Greyfriars Bobby: The True Story of a Dog Page #2

Very well. In you go, laddie.

I want a bed for the night

if you have one free.

- Free, is it?

- No, I didn't mean it that way.

I've been here before, you know.

So you have, so you have.

I mind you. You're the one

they call old Jock.

Here's the money for my bed.

And a farthing for the light.

Has the front room at the top

of the stairs got anybody in it?

No, no. Nobody there.

That cough you have.

If you wake your neighbours with it,

you'll need to fight it out for yourself.

I know all about that.

Whist now, laddie.

Ye may well smell rats in here, but...

Whisht!

We're above the old city smell up here.

It was worth the climb, eh, Bobby?

I left a wee something here

a few months back.

Aye! It's here yet.

A posy of heather, laddie.

And not dead.

You can almost smell the moors in it.

Can you not?

What do you say, Bobby?

Will we pretend we're out there now?

Come on then. Beg for your supper.

That's it. A good laddie.

Down now, down.

Up, boy. Good.

Die for your country now.

That's a good laddie.

Jump!

Loup!

Who's got a dog in there?

Laddie. What's all the noise about?

I thought I heard a dog myself!

Quiet, or they'll throw you out.

In the devil's name, hold your row

or I'll fetch the constable to you!

I'll not hear you fightin' in my house.

Hold your row!

You see what an old fool old Jock is?

I have a bible for my comfort,

and I cannot read.

My father gave it to me

when he lay dyin' in his croft.

It's the only thing I've got.

A book I cannot read.

And a fool dog that's not my own.

I must get to sleep now.

And you, too, laddie.

Lie quiet now.

- Good day, Mr. Traill.

- Good day to you.

Did you find anything

about that old shepherd?

He has no' been found and taken

to the infirmary or to the lockup.

- I know for certain.

- I did no' understand it.

He can no' have gone far,

and I'm fair worried about him.

But I tell ye, if ye see a wee bit

of a Skye terrier running loose,

the old man will no' be far,

so keep your eyes open.

- I've got better things to do.

- And so have I!

I pay my taxes where your wages

come from, so mind your manners!

Morning, Mr. Traill.

Here. Just a minute.

If you see a wee Skye terrier,

a wee grey dog, near the market,

tell me, and I'll give ye a penny.

- A penny? A whole penny?

- Each?

Aye. But off you go. Away with you.

See what you can find.

Here, how many more is there up there?

Is there more of you

still skulking up there?

I can charge you the whole day

if you're still there at the time gun!

Do you no' hear me?

Are ye in there?

Can you no' hear me?

Were ye that sick?

Hey, some of ye down there!

Any of ye! Go and get the police.

Go on with ye!

Run! Go on! Run!

He died of pneumonia, and of being old

and just plain worn out.

You see?

The old man dies a natural death.

Nobody's harmed him.

He's not been robbed.

Hold your noise, woman.

It's something strange to find a decent old

country body in a foul place like this.

This is a clean, respectable house.

- Who was he?

- Old Jock. He'd no name but that.

His name was John Grey.

There's enough

to give him a decent burial.

- He'll no' have a pauper's grave.

- Right. I'll see to it.

There's no' enough to hire a carriage.

He'll have to rest

in the nearest kirkyard.

Now clear out this room, all of you.

Not you, Campbell.

What's that dog doin' here?

Whose dog is it? The old man's?

- No, no. He didn't have any dog.

- Aye, he did so.

I heard the dog barkin'.

Aye, that's true.

There was a dog barking.

It's my duty to take him

to the police station.

He's got no collar,

and for all I know, no licence.

Come here now, my laddie.

"'I am the resurrection

and the life,' saith the lord."

"'He that believeth in me,

though he were dead, yet shall he live."'

"'Whosoever liveth and believeth in me

shall never die."'

"We therefore commit his body

to the ground."

"Earth to earth, ashes to ashes,

dust to dust."

"Which thy well-beloved son

shall then pronounce

on all that love

and fear thee, saying:

"'Come ye, blessed of my father."'

"Inherit the kingdom prepared for you

from the foundation of the world."'

"Grant this, we beseech thee,

o merciful fa..."

"Through Jesus Christ, our mediator

and redeemer. Amen."

Amen.

- Good night to ye both.

- Good night.

It's past time for lockin' up.

What are you doin' there?

Be off wi' you! Go home.

Go on! A kirkyard's no place for a dog.

There now. Go on wi' you.

Go on home. Out of here!

Go on! Away wi' you!

- Ailie!

- What is it?

There's the wee dog

Mr. Traill's lookin' for.

- Where?

- There!

Catch him,

and we'll get a penny.

There he is, Ailie. Run!

Do no' lose him.

- Thank you.

- Hope you enjoyed it.

- Aye.

- Thank you.

- What do you think you're doing?

- Out of my way.

Mr. Traill. Mr. Traill?

We found the wee dog.

Where have ye been, Bobby?

The time gun bring you for your dinner?

Where's old Jock, laddie?

What have ye done wi' him?

Whisht, Bobby.

What is it then? Is it old Jock?

- Well, where is he?

- Mr. Traill, do we no' get the penny?

Later, child, later.

Do no' bother me now.

What's a dog doin' in here, anyway?

Throw him out.

He's shakin' with sickness.

No, man, he's hungry.

And an old customer.

Which is more than ye are yourself.

Out ye go. Come on now. Get out.

Here, Bobby. Come on now.

What about eating, eh?

- Did you get the penny, Ailie?

- No. No penny.

I wish I knew where ye came from,

Bobby, and where ye left your master.

Now, Bobby, be a good dog,

and let's go and find old Jock.

Here, Bobby! Wait! Here!

You want to lead me

through the old kirkyard, laddie?

Wait. The gate's no' locked yet.

It's only latched.

Who's that at the gate?

Mr. Traill, what in the world are you doing

prowling about the kirkyard?

It's time for lockin' up.

- I followed a wee dog here, Mr. Brown.

- Dog?

There's no dog here.

It is no' permitted.

I just let him in myself.

- You let a dog in the kirkyard?

- Aye.

Eh, then I'll have the law on ye!

You're supposed to be

such a learned man.

Can you no' read the regulations?

Those regulations are no' the law of the

land, James Brown, and ye know it.

You made up those rules yourself.

I'll have no dog in Greyfriars kirkyard.

- You know that! Yours or anybody else's!

- The dog is no' mine.

But I'll make a bargain wi' ye.

I'll take him home wi' me,

and you can keep your regulations.

And I will too.

I caught and put out one dog last night,

and he's no' been back.

And I'll catch this one, too, mind ye.

Come on.

Now then, you go that way,

and I'll go here.

Here, dog. Here.

Where are ye? Dog!

Here, dog. Here.

Bobby.

- Ailie!

- Who's there?

Mr. Traill, it's you.

- The wee dog that was at my place.

- Aye.

Tammy and me chased him there.

You didn't give us our penny.

Whisht, Ailie!

Now listen to me a minute.

- For a penny I'll listen.

- For a silver shilling listen.

- A shilling?

- If you see the wee dog again...

And he's not far away, I'm thinkin'.

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