greyfriars bobby-第5部分

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On　impulse　he　got　up　and　dropped　a　couple　of　hard　Scotch　buns；　very　good　dog…biscuit；　indeed；　into　the　pocket　of　Auld　Jock's　greatcoat　for　Bobby。　The　old　man　might　not　be　able　to　be　out　the　morn。　With　the　thought　in　his　mind　that　some　one　should　keep　a　friendly　eye　on　the　man；　he　mended　the　fire　with　such　an　unnecessary　clattering　of　the　tongs　that　Auld　Jock　started　from　his　sleep　with　a　cry。

〃Whaur　is　it　you　have　your　lodging；　Jock？〃　the　landlord　asked；　sharply；　for　the　man　looked　so　dazed　that　his　understanding　was　not　to　be　reached　easily。　He　got　the　indefinite　information　that　it　was　at　the　top　of　one　of　the　tall；　old　tenements　〃juist　aff　the　Coogate。〃

〃A　lang　climb　for　an　auld　man；〃　John　Traill　said；　compassionately；　then；　optimistic　as　usual；　〃but　it's　a　lang　climb　or　a　foul　smell；　in　the　poor　quarters　of　Edinburgh。〃

〃Ay。　It's　weel　aboon　the　fou'　smell。〃　With　some　comforting　thought　that　he　did　not　confide　to　Mr。　Traill　but　that　ironed　lines　out　of　his　old　face；　Auld　Jock　went　to　sleep　again。　Well；　the　landlord　reflected；　he　could　remain　there　by　the　fire　until　the　closing　hour　or　later；　if　need　be；　and　by　that　time　the　storm　might　ease　a　bit；　so　that　he　could　get　to　his　lodging　without　another　wetting。

For　an　hour　the　place　was　silent；　except　for　the　falling　clinkers　from　the　grate；　the　rustling　of　book…leaves；　and　the　plumping　of　rain　on　the　windows；　when　the　wind　shifted　a　point。　Lost　in　the　romance；　Mr。　Traill　took　no　note　of　the　passing　time　or　of　his　quiet　guests　until　he　felt　a　little　tug　at　his　trouser…leg。

〃Eh；　laddie？〃　he　questioned。　Up　the　little　dog　rose　in　the　begging　attitude。　Then；　with　a　sharp　bark；　he　dashed　back　to　his　master。

Something　was　very　wrong；　indeed。　Auld　Jock　had　sunk　down　in　his　seat。　His　arms　hung　helplessly　over　the　end　and　back　of　the　settle；　and　his　legs　were　sprawled　limply　before　him。　The　bonnet　that　he　always　wore；　outdoors　and　in；　had　fallen　from　his　scant；　gray　locks；　and　his　head　had　dropped　forward　on　his　chest。　His　breathing　was　labored；　and　he　muttered　in　his　sleep。

In　a　moment　Mr。　Traill　was　inside　his　own　greatcoat；　storm　boots　and　bonnet。　At　the　door　he　turned　back。　The　shop　was　unguarded。　Although　Greyfriars　Place　lay　on　the　hilltop；　with　the　sanctuary　of　the　kirkyard　behind　it；　and　the　University　at　no　great　distance　in　front；　it　was　but　a　step　up　from　the　thief…infested　gorge　of　the　Cowgate。　The　landlord　locked　his　moneydrawer；　pushed　his　easy…chair　against　it；　and　roused　Auld　Jock　so　far　as　to　move　him　over　from　the　settle。　The　chief　responsibility　he　laid　on　the　anxious　little　dog；　that　watched　his　every　movement。

〃Lie　down；　Bobby；　and　mind　Auld　Jock。　And　you're　no'　a　gude　dog　if　you　canna　bark　to　waken　the　dead　in　the　kirkyard；　if　ony　strange　body　comes　about。〃

〃Whaur　are　ye　gangin'？〃　cried　Auld　Jock。　He　was　wide　awake；　with　burning；　suspicious　eyes　fixed　on　his　host。

〃Sit　you　down；　man；　with　your　back　to　my　siller。　I'm　going　for　a　doctor。〃　The　noise　of　the　storm；　as　he　opened　the　door；　prevented　his　hearing　the　frightened　protest：

〃Dinna　ging！〃

The　rain　had　turned　to　sleet；　and　Mr。　Traill　had　trouble　in　keeping　his　feet。　He　looked　first　into　the　famous　Book　Hunter's　Stall　next　door；　on　the　chance　of　finding　a　medical　student。　The　place　was　open；　but　it　had　no　customers。　He　went　on　to　the　bridge；　but　there　the　sheriff's　court；　the　Martyr's　church；　the　society　halls　and　all　the　smart　shops　were　closed；　their　dark　fronts　lighted　fitfully　by　flaring　gas…lamps。　The　bitter　night　had　driven　all　Edinburgh　to　private　cover。

From　the　rear　came　a　clear　whistle。　Some　Heriot　laddie　who；　being　not　entirely　a　〃puir　orphan；〃　but　only　〃faderless〃　and；　therefore；　living　outside　the　school　with　his　mother；　had　been　kept　after　nightfall　because　of　ill…prepared　lessons　or　misbehavior。　Mr。　Traill　turned；　passed　his　own　door；　and　went　on　southward　into　Forest　Road；　that　skirted　the　long　arm　of　the　kirkyard。

From　the　Burghmuir；　all　the　way　to　the　Grassmarket　and　the　Cowgate；　was　downhill。　So；　with　arms　winged；　and　stout　legs　spread　wide　and　braced；　Geordie　Ross　was　sliding　gaily　homeward；　his　knitted　tippet　a　gallant　pennant　behind。　Here　was　a　Mercury　for　an　urgent　errand。

〃Laddie；　do　you　know　whaur's　a　doctor　who　can　be　had　for　a　shulling　or　two　for　a　poor　auld　country　body　in　my　shop？〃

〃Is　he　so　awfu'　ill？〃　Geordie　asked　with　the　morbid　curiosity　of　lusty　boyhood。

〃He's　a'　that。　He's　aff　his　heid。　Run；　laddie；　and　dinna　be　standing　there　wagging　your　fule　tongue　for　naething。〃

Geordie　was　off　with　speed　across　the　bridge　to　High　Street。　Mr。　Traill　struggled　back　to　his　shop；　against　wind　and　treacherous　ice；　thinking　what　kind　of　a　bed　might　be　contrived　for　the　sick　man　for　the　night。　In　the　morning　the　daft　auld　body　could　be　hurried；　willy…nilly；　to　a　bed　in　the　infirmary。　As　for　wee　Bobby　he　wouldn't　mind　if

And　there　he　ran　into　his　own　wide…flung　door。　A　gale　blew　through　the　hastily　deserted　place。　Ashes　were　scattered　about　the　hearth；　and　the　cruisey　lamp　flared　in　the　gusts。　Auld　Jock　and　Bobby　were　gone。



III。

Although　dismayed　and　self…accusing　for　having　frightened　Auld　Jock　into　taking　flight　by　his　incautious　talk　of　a　doctor；　not　for　an　instant　did　the　landlord　of　Greyfriars　Dining…Rooms　entertain　the　idea　of　following　him。　The　old　man　had　only　to　cross　the　street　and　drop　down　the　incline　between　the　bridge　approach　and　the　ancient　Chapel　of　St。　Magdalen　to　be　lost　in　the　deepest；　most　densely　peopled；　and　blackest　gorge　in　Christendom。

Well　knowing　that　he　was　safe　from　pursuit；　Auld　Jock　chuckled　as　he　gained　the　last　low　level。　Fever　lent　him　a　brief　strength；　and　the　cold　damp　was　grateful　to　his　hot　skin。　None　were　abroad　in　the　Cowgate；　and　that　was　lucky　for；　in　this　black　hole　of　Edinburgh；　even　so　old　and　poor　a　man　was　liable　to　be　set　upon　by　thieves；　on　the　chance　of　a　few　shillings　or　pence。

Used　as　he　was　to　following　flocks　up　treacherous　braes　and　through　drifted　glens；　and　surefooted　as　a　collie；　Auld　Jock　had　to　pick　his　way　carefully　over　the　slimy；　ice…glazed　cobble　stones　of　the　Cowgate。　He　could　see　nothing。　The　scattered　gas…lamps；　blurred　by　the　wet；　only　made　a　timbered　gallery　or　stone　stairs　stand　out　here　and　there　or　lighted　up　a　Gothic　gargoyle　to　a　fantastic　grin。　The　street　lay　so　deep　and　narrow　that　sleet　and　wind　wasted　little　time　in　finding　it　out；　but　roared　and　rattled　among　the　gables；　dormers　and　chimney…stacks　overhead。　Happy　in　finding　his　master　himself　again；　and　sniffing　fresh　adventure；　Bobby　tumbled　noisily　about　Auld　Jock's　feet　until　reproved。　And　here　was　strange　going。　Ancient　and　warring　smells　confused　and　insulted　the　little　country　dog's　nose。　After　a　few　inquiring　and　protesting　barks　Bobby　fell　into　a　subdued　trot　at　Auld　Jock's　heels。

To　this　shepherd　in　exile　the　romance　of　Old　Edinburgh　was　a　sealed　book。　It　was；　indeed；　difficult　for　the　most　imaginative　to　believe　that　the　Cowgate　was　once　a　lovely；　wooded　ravine；　with　a　rustic　burn　babbling　over　pebbles　at　its　bottom；　and　along　the　brook　a　straggling　path　worn　smooth　by　cattle　on　their　driven　way　to　the　Grassmarket。　Then；　when　the　Scottish　nobility　was　crowded　out　of　the　piled…up　mansions；　on　the　sloping　ridge　of　High　Street　that　ran　the　mile　from　the　Castle　to　Holyrood　Palace；　splendor　camped　in　the　Cowgate；　in　villas　set　in　fair　gardens；　and　separated　by　hedge…rows　in　which　birds　nested。

In　time　this　ravine；　too；　became　overbuilt。　Houses　tumbled　down　both　slopes　to　the　winding　cattle　path；　and　the　burn　was　arched　over　to　make　a　thoroughfare。　Laterally；　the　buildings　were　crowded　together；　until　the　upper　floors　were　pushed　out　on　timber　brackets　for　light　and　air。　Galleries；　stairs　and　jutting　windows　were　added　to　outer　walls；　and　the　mansions　climbed；　story　above　story；　until　the　Cowgate　was　an　undercut　canon；　such　as　is　worn　through　rock　by　the　rivers　of　western　America。　Lairds　and　leddies；　powdered；　jeweled　and　satin…shod；　were　borne　in　sedan　chairs　down　ten　flights　of　stone　stairs　and　through　torch…lit　courts　and　tunnel　streets；　to　routs　in　Castle　or　Palace　and　to　tourneys　in　the　Grassmarket。

From　its　low　situation　the　Cowgate　came　in　the　course　of　time　to　smell　to　heaven；　and　out　of　it　was　a　sudden　exodus　of　grand　folk　to　the　northern　hills。　The　lowest　level　was　given　over　at　once　to　the　poor　and　to　small　trade。　The　wynds　and　closes　that　climbed　the　southern　slope　were　eagerly　possessed　by　divines；　lawyers　and　literary　men　because　of　their　nearness　to　the　University。　Long　before　Bobby's　day　the　well…to…do　had　fled　from　the　Cowgate　wynds　to　the　hilltop　streets　and　open　squares　about　the　colleges。　A　few　decent　working…men　remained　in　the　decaying　houses；　some　of　which　were　at　least　three　centuries　old。　But　there　swarmed　in　upon；　and　submerged　them；　thousands　of　criminals；　beggars；　and　the　miserably　poor　and　degraded　of　many　nationalities。　Businesses　that　fatten　on　misfortunethe　saloon；　pawn；　old　clothes　and　cheap　food　shops…lined　the　squalid　Cowgate。　Palaces　were　cut　up　into　honeycombs　of　tall　tenements。　Every　stair　was　a　crowded　highway；　every　passage　a　place　of　deposit　for　filth；　almost　every　room　sheltered　a　half　famished　family；　in　darkness　and　ancient　dirt。　Grand　and　great；　pious　and　wise；　decent；　wretched　and　terrible　folk；　of　every　sort；　had　preceded　Auld　Jock　to　his　lodging　in　a　steep　and　narrow　wynd；　and　nine　gusty　flights　up　under　a　beautiful；　old　Gothic　gable。

A　wrought…iron　lantern　hanging　in　an　arched　opening；　lighted　the　entrance　to　the　wynd。　With　a　hand　outstretched　to　either　wall；　Auld　Jock　felt　his　way　up。　Another　lantern　marked　a　sculptured　doorway　that　gave　to　the　foul　court　of　the　tenement。　No　sky　could　be　seen　above　the　open　well　of　the　court；　and　the　carved；　oaken　banister　of　the　stairs　had　to　be　felt　for　and　clung　to　by　one　so　short　of　breath。　On　the　seventh　landing；　from　the　exertion　of　the　long　climb；　Auld　Jock　was　shaken　into　helplessness；　and　his　heart　set　to　pounding；　by　a　violent　fit　of　coughing。　Overhead　a　shutter　was　slammed　back；　and　an　angry　voice　bade　him　stop　〃deaving　folk。〃

The　last　two　flights　ascended　within　the　walls。　The　old　man　stumbled　into　the　pitch…black；　stifling　passage　and　sat　down　on　the　lowest　step　to　rest。　On　the　landing　above　he　must