greyfriars bobby-第26部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


e　corners。　It　is　not　the　least　of　a　little　dog's　missions　in　life　to　communicate　his　own　irresponsible　gaiety　to　men。

If　the　return　had　been　over　George　IV　Bridge　Bobby　would；　no　doubt；　have　dropped　behind　at　Mr。　Traill's　or　at　the　kirkyard。　But　on　the　Burghmuir　the　troops　swung　eastward　until　they　rounded　Arthur's　Seat　and　met　the　cavalry　drilling　before　the　barracks　at　Piershill。　Such　pretty　maneuvering　of　horse　and　foot　took　place　below　Holyrood　Palace　as　quite　to　enrapture　a　terrier。　When　the　infantry　marched　up　the　Canongate　and　High　Street；　the　mounted　men　following　and　the　bands　playing　at　full　blast；　the　ancient　thoroughfare　was　quickly　lined　with　cheering　crowds；　and　faces　looked　down　from　ten　tiers　of　windows　on　a　beautiful　spectacle。　Bobby　did　not　know　when　the　bridge…approach　was　passed；　and　then；　on　Castle　Hill；　he　was　in　an　unknown　region。　There　the　street　widened　to　the　great　square　of　the　esplanade。　The　cavalry　wheeled　and　dashed　down　High　Street；　but　the　infantry　marched　on　and　up；　over　the　sounding　drawbridge　that　spanned　a　dry　moat　of　the　Middle　Ages；　and　through　a　deep…arched　gateway　of　masonry。

The　outer　gate　to　the　Castle　was　wider　than　the　opening　into　many　an　Edinburgh　wynd；　but　Bobby　stopped；　uncertain　as　to　where　this　narrow　roadway；　that　curved　upward　to　the　right；　might　lead。　It　was　not　a　dark　fissure　in　a　cliff　of　houses；　but　was　bounded　on　the　outer　side　by　a　loopholed　wall；　and　on　the　inner　by　a　rocky　ledge　of　ascending　levels。　Wherever　the　shelf　was　of　sufficient　breadth　a　battery　of　cannon　was　mounted；　and　such　a　flood　of　light　fell　from　above　and　flashed　on　polished　steel　and　brass　as　to　make　the　little　dog　blink　in　bewilderment。　And　he　whirled　like　a　rotary　sweeper　in　the　dusty　road　and　yelped　when　the　time…gun；　in　the　half…moon　battery　at　the　left　of　the　gate　and　behind　him；　crashed　and　shook　the　massive　rock。

He　barked　and　barked；　and　dashed　toward　the　insulting　clamor。　The　dauntless　little　dog　and　his　spirited　protest　were　so　out　of　proportion　to　the　huge　offense　that　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　pleasa