y　head　in　his　hands。　A　very　tired；　very　draggled　little　dog；　Bobby　dropped　beside　his　master；　panting；　subdued　by　the　reproach；　but　happy。　His　soft　eyes；　veiled　by　the　silvery　fringe　that　fell　from　his　high　forehead；　were　deep　brown　pools　of　affection。　Auld　Jock　forgot；　by　and　by；　that　Bobby　should　not　be　there；　and　felt　only　the　comfort　of　his　companionship。
  〃Weel；　Bobby；〃　he　began　again；　uncertainly。　And　then；　because　his　Scotch　peasant　reticence　had　been　quite　broken　down　by　Bobby's　shameless　devotion；　so　that　he　told　the　little　dog　many　things　that　he　cannily　concealed　from　human　kind；　he　confided　the　strange　weakness　and　dizziness　in　the　head　that　had　overtaken　him：　〃Auld　Jock　is　juist　fair　silly　the　day；　bonny　wee　laddie。〃
  Down　came　a　shaking；　hot　old　hand　in　a　rough　caress；　and　up　a　gallant　young　tail　to　wave　like　a　banner。　All　was　right　with　the　little　dog's　world　again。　But　it　was　plain；　even　to　Bobby；　that　something　had　gone　wrong　with　Auld　Jock。　It　was　the　man　who　wore　the　air　of　a　culprit。　A　Scotch　laborer　does　not　lightly　confess　to　feeling　〃fair　silly；〃　nor　sleep　away　the　busy　hours　of　daylight。　The　old　man　was　puzzled　and　humiliated　by　this　discreditable　thing。　A　human　friend　would　have　understood　his　plight；　led　the　fevered　man　out　of　that　bleak　and　fetid　cul…de…sac；　tucked　him　into　a　warm　bed；　comforted　him　with　a　hot　drink；　and　then　gone　swiftly　for　skilled　help。　Bobby　knew　only　that　his　master　had　unusual　need　of　love。
  Very；　very　early　a　dog　learns　that　life　is　not　as　simple　a　matter　to　his　master　as　it　is　to　himself。　There　are　times　when　he　reads　trouble；　that　he　cannot　help　or　understand；　in　the　man's　eye　and　voice。　Then　he　can　only　look　his　love　and　loyalty；　wistfully；　as　if　he　felt　his　own　shortcoming　in　the　matter　of　speech。　And　if　the　trouble　is　so　great　that　the　master　forgets　to　eat　his　dinner；　forgets；　also；　the　needs　of　his　faithful　little　friend；　it　is　the　dog's　dear　privilege　to　bear　neglect　and　hunger　without　complaint。　Therefore；　when　Auld　Jock　lay　down　again　and　sank；　almost　at　once；　into　sodden　sleep；　Bobby　snuggled　in　the　hollow　of　his　master's　arm　and　nuzzled　his　nose　in　his　master's　neck。
  II。
  While　the　bells　played　〃There　Grows　a　Bonny　Briarbush　in　Our　Kale　Yard；〃　Auld　Jock　and　Bobby　slept。　They　slept　while　the　tavern　emptied　itself　of　noisy　guests　and　clattering　crockery　was　washed　at　the　dingy；　gas…lighted　windows　that　overlooked　the　cockpit。　They　slept　while　the　cold　fell　with　the　falling　day　and　the　mist　was　whipped　into　driving　rain。　Almost　a　cave；　between　shelving　rock　and　house　wall；　a　gust　of　wind　still　found　its　way　in　now　and　then。　At　a　splash　of　rain　Auld　Jock　stirred　uneasily　in　his　sleep。　Bobby　merely　sniffed　the　freshened　air　with　pleasure　and　curled　himself　up　for　an　other　nap。
  No　rain　could　wet　Bobby。　Under　his　rough　outer　coat；　that　was　parted　along　the　back　as　neatly　as　the　thatch　along　a　cottage　ridge…pole；　was　a　dense；　woolly　fleece　that　defied　wind　and　rain；　snow　and　sleet　to　penetrate。　He　could　not　know　that　nature　had　not　been　as　generous　in　protecting　his　master　against　the　weather。　Although　of　a　subarctic　breed；　fitted　to　live　shelterless　if　need　be；　and　to　earn　his　living　by　native　wit；　Bobby　had　the　beauty；　the　grace；　and　the　charming　manners　of　a　lady's　pet。　In　a　litter　of　prick…eared；　wire…haired　puppies　Bobby　was　a　〃sport。〃
  It　is　said　that　some　of　the　ships　of　the　Spanish　Armada；　with　French　poodles　in　the　officers'　cabins；　were　blown　far　north　and　west；　and　broken　up　on　the　icy　coasts　of　The　Hebrides　and　Skye。　Some　such　crossing　of　his　far…away　ancestry；　it　would　seem；　had　given　a　greater　length　and　a　crisp　wave　to　Bobby's　outer　coat；　dropped　and　silkily　fringed　his　ears；　and　powdered　his　useful；　slate…gray　color　with　silver　frost。　But　he　had　the　hardiness　and　intelligence　of　the　sturdier　breed；　and　the　instinct　of　devotion　to　the　working　master。　So　he　had　turned　from　a　soft…hearted　bit　lassie　of　a　mistress；　and　the　cozy　chimney　corner　of　the　farm…house　kitchen；　and　linked　his　fortunes　with　this　forlorn　old　laborer。
  A　grizzled；　gnarled　little　man　was　Auld　Jock；　of　tough　fiber；　but　worn　out　at　last　by　fifty　winters　as　a　shepherd　on　the　bleak　hills　of　Midlothian　and　Fife；　and　a　dozen　more　in　the　low　stables　and　storm…buffeted　garrets　of　Edinburgh。　He　had　come　into　the　world　unnoted　in　a　shepherd's　lonely　cot。　With　little　wit　of　mind　or　skill　of　hand　he　had　been　a　common　tool；　used　by　this　master　and　that　for　the　roughest　tasks；　when　needed；　put　aside；　passed　on；　and　dropped　out　of　mind。　Nothing　ever　belonged　to　the　man　but　his　scant　earnings。　Wifeless；　cotless；　bairnless；　he　had　slept；　since　early　boyhood；　under　strange　roofs；　eaten　the　bread　of　the　hireling；　and　sat　dumb　at　other　men's　firesides。　If　he　had　another　name　it　had　been　forgotten。　In　youth　he　was　Jock；　in　age；　Auld　Jock。
  In　his　sixty…third　summer　there　was　a　belated　blooming　in　Auld　Jock's　soul。　Out　of　some　miraculous　caprice　Bobby　lavished　on　him　a　riotous　affection。　Then　up　out　of　the　man's　subconscious　memory　came　words　learned　from　the　lips　of　a　long…forgotten　mother。　They　were　words　not　meant　for　little　dogs　at　all；　but　for　sweetheart；　wife　and　bairn。　Auld　Jock　used　them　cautiously；　fearing　to　be　overheard；　for　the　matter　was　a　subject　of　wonder　and　rough　jest　at　the　farm。　He　used　them　when　Bobby　followed　him　at　the　plow…tail　or　scampered　over　the　heather　with　him　behind　the　flocks。　He　used　them　on　the　market…day　journeyings；　and　on　summer　nights；　when　the　sea　wind　came　sweetly　from　the　broad　Firth　and　the　two　slept；　like　vagabonds；　on　a　haycock　under　the　stars。　The　purest　pleasure　Auld　Jock　ever　knew　was　the　taking　of　a　bright　farthing　from　his　pocket　to　pay　for　Bobby's　delectable　bone　in　Mr。　Traill's　place。
  Given　what　was　due　him　that　morning　and　dismissed　for　the　season　to　find　such　work　as　he　could　in　the　city；　Auld　Jock　did　not　question　the　farmer's　right　to　take　Bobby　〃back　hame。〃　Besides；　what　could　he　do　with　the　noisy　little　rascal　in　an　Edinburgh　lodging？　But；　duller　of　wit　than　usual；　feeling　very　old　and　lonely；　and　shaky　on　his　legs；　and　dizzy　in　his　head；　Auld　Jock　parted　with　Bobby　and　with　his　courage；　together。　With　the　instinct　of　the　dumb　animal　that　suffers；　he　stumbled　into　the　foul　nook　and　fell；　almost　at　once；　into　a　heavy　sleep。　Out　of　that　Bobby　roused　him　but　briefly。
  Long　before　his　master　awoke；　Bobby　finished　his　series　of　refreshing　little　naps；　sat　up；　yawned；　stretched　his　short；　shaggy　legs；　sniffed　at　Auld　Jock　experimentally；　and　trotted　around　the　bed　of　the　cart　on　a　tour　of　investigation。　This　proving　to　be　of　small　interest　and　no　profit；　he　lay　down　again　beside　his　master；　nose　on　paws；　and　waited　Auld　Jock's　pleasure　patiently。　A　sweep　of　drenching　rain　brought　the　old　man　suddenly　to　his　feet　and　stumbling　into　the　market　place。　The　alert　little　dog　tumbled　about　him；　barking　ecstatically。　The　fever　was　gone　and　Auld　Jock's　head　quite　clear；　but　in　its　place　was　a　weakness；　an　aching　of　the　limbs；　a　weight　on　the　chest；　and　a　great　shivering。
  Although　the　bell　of　St。　Giles　was　just　striking　the　hour　of　five；　it　was　already　entirely　dark。　A　lamp…lighter；　with　ladder　and　torch；　was　setting　a　double　line　of　gas　jets　to　flaring　along　the　lofty　parapets　of　the　bridge。　If　the　Grassmarket　was　a　quarry　pit　by　day；　on　a　night　of　storm　it　was　the。　bottom　of　a　reservoir。　The　height　of　the　walls　was　marked　by　a　luminous　crown　from　many　lights　above　the　Castle　head；　and　by　a　student's　dim　candle；　here　and　there；　at　a　garret　window。　The　huge　bulk　of　the　bridge　cast　a　shadow；　velvet　black；　across　the　eastern　half　of　the　market。
  Had　not　Bobby　gone　before　and　barked；　and　run　back；　again　and　again；　and　jumped　up　on　Auld　Jock's　legs；　the　man　might　never　have　won　his　way　across　the　drowned　place；　in　the　inky　blackness　and　against　the　slanted　blast　of　icy　rain。　When　he　gained　the　foot　of　Candlemakers　Row；　a　crescent　of　tall；　old　houses　that　curved　upward　around　the　lower　end　of　Greyfriars　kirkyard；　water　poured　upon　him　from　the　heavy　timbered　gallery　of　the　Cunzie　Neuk；　once　the　royal　mint。　The　carting　office　that　occupied　the　street　floor　was　closed；　or　Auld　Jock　would　have　sought　shelter　there。　He　struggled　up　the　rise；　made　slippery　by　rain　and　grime。　Then；　as　the　street　turned　southward　in　its　easy　curve；　there　was　some　shelter　from　the　house　walls。　But　Auld　Jock　was　quite　exhausted　and　incapable　of　caring　for　himself。　In　the　ancient　guildhall　of　the　candlemakers；　at　the　top　of　the　Row；　was　another　carting　office　and　Harrow　Inn；　a　resort　of　country　carriers。　The　man　would　have　gone　in　there　where　he　was　quite　unknown　or；　indeed；　he　might　even　have　lain　down　in　the　bleak　court　that　gave　access　to　the　tenements　above；　but　for　Bobby's　persistent　and　cheerful　barking；　begging　and　nipping。
  〃Maister；　maister！〃　he　said；　as　plainly　as　a　little　dog　could　speak；　〃dinna　bide　here。　It's　juist　a　stap　or　two　to　food　an'　fire　in'　the　cozy　auld　ingleneuk。〃
  And　then；　the　level。　roadway　won　at　last；　there　was　the　railing　of　the　bridge…approach　to　cling　to；　on　the　one　hand；　and　the　upright　bars　of　the　kirkyard　gate　on　the　other。　By　the　help　of　these　and　the　urging　of　wee　Bobby；　Auld　Jock　came　the　short；　steep　way　up　out　of　the　market；　to　the　row　of