greyfriars bobby-第30部分

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o　meet　it　with　friskings　of　welcome。　But　now　he　lay　very　still；　even　when　a　pair　of　frail　arms　tried　to　lift　his　dead　weight　to　a　heaving　breast；　and　Tammy's　cry　of　woe　rang　through　the　kirkyard。　In　a　moment　Ailie　and　Mistress　Jeanie　were　in　the　wet　grass　beside　them；　half　a　hundred　casements　flew　open；　and　the　piping　voices　of　tenement　bairns　cried…down：

〃Did　the　bittie　doggie　come　hame？〃

Oh　yes；　the　bittie　doggie　had　come　hame；　indeed；　but　down　such　perilous　heights　as　none　of　them　dreamed；　and　now　in　what　a　woeful　plight！

Some　murmur　of　the　excitement　reached　an　open　dormer　of　the　Temple　tenements；　where　Geordie　Ross　had　slept　with　one　ear　of　the　born　doctor　open。　Snatching　up　a　case　of　first　aids　to　the　injured；　he　ran　down　the　twisting　stairs　to　the　Grassmarket；　up　to　the　gate；　and　around　the　kirk；　to　find　a　huddled　group　of　women　and　children　weeping　over　a　limp　little　bundle　of　a　senseless　dog。　He　thrust　a　bottle　of　hartshorn　under　the　black　muzzle；　and　with　a　start　and　a　moan　Bobby　came　back　to　consciousness。

〃Lay　him　down　flat　and　stop　your　havers；〃　ordered　the　business…like；　embryo　medicine　man。　〃Bobby's　no'　dead。　Laddie；　you're　a　braw　soldier　for　holding　your　ain　feelings；　so　just　hold　the　wee　dog's　head。〃　Then；　in　the　reassuring　dialect：　〃Hoots；　Bobby；　open　the　bit　mou'　noo；　an'　tak'　the　medicine　like　a　mannie！〃　Down　the　tiny　red　cavern　of　a　throat　Geordie　poured　a　dose　that　galvanized　the　small　creature　into　life。

〃Noo；　then；　loup；　ye　bonny　rascal！〃

Bobby　did　his　best　to　jump　at　Geordie's　bidding。　He　was　so　glad　to　be　at　home　and　to　see　all　these　familiar　faces　of　love　that　he　lifted　himself　on　his　fore　paws；　and　his　happy　heart　almost　put　the　power　to　loup　into　his　hind　legs。　But　when　he　tried　to　stand　up　he　cried　out　with　the　pains　and　sank　down　again；　with　an　apologetic　and　shamefaced　look　that　was　worthy　of　Auld　Jock　himself。　Geordie　sobered　on　the　instant。

〃Weel；　now；　he's　been　hurt。　We'll　just　have　to　see　what　ails　the　sonsie　doggie。〃　He　ran　his　hand　down　the　parting　in　the　thatch　to　discover　if　the　spine　had　been　injured。　When　he　suddenly　pinched　the　ball　of　a　hind　toe　Bobby　promptly　resented　it　by　jerking　his　head　around　and　looking　at　him　reproachfully。　The　bairns　were　indignant；　too；　but　Geordie　grinned　cheerfully　and　said：　〃He's　no'　paralyzed；　at　ony　rate。〃　He　turned　as　footsteps　were　heard　coming　hastily　around　the　kirk。

〃A　gude　morning　to　you；　Mr。　Traill。　Bobby　may　have　been　run　over　by　a　cart　and　got　internal　injuries；　but　I'm　thinking　it's　just　sprains　and　bruises　from　a　bad　fall。　He　was　in　a　state　of　collapse；　and　his　claws　are　as　broken　and　his　toes　as　torn　as　if　he　had　come　down　Castle　Rock。〃

This　was　such　an　extravagant　surmise　that　even　the　anxious　landlord　smiled。　Then　he　said；　drily：

〃You're　a　braw　laddie；　Geordie；　and　gudehearted；　but　you're　no'　a　doctor　yet；　and；　with　your　leave；　I'll　have　my　ain　medical　man　tak'　a　look　at　Bobby。〃

〃Ay；　I　would；〃　Geordie　agreed；　cordially。　〃It's　worth　four　shullings　to　have　your　mind　at　ease；　man。　I'll　just　go　up　to　the　lodge　and　get　a　warm　bath　ready；　to　tak'　the　stiffness　out　of　his　muscles；　and　brew　a　tea　from　an　herb　that　wee　wild　creatures　know　all　about　and　aye　hunt　for　when　they're　ailing。〃

Geordie　went　away　gaily；　to　take　disorder　and　evil　smells　into　Mistress　Jeanie's　shining　kitchen。

No　sooner　had　the　medical　student　gone　up　to　the　lodge；　and　the　children　had　been　persuaded　to　go　home　to　watch　the　proceedings　anxiously　from　the　amphitheater　of　the　tenement　windows；　than　the　kirkyard　gate　was　slammed　back　noisily　by　a　man　in　a　hurry。　It　was　the　sergeant　who；　in　the　splendor　of　full　uniform；　dropped　in　the　wet　grass　beside　Bobby。

〃Lush！　The　sma'　dog　got　hame；　an'　is　still　leevin'。　Noo；　God　forgie　me〃

〃Eh；　man；　what　had　you　to　do　with　Bobby's　misadventure？〃

Mr。　Traill　fixed　an　accusing　eye　on　the　soldier；　remembering　suddenly　his　laughing　threat　to　kidnap　Bobby。　The　story　came　out　in　a　flood　of　remorseful　words；　from　Bobby's　following　of　the　troops　so　gaily　into　the　Castle　to　his　desperate　escape　over　the　precipice。

〃Noo；〃　he　said；　humbly；　〃gin　it　wad　be　ony　satisfaction　to　ye；　I'll　gang　up　to　the　Castle　an'　put　on　fatigue　dress；　no'　to　disgrace　the　unifarm　o'　her　Maijesty；　an'　let　ye　tak'　me　oot　on　the　Burghmuir　an'　gie　me　a　gude　lickin'。〃

Mr。　Traill　shrugged　his　shoulders。　〃Naething　would　satisfy　me；　man；　but　to　get　behind　you　and　kick　you　over　the　Firth　into　the　Kingdom　of　Fife。〃

He　turned　an　angry　back　on　the　sergeant　and　helped　Geordie　lift　Bobby　onto　Mrs。　Brown's　braided　hearth…rug　and　carry　the　improvised　litter　up　to　the　lodge。　In　the　kitchen　the　little　dog　was　lowered　into　a　hot　bath；　dried；　and　rubbed　with　liniments　under　his　fleece。　After　his　lacerated　feet　had　been　cleaned　and　dressed　with　healing　ointments　and　tied　up；　Bobby　was　wrapped　in　Mistress　Jeanie's　best　flannel　petticoat　and　laid　on　the　hearth…rug；　a　very　comfortable　wee　dog；　who　enjoyed　his　breakfast　of　broth　and　porridge。

Mr。　Brown；　hearing　the　commotion　and　perishing　of　curiosity；　demanded。　that　some　one　should　come　and　help　him　out　of　bed。　As　no　attention　was　paid　to　him　he　managed　to　get　up　himself　and　to　hobble　out　to　the　kitchen　just　as　Mr。　Traill's　ain　medical　man　came　in。　Bobby's　spine　was　examined　again；　the　tail　and　toes　nipped；　the　heart　tested；　and　all　the　soft　parts　of　his　body　pressed　and　punched；　in　spite　of　the　little　dog's　vigorous　objections　to　these　indignities。

〃Except　for　sprains　and　bruises　the　wee　dog　is　all　right。　Came　down　Castle　Crag　in　the　fog；　did　he？　He's　a　clever　and　plucky　little　chap；　indeed；　and　deserving　of　a　hero　medal　to　hang　on　the　Lord　Provost's　collar。　You've　done　very　well；　Mr。　Ross。　Just　take　as　good　care　of　him　for　a　week　or　so　and　he　could　do　the　gallant　deed　again。〃

Mr。　Brown　listened　to　the　story　of　Bobby's　adventures　with　a　mingled　look　of　disgust　at　the　foolishness　of　men；　pride　in　Bobby's　prowess；　and　resentment　at　having　been　left　out　of　the　drama　of　the　night　before。　〃It's　maist　michty；　noo；　Maister　Traill；　that　ye　wad　tak'　the　leeberty　o'　leein'　to　me；〃　he　complained。

〃It　was　a　gude　lee　or　a　bad　nicht　for　an　ill　man。　Geordie　will　tell　you　that　a　mind　at　ease　is　worth　four　shullings；　and　I'm　charging　you　naething。　Eh；　man；　you're　deeficult　to　please。〃　As　he　went　out　into　the　kirkyard　Mr。　Traill　stopped　to　reflect　on　a　strange　thing：　〃　'You've　done　very　well；　Mr。　Ross。'　Weel；　weel；　how　the　laddies　do　grow　up！　But　I'm　no'　going　to　admit　it　to　Geordie。〃

Another　thought；　over　which　he　chuckled；　sent　him　off　to　find　the　sergeant。　The　soldier　was　tramping　gloomily　about　in　the　wet；　to　the　demoralization　of　his　beautiful　boots。

〃Man；　since　a　stormy　nicht　eight　years　ago　last　November　I've　aye　been　looking　for　a　bigger　weel　meaning　fule　than　my　ain　sel'。　You're　the　man；　so　if　you'll　just　shak'　hands　we'll　say　nae　more　about　it。〃

He　did　not　explain　this　cryptic　remark；　but　he　went　on　to　assure　the　sorry　soldier　that　Bobby　had　got　no　serious　hurt　and　would　soon　be　as　well　as　ever。　They　had　turned　toward　the　gate　when　a　stranger　with　a　newspaper　in　his　hand　peered　mildly　around　the　kirk　and　inquired　〃Do　ye　ken　whaur's　the　sma'　dog；　man？〃　As　Mr。　Traill　continued　to　stare　at　him　he　explained；　patiently：　〃It's　Greyfriars　Bobby；　the　bittie　terrier　the　Laird　Provost　gied　the　collar　to。　Hae　ye　no'　seen　'The　Scotsman'　the　day？〃

The　landlord　had　not。　And　there　was　the　story；　Bobby's；　name　heading　quite　a　quarter　of　a　broad　column　of　fine　print；　and　beginning　with：　〃A　very　singular　and　interesting　occurrence　was　brought　to　light　in　the　Burgh　court　by　the　hearing　of　a　summons　in　regard　to　a　dog　tax。〃　Bobby　was　a　famous　dog；　and　Mr。　Traill　came　in　for　a　goodly　portion　of　reflected　glory。　He　threw　up　his　hands　in　dismay。

〃It's　all　over　the　toon；　Sergeant。〃　Turning　to　the　stranger；　he　assured　him　that　Bobby　was　not　to　be　seen。　〃He　hurt　himsel'　coming　down　Castle　Rock　in　the　nicht；　and　is　in　the　lodge　with　the　caretaker；　wha's　fair　ill。　Hoo　do　I　ken？〃　testily。　〃Weel；　man；　I'm　Mr。　Traill。〃

He　saw　at　once　how　unwise　was　that　admission；　for　he　had　to　shake　hands　with　the　cordial　stranger。　And　after　dismissing　him　there　was　another　at　the　gate　who　insisted　upon　going　up　to　the　lodge　to　see　the　little　hero。　Here　was　a　state　of　things；　indeed；　that　called　upon　all　the　powers　of　the　resourceful　landlord。

〃All　the　folk　in　Edinburgh　will　be　coming；　and　the　poor　woman　be　deaved　with　their　spiering。〃　And　then　he　began　to　laugh。　〃Did　you　ever　hear　o'　sic　a　thing　as　poetic　justice；　Sergeant？　Nae；　it's　no'　the　kind　you'll　get　in　the　courts　of　law。　Weel；　it's　poetic　justice　for　a　birkie　soldier；　wha　claims　the　airth　and　the　fullness　thereof；　to　have　to　tak'　his　orders　from　a　sma'　shopkeeper。　Go　up　to　the　police　office　in　St。　Gila　now　and　ask　for　an　officer　to　stand　at　the　gate　here　to　answer　questions；　and　to　keep　the　folk　awa'　from　the　lodge。〃

He　stood　guard　himself；　and　satisfied　a　score　of　visitors　before　the　sergeant　came　back；　and　there　was　another　instance　of　poetic　justice；　in　the　crestfallen　Burgh　policeman　who　had　been　sent　with　instructions　to　take　his　orders　from　the　delighted　landlord。

〃Eh；　Davie；　it's　a　lang　lane　that　has　nae　turning。　Ye're　juist　to　stand　here　a'　the　day　an'　say　to　ilka　body　wha　spiers　for　the　dog：　'Ay；　sir；　Greyfriars　Bobby's　been　leevin'　i'　the　kirkyaird　aucht　years　an'　mair；　an'　Maister　Traill's　aye　fed　'im　i'　the　dining…rooms。　Ay；　the　case　was　dismissed　i'　the　Burgh　coort。　The　Laird　Provost　gied　a　collar　to　the　bit　Skye　because　there's　a　meddlin'　fule　or　twa　amang　the　Burgh　police　wha'd　be　takin'　'im　up。　The　doggie's　i'　the　lodge　wi'　the　caretaker；　wha's　fair　ill；　an'　he　canna　be　seen　the　day。　But　gang　aroond　the　kirk　an'　ye　can　see　Auld　Jock's　grave　that　he's　aye　guarded。　There's　nae　stave　to　it；　but　it's　neist　to　the　fa'en　table…tomb　o'　Mistress　Jean　Grant。　A　gude　day　to　ye。'　Hae　ye　got　a'　that；　man？　Weel；　cheer　up。　Yell　hae　to　say　it　nae　mair　than　a　thousand　times　or　twa；　atween　noo　an'　nichtfa'。〃

He　went　away　laughing　at　the　penance　that　was　laid　upon　his　foe。　The　landlord　felt　so　well　satisfied　with　the　world　that　he　took　another　jaunty　crack　at　the　sergeant：　〃By　richts；　man；　you　ought　to　go　to　gaol；　but　I'll　just　fine　you　a　shulling　a　month　for　Bob