toilet for tea and for the evening in town； the soldier expressed himself with enthusiasm。
〃He iss a deffle of a dog； sir！〃
He was thought to be a 〃deffle of a dog〃 in the mess； where the non…com officers had tea at small writing and card tables。 They talked and laughed very fast and loud； tried Bobby out on all the pretty tricks he knew； and taught him to speak and to jump for a lump of sugar balanced on his nose。 They did not fondle him； and this rough； masculine style of pampering and petting was very much to his liking。 It was a proud thing； too； for a little dog； to walk out with the sergeant's shining boots and twirled walkingstick； and be introduced into one strange place after another all around the Castle。
From tea to tattoo was playtime for the garrison。 Many smartly dressed soldiers； with passes earned by good behavior； went out to find amusement in the city。 Visitors； some of them tourists from America； made the rounds under the guidance of old soldiers。 The sergeant followed such a group of sight…seers through a postern behind the armory and out onto the cliff。 There he lounged under a fir…tree above St。 Margaret's Well and smoked a dandified cigar； while Bobby explored the promenade and scraped acquaintance with the strangers。
On the northern and southern sides the Castle wall rose from the very edge of sheer precipices。 Except for loopholes there were no openings。 But on the west there was a grassy terrace without the wall； and below that the cliff fell away a little less steeply。 The declivity was clothed sparsely with hazel shrubs； thorns； whins and thistles； and now and then a stunted fir or rowan tree or a group of white…stemmed birks was stoutly rooted on a shelving ledge。 Had any one； the visitors asked； ever escaped down this wild crag？
Yes； Queen Margaret's children； the guide answered。 Their father dead； in battle； their saintly mother dead in the sanctuary of her tiny chapel； the enemy battering at the gate； soldiers had lowered the royal lady's body in a basket； and got the orphaned children down； in safety and away； in a fog； over Queen's Ferry to Dunfirmline in the Kingdom of Fife。 It was true that a false step or a slip of the foot would have dashed them to pieces on the rocks below。 A gentleman of the party scouted the legend。 Only a fox or an Alpine chamois could make that perilous descent。
With his head cocked alertly； Bobby had stood listening。 Hearing this vague talk of going down； he may have thought these people meant to go； for he quietly dropped over the edge and went； head over heels； ten feet down； and landed in a clump of hazel。 A lady screamed。 Bobby righted himself and barked cheerful reassurance。 The sergeant sprang to his feet and ordered him to come back。
Now； the sergeant was pleasant company； to be sure； but he was not a person who had to be obeyed； so Bobby barked again； wagged his crested tail； and dropped lower。 The people who shuddered on the brink could see that the little dog was going cautiously enough； and presently he looked doubtfully over a sheer fall of twenty feet； turned and scrambled back to the promenade。 He was cried and exclaimed over by the hysterical ladies； and scolded for a bittie fule by the sergeant。 To this Bobby returned ostentatious yawns of boredom and nonchalant lollings； for it seemed a small matter to be so fashed about。 At that a gentleman remarked； testily； to hide his own agitation； that dogs really had very little sense。 The sergeant ordered Bobby to precede him through the postern； and the little dog complied amiably。
All the afternoon bugles had been blowing。 For each signal there was a different note； and at each uniformed men appeared and hurried to new points。 Now； near sunset； there was the fanfare for officers' orders for the next day。 The s
