greyfriars bobby-第25部分

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anade　on　Castle　Hill。　Rank　after　rank　of　scarlet　coats；　swinging　kilts　and　sporrans；　and　plumed　bonnets　appeared。　The　sun　flashed　back　from　rifle　barrels　and　bayonets　and　from　countless　bright　buttons。

A　number　of　the　older　laddies　ran　up　the　climbing　street。　Mr。　Traill　called　Bobby　back　and；　with　a　last　grip　of　Glenormiston's　hand；　set　off　across　the　bridge。　To　the　landlord　the　world　seemed　a　brave　place　to　be　living　in；　the　fabric　of　earth　and　sky　and　human　society　to　be　woven　of　kindness。　Having　urgent　business　of　buying　supplies　in　the　markets　at　Broughton　and　Lauriston；　Mr。　Traill　put　Bobby　inside　the　kirkyard　gate　and　hurried　away　to　get　into　his　everyday　clothing。　After　dinner；　or　tea；　he　promised　himself　the　pleasure　of　an　hour　at　the　lodge；　to　tell　Mr。　Brown　the　wonderful　news；　and　to　show　him　Bobby's　braw　collar。

When；　finally；　he　was　left　alone；　Bobby　trotted　around　the　kirk；　to　assure　himself　that　Auld　Jock's　grave　was　unmolested。　There　he　turned　on　his　back；　squirmed　and　rocked　on　the　crocuses；　and　tugged　at　the　unaccustomed　collar。　His　inverted　struggles；　low　growlings　and　furry　contortions　set　the　wrens　to　scolding　and　the　redbreasts　to　making　nervous　inquiries。　Much　nestbuilding；　tuneful　courtship；　and　masculine　blustering　was　going　on；　and　there　was　little　police　duty　for　Bobby。　After　a　time　he　sat　up　on　the　table…tomb；　pensively。　With　Mr。　Brown　confined；　to　the　lodge；　and　Mistress　Jeanie　in　close　attendance　upon　him　there；　the　kirkyard　was　a　lonely　place　for　a　sociable　little　dog；　and　a　soft；　spring　day　given　over　to　brooding　beside　a　beloved　grave；　was　quite　too　heart…breaking　a　thing　to　contemplate。　Just　for　cheerful　occupation　Bobby　had　another　tussle　with　the　collar。　He　pulled　it　so　far　under　his　thatch　that　no　one　could　have　guessed　that　he　had　a　collar　on　at　all；　when　he　suddenly　righted　himself　and　scampered　away　to　the　gate。

The　music　grew　louder　and　came　nearer。　The　first　of　the　route…marching　that　the　Castle　garrison　practiced　on　occasional；　bright　spring　mornings　was　always　a　delightful　surprise　to　the　small　boys　and　dogs　of　Edinburgh。　Usually　the　soldiers　went　down　High　Street　and　out　to　Portobello　on　the　sea。　But　a　regiment　of　tough　and　wiry　Highlanders　often　took；　by　preference；　the　mounting　road　to　the　Pentlands　to　get　a　whiff　of　heather　in　their　nostrils。

On　they　came；　band　playing；　colors　flying；　feet　moving　in　unison　with　a　march；　across　the　viaduct　bridge　into　Greyfriars　Place。　Bobby　was　up　on　the　wicket；　his　small；　energetic　body　quivering　with　excitement　from　his　muzzle　to　his　tail。　If　Mr。　Traill　had　been　there　he　would　surely　have　caught　the　infection；　thrown　care　to　this　sweet　April　breeze　for　once；　and　taken　the　wee　terrier　for　a　run　on　the　Pentland　braes。　The　temptation　was　going　by　when　a　preoccupied　lady；　with　a　sheaf　of　Easter　lilies　on　her　sable　arm；　opened　the　wicket。　Her　ample　Victorian　skirts　swept　right　over　the　little　dog；　and　when　he　emerged　there　was　the　gate　slightly　ajar。　Widening　the　aperture　with　nose　and　paws；　Bobby　was　off；　skirmishing　at　large　on　the　rear　and　flanks　of　the　troops；　down　the　Burghmuir。

It　may　never　have　happened；　in　the　years　since　Auld　Jock　died　and　the　farmer　of　Cauldbrae　gave　up　trying　to　keep　him　on　the　hills；　that　Bobby；　had　gone　so　far　back　on　this　once　familiar　road；　and　he　may　not　have　recognized　it　at　first；　for　the　highways　around　Edinburgh　were　everywhere　much　alike。　This　one　alone　began　to　climb　again。　Up；　up　it　toiled；　for　two　weary　miles；　to　the　hilltop　toll…bar　of　Fairmilehead；　and　there　the　sounds　and　smells　that　made　it　different　from　other　roads　began。

Five　miles　out　of　the　city　the　halt　was　called；　and　the　soldiers　flung　themselves　on　the　slope。　Many　experiences　of　route…marching　had　taught　Bobby　that　there　was　an　interval　of　rest　before　the　return；　so；　with　his　nose　to　the　ground；　he　started　up　the　brae　on　a　pilgrimage　to　old　shrines。　just　as　in　his　puppyhood　days；　at　Auld　Jock's　heels；　there　was　much　shouting　of　men；　barking　of　　collies；　and　bleating　of　sheep　all　the　way　up。　Once　he　had　to　leave　the　road　until　a　driven　flock　had　passed。　Behind　the　sheep　walked　an　old　laborer　in　hodden…gray；　woolen　bonnet；　and　shepherd's　two…fold　plaid；　with　a　lamb　in　the　pouch　of　it。　Bobby　trembled　at　the　apparition；　sniffed　at　the　hob…nailed　boots；　and　then；　with　drooped　head　and　tail；　trotted　on　up　the　slope。

Men　and　dogs　were　all　out　on　the　billowy　pastures；　and　the　farm…house　of　Cauldbrae　lay　on　the　level　terrace；　seemingly　deserted　and　steeped　in　memories。　A　few　moments　before；　a　tall　lassie　had　come　out　to　listen　to　the　military　music。　A　couple　of　hundred　feet　below；　the　coats　of　the　soldiers　looked　to　her　like　poppies　scattered　on　the　heather。　At　the　top　of　the　brae　the　wind　was　blowing　a　cold　gale；　so　the　maidie　went　up　again；　and　around　to　a　bit　of　tangled　garden　on　the　sheltered　side　of　the　house。　The　〃wee　lassie　Elsie〃　was　still　a　bairn　in　short　skirts　and　braids；　who　lavished　her　soft　heart；　as　yet；　on　briar　bushes　and　daisies。

Bobby　made　a　tour　of　the　sheepfold；　the　cowyard　and　byre；　and　he　lingered　behind　the　byre；　where　Auld　Jock　had　played　with　him　on　Sabbath　afternoons。　He　inspected　the　dairy；　and　the　poultry…house　where　hens　were　sitting　on　their　nests。　By　and　by　he　trotted　around　the　house　and　came　upon　the　lassie；　busily　clearing　winter　rubbish　from　her　posie　bed。　A　dog　changes　very　little　in　appearance；　but　in　eight　and　a　half　years　a　child　grows　into　a　different　person　altogether。　Bobby　barked　politely　to　let　this　strange　lassie　know　that　he　was　there。　In　the　next　instant　he　knew　her；　for　she　whirled　about　and；　in　a　kind　of　glad　wonder；　cried　out：

〃Oh；　Bobby！　hae　ye　come　hame？　Mither；　here's　ma　ain　wee　Bobby！〃　For　she　had　never　given　up　the　hope　that　this　adored　little　pet　would　some　day　return　to　her。

〃Havers；　lassie；　ye're　aye　seein'　Bobby　i'　ilka　Hielan'　terrier；　an'　there's　mony　o'　them　aboot。〃

The　gude…wife　looked　from　an　attic　window　in　the　steep　gable；　and　then　hurried　down。　〃Weel；　noo；　ye're　richt；　Elsie。　He　wad　be　comin'　wi'　the　regiment　frae　the　Castle。　Bittie　doggies　an'　laddies　are　fair　daft　aboot　the　soldiers。　Ay；　he's　bonny；　an'　weel　cared　for；　by　the　ordinar'。　I　wonder　gin　he's　still　leevin'　i'　the　grand　auld　kirkyaird。〃

Wary　of　her　remembered　endearments；　Bobby　kept　a　safe　distance　from　the　maidie；　but　he　sat　up　and　lolled　his　tongue；　quite　willing　to　pay　her　a　friendly　visit。　From　that　she　came　to　a　wrong　conclusion：　〃Sin'　he　cam'　o'　his　ain　accord　he's　like　to　bide。〃　Her　eyes　were　blue　stars。

〃I　wadna　be　coontin'　on　that；　lassie。　An'　I　wadna　speck　a　door　on　'im　anither　time。　Grin　he　wanted　to　get　oot　he'd　dig　aneath　a　floor　o'　stane。　Leuk　at　that；　noo！　The　bonny　wee　is　greetin'　for　Auld　Jock。〃

It　was　true；　for；　on　entering　the　kitchen；　Bobby　went　straight　to　the　bench　in　the　corner　and　lay　down　flat　under　it。　Elsie　sat　beside　him；　just　as　she　had　done　of　old。　Her　eyes　overflowed　so　in　sympathy　that　the　mother　was　quite　distracted。　This　would　not　do　at　all。

〃Lassie；　are　ye　no'　rememberin'　Bobby　was　fair　fond　o'　moor…hens'　eggs　fried　wi'　bits　o'　cheese？　He　wullna　be　gettin'　thae　things；　an'　it　wad　be　maist　michty；　noo；　gin　ye　couldna　win　the　bittie　dog　awa'　frae　the　reekie　auld　toon。　Gang　oot　wi'　'im　an'　rin　on　the　brae　an'　bid　'im　find　the　nests　aneath　the　whins。〃

In　a　moment　they　were　out　on　the　heather；　and　it　seemed；　indeed；　as　if　Bobby　might　be　won。　He　frisked　and　barked　at　Elsie's　heels；　chased　rabbits　and　flushed　the　grouse；　and　when　he　ran　into　a　peat…darkened　tarp；　rimmed　with　moss；　he　had　such　a　cold　and　splashy　swim　as　quite　to　give　a　little　dog　a　distaste　for　warm；　soapy　water　in　a　claes　tub。　He　shook　and　ran　himself　dry；　and　he　raced　the　laughing　child　until　they　both　dropped　panting　on　the　wind…rippled　heath。　Then　he　hunted　on　the　ground　under　the　gorse　for　those　nests　that　had　a　dozen　or　more　eggs　in　them。　He　took　just　one　from　each　in　his　mouth；　as　Auld　Jock　had　taught　him　to　do。　On　the　kitchen　hearth　he　ate　the　savory　meal　with　much　satisfaction　and　polite　waggings。　But　when　the　bugle　sounded　from　below　to　form　ranks；　he　pricked　his　drop　ears　and　started　for　the　door。

Before　he　knew　what　had　happened　he　was　inside　the　poultry…house。　In　another　instant　he　was　digging　frantically　in　the　soft　earth　under　the　door。　When　the　lassie　lay　down　across　the　crack　he　stopped　digging；　in　consternation。　His　sense　of　smell　told　him　what　it　was　that　shut　out　the　strip　of　light；　and　a　bairn's　soft　body　is　not　a　proper　object　of　attack　for　a　little　dog；　no　matter　how　desperate　the　emergency。　There　was　no　time　to　be　lost；　for　the　drums　began　to　beat　the　march。　Having　to　get　out　very　quickly；　Bobby　did　a　forbidden　thing：　swiftly　and　noisily　he　dashed　around　the　dark　place；　and　there　arose　such　wild　squawkings　and　rushings　of　wings　as　to　bring　the　gude…wife　out　of　the　house　in　alarm。

〃Lassie；　I　canna　hae　the　bittie　dog　in　wi　the　broodin'　chuckies！〃

She　flung　the　door　wide。　Bobby　shot　through；　and　into　Elsie's　outstretched　arms。　She　held　to　him　desperately；　while　he　twisted　and　struggled　and　strained　away；　and　presently　something　shining　worked　into　view；　through　the　disordered　thatch　about　his　neck。　The　mother　had　come　to　the　help　of　the　child；　and　it　was　she　who　read　the　inscription　on　the　brazen　plate　aloud。

〃Preserve　us　a'！　Lassie；　he's　been　tak'n　by　the　Laird　Provost　an'　gien　the　name　o'　the　auld　kirkyaird。　He's　an　ower　grand　doggie。　Ma　puir　bairnie；　dinna　greet　so　sair！〃　For　the　little　girl　suddenly　released　the　wee　Highlander　and　sobbed　on　her　mother's　shoulder。

〃He　isna　ma　ain　Bobby　ony　mair！〃　She　〃couldna　thole〃　to　watch　him　as　he　tumbled　down　the　brae。

On　the　outward　march；　among　the　many　dogs　and　laddies　that　had　followed　the　soldiers；　Bobby　escaped　notice。　But　most　of　these　had　gone　adventuring　in　Swanston　Dell；　to　return　to　the　city　by　the　gorge　of　Leith　Water。　Now；　traveling　three　miles　to　the　soldiers'　one；　scampering　in　wide　circles　over　the　fields；　swimming　burns；　scrambling　under　hedges；　chasing　whaups　into　piping　cries；　barking　and　louping　in　pure　exuberance　of　spirits；　many　eyes　looked　upon　him　admiringly；　and　discontented　mouths　turned　upward　at　the　corners。　It　is　not　the　least　of　a　little　dog's　missions　in　life　to　communicate　his　own　irresponsib