greyfriars bobby- 第7部分

〃Be　canny；　Bobby；〃　he　cautioned　again。

The　sagacious　little　dog　understood；　and　pattered　about　the　place　silently。　Exhausting　it　in　a　moment；　and　very　plainly　puzzled　and　bored；　he　sat　on　his　haunches；　yawned　wide；　and　looked　up　inquiringly　to　his　master。　Auld　Jock　set　the　jug　and　the　candle　on　the　floor　and　slipped　off　his　boots。　He　had　no　wish　to　〃wauken　'is　neebors。〃　With　nervous　haste　he　threw　back　one　of　the　windows　on　its　hinges；　reached　across　the　wide　stone　ledge　and　brought　in…wonder　of　wonders；　in　such　a　place　a　tiny　earthen　pot　of　heather！

〃Is　it　no'　a　bonny　posie？〃　he　whispered　to　Bobby。　With　this　cherished　bit　of　the　country　that　he　had　left　behind　him　the　April　before　in　his　hands；　he　sat　down　in　the　fireplace　bed　and　lifted　Bobby　beside　him。　He　sniffed　at　the　red　tuft　of　purple　bloom　fondly；　and　his　old　face　blossomed　into　smiles。　It　was　the　secret　thought　of　this；　and　of　the　hillward　outlook　from　the　little　windows；　that　had　ironed　the　lines　from　his　face　in　Mr。　Traill's　dining…room。　Bobby　sniffed　at　the　starved　plant；　too；　and　wagged　his　tail　with　pleasure；　for　a　dog's　keenest　memories　are　recorded　by　the　nose。

Overhead；　loose　tiles　and　finials　rattled　in　the　find；　that　was　dying　away　in　fitful　gusts；　but　Auld　Jock　heard　nothing。　In　fancy　he　was　away　on　the　braes；　in　the　shy　sun　and　wild　wet　of　April　weather。　Shepherds　were　shouting；　sheepdogs　barking；　ewes　bleating；　and　a　wee　puppy；　still　unnamed；　scampering　at　his　heels　in　the　swift；　dramatic　days　of　lambing　time。　And　so；　presently；　when　the　forlorn　hope　of　the　little　pot　had　been　restored　to　the　ledge；　master　and　dog　were　in　tune　with　the　open　country；　and　began　a　romp　such　as　they　often　had　indulged　in　behind　the　byre　on　a　quiet；　Sabbath　afternoon。

They　had　learned　to　play　there　like　two　well…brought…up　children；　in　pantomime；　so　as　not　to　scandalize　pious　countryfolk。　Now；　in　obedience　to　a　gesture；　a　nod；　a　lifted　eyebrow；　Bobby　went　through　all　his　pretty　tricks；　and　showed　how　far　his　serious　education　had　progressed。。　He　rolled　over　and　over；　begged；　vaulted　the　low　hurdle　of　his　master's　arm；　and　played　〃deid。〃　He　scampered　madly　over　imaginary　pastures；　ran；　straight　as　a　string；　along　a　stone　wall；　scrambled　under　a　thorny　hedge；　chased　rabbits；　and　dug　foxes　out　of　holes；　swam　a　burn；　flushed　feeding　curlews；　and　〃froze〃　beside　a　rat…hole。　When　the　excitement　was　at　its　height　and　the　little　dog　was　bursting　with　exuberance；　Auld　Jock　forgot　his　caution。　Holding　his　bonnet　just　out　of　reach；　he　cried　aloud：

〃Loup；　Bobby！〃

Bobby　jumped　for　the　bonnet；　missed　it；　jumped　again　and　barked…the　high…pitched；　penetrating　yelp　of　the　terrier。

Instantly　their　little　house　of　joy　tumbled　about　their　ears。　There　was　a　pounding　on　the　thin　partition　wall；　an　oath　and　a　shout　〃Whaur's　the　deil　o'　a　dog？〃　Bobby　flew　at　the　insulting　clamor；　but　Auld　Jock　dragged　him　back　roughly。　In　a　voice　made　harsh　by　fear　for　his　little　pet；　he　commanded：

〃Haud　yer　gab　or　they'll　hae　ye　oot。〃

Bobby　dropped　like　a　shot；　cringing　at　Auld　Jock's　feet。　The　most　sensitive　of　four…footed　creatures　in　the　world；　the　Skye　terrier　is　utterly　abased　by　a　rebuke　from　his　master。　The　whole　garret　was　soon　in　an　uproar　of　vile　accusation　and　shrill　denial　that　spread　from　cell　to　cell。

Auld　Jock　glowered　down　at　Bobby　with　frightened　eyes。　In　the　winters　he　had　lodged　there　he　had　lived　unmolested　only　because　he　had　managed　to　escape　notice。　Timid　old　country　body　that　he　was；　he　could　not　〃fecht　it　oot〃　with　the　thieves　and　beggars　and　drunkards　of　the　Cowgate。　By　and　by　the　brawling　died　down。　In　the　double　row　of　little　dens　this　one　alone　was　silent；　and　the　offending　dog　was　not　located。

But　when　the　danger　was　past；　Auld　Jock's　heart　was　pounding　in　his　chest。　His　legs　gave　way　under　him；　when　he　got　up　to　fetch　the　candle　from　near　the　door　and　set　it　on　a　projecting　brick　in　the　fireplace。　By　its　light　he　began　to　read　in　a　small　pocket　Bible　the　Psalm　that　had　always　fascinated　him　because　he　had　never　been　able　to　understand　it。

〃The　Lord　is　my　Shepherd；　I　shall　not　want。〃

So　far　it　was　plain　and　comforting。　〃He　maketh　me　to　lie　down　in　green　pastures。　He　leadeth　me　beside　the　still　waters。〃

Nae；　the　pastures　were　brown；　or　purple　and　yellow　with　heather　and　gorse。　Rocks　cropped　out　everywhere；　and　the　peaty　tarps　were　mostly　bleak　and　frozen。　The　broad　Firth　was　ever　ebbing　and　flowing　with　the　restless　sea；　and　the　burns　bickering　down　the　glens。　The　minister　of　the　little　hill　kirk　had　said　once　that　in　England　the　pastures　were　green　and　the　lakes　still　and　bright；　but　that　was　a　fey；　foreign　country　to　which　Auld　Jock　had　no　desire　to　go。　He　wondered；　wistfully；　if　he　would　feel　at　home　in　God's　heaven；　and　if　there　would　be　room　in　that　lush　silence　for　a　noisy　little　dog；　as　there　was　on　the　rough　Pentland　braes。　And　there　his　thoughts　came　back　to　this　cold　prison　cell　in　which　he　could　not　defend　the　right　of　his　one　faithful　little　friend　to　live。　He　stooped　and　lifted　Bobby　into　the　bed。　Humble；　and　eager　to　be　forgiven　for　an　offense　he　could　not　understand；　the　loving　little　creature　leaped　to　Auld　Jock's　arms　and　lavished　frantic　endearments　upon　him。

Lying　so　together　in　the　dark；　man　and　dog　fell　into　a　sleep　that　was　broken　by　Auld　Jock's　fitful　coughing　and　the　abuse　of　his　neighbors。　It　was　not　until　the　wind　had　long　died　to　a　muffled　murmur　at　the　casements；　and　every　other　lodger　was　out；　that　Auld　Jock　slept　soundly。　He　awoke　late　to　find　Bobby　waiting　patiently　on　the　floor　and　the　bare　cell　flooded　with　white　glory。　That　could　mean　but　one　thing。　He　stumbled　dizzily　to　his　feet　and　threw　a　sash　aback。　Over　the　huddle　of　high　housetops；　the　University　towers　and　the　scattered　suburbs　beyond；　he　looked　away　to　the　snow…clad　slopes　of　the　Pentlands；　running　up　to　heaven　and　shining　under　the　pale　winter　sunshine。

〃The　snaw！　Eh；　Bobby；　but　it's　a　bonny　sicht　to　auld　een！〃　he　cried；　with　the　simple　delight　of　a　child。　He　stooped　to　lift　Bobby　to　the　wonder　of　it；　when　the　world　suddenly　went　black　and　roaring　around　in　his　head。　Staggering　back　he　crumpled　up　in　a　pitiful　heap　on　the　floor。

Bobby　licked　his　master's　face　and　hands；　and　then　sat　quietly　down　beside　him。　So　many　strange；　uncanny　things　had　happened　within　the　last　twenty…four　hours　that　the　little　dog　was　rapidly　outgrowing　his　irresponsible　puppyhood。　After　a　long　time　Auld　Jock　opened　his　eyes　and　sat　up。　Bobby　put　his　paws　on　his　master's　knees　in　anxious　sympathy。　Before　the　man　had　got　his　wits　about　him　the　time…gun　boomed　from　the　Castle。　Panic…stricken　that　he　should　have　slept　in　his　bed　so　late；　and　then　lain　senseless　on　the　floor　for　he　knew　not　how　long；　Auld　Jock　got　up　and　struggled　into　his　greatcoat；　bonnet　and　plaid。　In　feeling　for　his　woolen　mittens　he　discovered　the　buns　that　Mr。　Trail　had　dropped　into　his　pocket　for　Bobby。

The　old　man　stared　and　stared　at　them　in　piteous　dismay。　Mr。　Traill　had　believed　him　to　be　so　ill　that　he　〃wouldna　be　oot　the　morn。〃　It　was　a　staggering　thought。

The　bells　of　St。　Giles　broke　into　〃Over　the　Hills　and　Far　Away。〃　The　melody　came　to　Auld　Jock　clearly；　unbroken　by　echoes；　for　the　garret　was　on　a　level　with　the　cathedral's　crown　on　High　Street。　It　brought　to　him　again　a　vision　of　the　Midlothian　slopes；　but　it　reminded　Bobby　that　it　was　dinner…time。　He　told　Auld　Jock　so　by　running　to　the　door　and　back　and　begging　him；　by　every　pretty　wile　at　his　command；　to　go。　The　old　man　got　to　his　feet　and　then　fell　back；　pale　and　shaken；　his　heart　hammering　again。　Bobby　ate　the　bun　soberly　and　then　sat　up　against　Auld　Jock's　feet；　that　dangled　helplessly　from　the　bed。　The　bells　died　away　from　the　man's　ears　before　they　had　ceased　playing。　Both　the　church　and　the　University　bells　struck　the　hour　of　two　then　three　then　four。　Daylight　had　begun　to　fail　when　Auld　Jock　stirred；　sat　up；　and　did　a　strange　thing：　taking　from　his　pocket　a　leather　bag…purse　that　was　closed　by　a　draw…string；　he　counted　the　few　crowns　and　shillings　in　it　and　the　many　smaller　silver　and　copper　coins。

〃There's　eneugh；〃　he　said。　There　was　enough；　by　careful　spending；　to　pay　for　food　and　lodging　for　a　few　weeks；　to　save　himself　from　the　charity　of　the　infirmary。　By　this　act　he　admitted　the　humiliating　and　fearful　fact　that　he　was　very　ill。　The　precious　little　hoard　must　be　hidden　from　the　chance　prowler。　He　looked　for　a　loose　brick　in　the　fireplace；　but　before　he　found　one；　he　forgot　all　about　it；　and　absent…mindedly　heaped　the　coins　in　a　little　pile　on　the　open　Bible　at　the　back　of　the　bed。

For　a　long　time　Auld　Jock　sat　there　with　his　head　in　his　hands　before　he　again　slipped　back　to　his　pillow。　Darkness　stole　into　the　quiet　room。　The　lodgers　returned　to　their　dens　one　after　one；　tramping　or　slipping　or　hobbling　up　the　stairs　and　along　the　passage。　Bobby　bristled　and　froze；　on　guard；　when　a　stealthy　hand　tried　the　latch。　Then　there　were　sounds　of　fighting；　of　crying　women；　and　the　long；　low　wailing　of…wretched　children。　The　evening　drum　and　bugle　were　heard　from　the　Castle；　and　hour　after　hour　was　struck　from　the　clock　of　St。　Giles　while　Bobby　watched　beside　his　master。

All　night　Auld　Jock　was　〃aff　'is　heid。〃　When　he　muttered　in　hi