greyfriars bobby-第7部分

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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　his　sleep　or　cried　out　in　the　delirium　of　fever；　the　little　dog　put　his　paws　upon　the　bed…rail。　He　scratched　on　it　and　begged　to　be　lifted　to　where　he　could　comfort　his　master；　for　the　shelf　was　set　too　high　for　him　to　climb　into　the　bed。　Unable　to　get　his　master's　attention；　he　licked　the　hot　hand　that　hung　over　the　side。　Auld　Jock　lay　still　at　last；　not　coughing　any　more；　but　breathing　rapid；　shallow　breaths。　Just　at　dawn　he　turned　his　head　and　gazed　in　bewilderment　at　the　alert　and　troubled　little　creature　that　was　instantly　upon　the　rail。　After　a　long　time　he　recognized　the　dog　and　patted　the　shaggy　little　head。　Feeling　around　the　bed；　he　found　the　other　bun　and　dropped　it　on　the　floor。　Presently　he　said；　between　strangled　breaths：

〃PuirBobby！　Gangawa'hameladdie。〃

After　that　it　was　suddenly　very　still　in　the　brightening　room。　Bobby　gazed　and　gazed　at　his　masterone　long；　heartbroken　look；　then　dropped　to　all　fours　and　stood　trembling。　Without　another　look　he　stretched　himself　upon　the　hearthstone　below　the　bed。

Morning　and　evening　footsteps　went　down　and　came　up　on　the　stairs。　Throughout　the　daythe　babel　of　crowded　tenement　strife；　the　crying　of　fishwives　and　fagot…venders　in　the　court；　the　striking　of　the　hours；　the　boom　of　the　time　gun　and　sweet　clamor　of　music　bells；　the　failing　of　the　light　and　the　soaring　note　of　the　buglehe　watched　motionless　beside　his　master。

Very　late　at　night　shuffling　footsteps　came　up　the　stairs。　The　〃auld　wifie〃　kept　a　sharp　eye　on　the　comings　and　goings　of　her　lodgers。　It　was　〃no'　canny〃　that　this　old　man；　with　a　cauld　in　his　chest；　had　gone　up　full　two　days　before　and　had　not　come　down　again。　To　bitter　complaints　of　his　coughing　and　of　his　strange　talking　to　himself　she　gave　scant　attention；　but　foul　play　was　done　often　enough　in　these　dens　to　make　her　uneasy。　She　had　no　desire　to　have　the　Burgh　police　coming　about　and　interfering　with　her　business。　She　knocked　sharply　on　the　door　and　called：

〃Auld　Jock！〃

Bobby　trotted　over　to　the　door　and　stood　looking　at　it。　In　such　a　strait　he　would　naturally　have　welcomed　the　visitor；　scratching　on　the　panel；　and　crying　to　any　human　body　without　to　come　in　and　see　what　had　befallen　his　master。　But　Auld　Jock　had　bade　him　〃haud　'is　gab〃　there；　as　in　Greyfriars　kirkyard。　So　he　held　to　loyal　silence；　although　the　knocking　and　shaking　of　the　latch　was　insistent　and　the　lodgers　were　astir。　The　voice　of　the　old　woman　was　shrill　with　alarm。

〃Auld　Jock；　can　ye　no'　wauken？〃　And；　after　a　moment；　in　which　the　unlatched　casement　window　within　could　be　heard　creaking　on　its　hinges　in　the　chill　breeze；　there　was　a　hushed　and　frightened　question：

〃Are　ye　deid？〃

The　footsteps　fled　down　the　stairs；　and　Bobby　was　left　to　watch　through　the　long　hours　of　darkness。

Very　early　in　the　morning　the　flimsy　door　was　quietly　forced　by　authority。　The　first　man　who　enteredan　officer　of　the　Crown　from　the　sheriff's　court　on　the　bridgetook　off　his　hat　to　the　majesty　that　dominated　that　bare　cell。　The　Cowgate　region　presented　many　a　startling　contrast；　but　such　a　one　as　this　must　seldom　have　been　seen。　The　classic　fireplace；　and　the　motionless　figure　and　peaceful　face　of　the　pious　old　shepherd　within　it；　had　the　dignity　and　beauty　of　some　monumental　tomb　and　carved　effigy　in　old　Greyfriars　kirkyard。　Only　less　strange　was　the　contrast　between　the　marks　of　poverty　and　toil　on　the　dead　man　and　the　dainty　grace　of　the　little　fluff　of　a　dog　that　mourned　him。

No　such　men　as　theseofficers　of　her　Majesty　the　Queen；　Burgh　policemen；　and　learned　doctors　from　the　Royal　Infirmaryhad　ever　been　aware　of　Auld　Jock；　living。　Dead；　and　no'　needing　them　any　more；　they　stood　guard　over　him；　and　inquired　sternly　as　to　the　manner　in　which　he　had　died。　There　was　a　hysterical　breath　of　relief　from　the　crowd　of　lodgers　and　tenants　when　the　little　pile　of　coins　was　found　on　the　Bible。　There　had　been　no　foul　play。　Auld　Jock　had　died　of　heart　failure；　from　pneumonia　and　wornout　old　age。

〃There's　eneugh；〃　a　Burgh　policeman　said　when　the　money　was　counted。　He　meant　much　the　same　thing　Auld　Jock　himself　had　meant。　There　was　enough　to　save　him　from　the　last　indignity　a　life　of　useful　labor　can　thrust　upon　the　honest　poorpauper　burial。　But　when　inquiries　were　made　for　the　name　and　the　friends　of　this　old　man　there　appeared　to　be　only　〃Auld　Jock〃　to　enter　into　the　record；　and　a　little　dog　to　follow　the　body　to　the　grave。　It　was　a　Bible　reader　who　chanced　to　come　in　from　the　Medical　Mission　in　the　Cowgate　who　thought　to　look　in　the　fly…leaf　of　Auld　Jock's　Bible。

〃His　name　is　John　Gray。〃

He　laid　the　worn　little　book　on　Auld　Jock's　breast　and　crossed　the　work…scarred　hands　upon　it。　〃It's　something　by　the　ordinar'　to　find　a　gude　auld　country　body　in　such　a　foul　place。〃　He　stooped　and　patted　Bobby；　and　noted　the　bun；　untouched；　upon　the　floor。　Turning　to　a　wild　elf　of　a　barefooted　child　in　the　crowd　he　spoke　to　her。　〃Would　you　share　your　gude　brose　with　the　bit　dog；　lassie？〃

She　darted　down　the　stairs；　and　presently　returned　with　her　own　scanty　bowl　of　breakfast　porridge。　Bobby　refused　the　food；　but　he　looked　at　her　so　mournfully　that　the　first　tears　of　pity　her　unchildlike　eyes　had　ever　shed　welled　up。　She　put　out　her　hand　timidly　and　stroked　him。

It　was　just　before　the　report　of　the　time…gun　that　two　policemen　cleared　the　stairs；　shrouded　Auld　Jock　in　his　own　greatcoat　and　plaid；　and　carried　him　down　to　the　court。　There　they　laid　him　in　a　plain　box　of　white　deal　that　stood　on　the　pavement；　closed　it；　and　went　away　down　the　wynd　on　a　necessary　errand。　The　Bible…　reader　sat　on　an　empty　beer　keg　to　guard　the　box；　and　Bobby　climbed　on　the　top　and　stretched　himself　above　his　master。　The　court　was　a　well；　more　than　a　hundred　feet　deep　What　sky　might　have　been　visible　above　it　was　hidden　by　tier　above　tier　of　dingy；　tattered　washings。　The　stairway　filled　again；　and　throngs　of　outcasts　of　every　sort　went　about　their　squalid　businesses；　with　only　a　curious　glance　or　so　at　the　pathetic　group。

Presently　the　policemen　returned　from　the　Cowgate　with　a　motley　assortment　of　pallbearers。　There　was　a　good…tempered　Irish　laborer　from　a　near…by　brewery；　a　decayed　gentleman；　unsteady　of　gait　and　blear…eyed；　in　greasy　frock…coat　and　broken　hat；　a　flashily　dressed　bartender　who　found　the　task　distasteful；　a　stout；　bent…backed　fagot…carrier；　a　drunken　fisherman　from　New　Haven；　suddenly　sobered　by　this　uncanny　duty；　and　a　furtive；　gaol…bleached　thief　who　feared　a　trap　and　tried　to　escape。

Tailed　by　scuffling　gamins；　the　strange　little　procession　moved　quickly　down　the　wynd　and　turned　into　the　roaring　Cowgate。　The　policemen　went　before　to　force　a　passage　through　the　press。　The　Bible…reader　followed　the　box；　and　Bobby；　head　and　tail　down；　trotted　unnoticed；　beneath　it。　The　humble　funeral　train　passed　under　a　bridge　arch　into　the　empty　Grassmarket；　and　went　up　Candlemakers　Row　to　the　kirkyard　gate。　Such　as　Auld　Jock；　now；　by　unnumbered　thousands；　were　coming　to　lie　among　the　grand　and　great；　laird　and　leddy；　poet　and　prophet；　persecutor　and　martyr；　in　the　piled…up；　historic　burying…ground　of　old　Greyfriars。

By　a　gesture　the　caretaker　directed　the　bearers　to　the　right；　past　the　church；　a