按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
a rock。 His face was permanently set and coloured； ruddy and stiff
with weathering； more like a picture than a face； yet with a
certain strain and a threat of latent anger in the expression； like
that of a man trained too fine and harassed with perpetual
vigilance。 He spoke in the richest dialect of Scotch I ever heard；
the words in themselves were a pleasure and often a surprise to me；
so that I often came back from one of our patrols with new
acquisitions； and this vocabulary he would handle like a master；
stalking a little before me； 〃beard on shoulder；〃 the plaid hanging
loosely about him； the yellow staff clapped under his arm； and
guiding me uphill by that devious； tactical ascent which seems
peculiar to men of his trade。 I might count him with the best
talkers； only that talking Scotch and talking English seem
incomparable acts。 He touched on nothing at least； but he adorned
it； when he narrated； the scene was before you； when he spoke （as
he did mostly） of his own antique business； the thing took on a
colour of romance and curiosity that was surprising。 The clans of
sheep with their particular territories on the hill； and how； in
the yearly killings and purchases； each must be proportionally
thinned and strengthened； the midnight busyness of animals； the
signs of the weather； the cares of the snowy season； the exquisite
stupidity of sheep； the exquisite cunning of dogs： all these he
could present so humanly； and with so much old experience and
living gusto； that weariness was excluded。 And in the midst he
would suddenly straighten his bowed back； the stick would fly
abroad in demonstration； and the sharp thunder of his voice roll
out a long itinerary for the dogs； so that you saw at last the use
of that great wealth of names for every knowe and howe upon the
hillside； and the dogs； having hearkened with lowered tails and
raised faces； would run up their flags again to the masthead and
spread themselves upon the indicated circuit。 It used to fill me
with wonder how they could follow and retain so long a story。 But
John denied these creatures all intelligence； they were the
constant butt of his passion and contempt； it was just possible to
work with the like of them； he said； … not more than possible。 And
then he would expand upon the subject of the really good dogs that
he had known； and the one really good dog that he had himself
possessed。 He had been offered forty pounds for it； but a good
collie was worth more than that； more than anything； to a 〃herd；〃
he did the herd's work for him。 〃As for the like of them！〃 he
would cry； and scornfully indicate the scouring tails of his
assistants。
Once … I translate John's Lallan； for I cannot do it justice； being
born BRITANNIS IN MONTIBUS； indeed； but alas！ INERUDITO SAECULO …
once； in the days of his good dog； he had bought some sheep in
Edinburgh； and on the way out； the road being crowded； two were
lost。 This was a reproach to John； and a slur upon the dog； and
both were alive to their misfortune。 Word came； after some days；
that a farmer about Braid had found a pair of sheep； and thither
went John and the dog to ask for restitution。 But the farmer was a
hard man and stood upon his rights。 〃How were they marked？〃 he
asked； and since John had bought right and left from many sellers
and had no notion of the marks … 〃Very well；〃 said the farmer；
〃then it's only right that I should keep them。〃 … 〃Well；〃 said
John； 〃it's a fact that I cannae tell the sheep； but if my dog can；
will ye let me have them？〃 The farmer was honest as well as hard；
and besides I daresay he had little fear of the ordeal； so he had
all the sheep upon his farm into one large park； and turned John's
dog into their midst。 That hairy man of business knew his errand
well； he knew that John and he had bought two sheep and （to their
shame） lost them about Boroughmuirhead； he knew besides （the lord
knows how； unless by listening） that they were come to Braid for
their recovery； and without pause or blunder singled out； first one
and then another； the two waifs。 It was that afternoon the forty
pounds were offered and refused。 And the shepherd and his dog …
what do I say？ the true shepherd and his man … set off together by
Fairmilehead in jocund humour； and 〃smiled to ither〃 all the way
home； with the two recovered ones before them。 So far； so good；
but intelligence may be abused。 The dog； as he is by little man's
inferior in mind； is only by little his superior in virtue； and
John had another collie tale of quite a different complexion。 At
the foot of the moss behind Kirk Yetton （Caer Ketton； wise men say）
there is a scrog of low wood and a pool with a dam for washing
sheep。 John was one day lying under a bush in the scrog； when he
was aware of a collie on the far hillside skulking down through the
deepest of the heather with obtrusive stealth。 He knew the dog；
knew him for a clever； rising practitioner from quite a distant
farm； one whom perhaps he had coveted as he saw him masterfully
steering flocks to market。 But what did the practitioner so far
from home？ and why this guilty and secret manoeuvring towards the
pool？ … for it was towards the pool that he was heading。 John lay
the closer under his bush； and presently saw the dog come forth
upon the margin； look all about him to see if he were anywhere
observed； plunge in and repeatedly wash himself over head and ears；
and then （but now openly and with tail in air） strike homeward over
the hills。 That same night word was sent his master； and the
rising practitioner； shaken up from where he lay； all innocence；
before the fire； was had out to a dykeside and promptly shot； for
alas！ he was that foulest of criminals under trust； a sheep…eater；
and it was from the maculation of sheep's blood that he had come so
far to cleanse himself in the pool behind Kirk Yetton。
A trade that touches nature； one that lies at the foundations of
life； in which we have all had ancestors employed； so that on a
hint of it ancestral memories revive； lends itself to literary use；
vocal or written。 The fortune of a tale lies not alone in the
skill of him that writes； but as much； perhaps； in the inherited
experience of him who reads； and when I hear with a particular
thrill of things that I have never done or seen； it is one of that
innumerable army of my ancestors rejoicing in past deeds。 Thus
novels begin to touch not the fine DILETTANTI but the gross mass of
mankind； when they leave off to speak of parlours and shades of
manner and still…born niceties of motive； and begin to deal with
fighting； sailoring； adventure； death or childbirth； and thus
ancient outdoor crafts and occupations； whether Mr。 Hardy wields
the shepherd's crook or Count Tolstoi swings the scythe； lift
romance into a near neighbourhood with epic。 These aged things
have