ng。　A　cry　of　alarm　from　parent　or　nestling　was　answered　instantly　by　the　tiny；　tousled　policeman；　and　there　was　a　prowler　the　less；　or　a　skulking　cat　was　sent　flying　over　tomb　and　wall。
  His　duty　done；　without　noise　or　waste　of　energy；　Bobby　returned　to　lie　in　the　sun　on　Auld　Jock's　grave。　Over　this　beloved　mound　a　coverlet　of　rustic　turf　had　been　spread　as　soon　as　the　frost　was　out　of　the　ground；　and　a　bonny　briar　bush　planted　at　the　head。　Then　it　bore　nature's　own　tribute　of　flowers；　for　violets；　buttercups；　daisies　and　clover　blossoms　opened　there　and；　later；　a　spike　or　so　of　wild　foxglove　and　a　knot　of　heather。　Robin　redbreasts　and　wrens　foraged　around　Bobby；　unafraid；　swallows　swooped　down　from　their　mud　villages；　under　the　dizzy　dormers　and　gables；　to　flush　the　flies　on　his　muzzle；　and　whole　flocks　of　little　blue　titmice　fluttered　just　overhead；　in　their　rovings　from　holly　and　laurel　to　newly　tasseled　firs　and　yew　trees。
  The　click　of　the　wicket　gate　was　another　sort　of　alarm　altogether。　At　that　the　little　dog　slipped　under　the　fallen　table…tomb　and　lay　hidden　there　until　any　strange　visitor　had　taken　himself　away。　Except　for　two　more　forced　returns　and　ingenious　escapes　from　the　sheepfarm　on　the　Pentlands；　Bobby　had　lived　in　the　kirkyard　undisturbed　for　six　months。　The　caretaker　had　neither　the　heart　to　put　him　out　nor　the　courage　to　face　the　minister　and　the　kirk　officers　with　a　plea　for　him　to　remain。　The　little　dog's　presence　there　was　known；　apparently；　only　to　Mr。　Traill；　to　a　few　of　the　tenement　dwellers；　and　to　the　Heriot　boys。　If　his　life　was　clandestine　in　a　way；　it　was　as　regular　of　hour　and　duty　and　as　well　ordered　as　that　of　the　garrison　in　the　Castle。
  When　the　time…gun　boomed；　Bobby　was　let　out　for　his　midday　meal　at　Mr。　Traill's　and　for　a　noisy　run　about　the　neighborhood　to　exercise　his　lungs　and　legs。　On　Wednesdays　he　haunted　the　Grassmarket；　sniffing　at　horses；　carts　and　mired　boots。　Edinburgh　had　so　many　shaggy　little　Skye　and　Scotch　terriers　that　one　more　could　go　about　unremarked。　Bobby　returned　to　the　kirkyard　at　his　own　good　pleasure。　In　the　evening　he　was　given　a　supper　of　porridge　and　broo；　or　milk；　at　the　kitchen　door　of　the　lodge；　and　the　nights　he　spent　on　Auld　Jock's　grave。　The　morning　drum　and　bugle　woke　him　to　the　chase；　and　all　his　other　hours　were　spent　in　close　attendance　on　the　labors　of　the　caretaker。　The　click　of　the　wicket　gate　was　the　signal　for　instant　disappearance。
  A　scramble　up　the　wall　from　Heriot's　Hospital　grounds；　or　the　patter　of　bare　feet　on　the　gravel；　however；　was　notice　to　come　out　and　greet　a　friend。　Bobby　was　host　to　the　disinherited　children　of　the　tenements。　Now；　at　the　tap…tap…tapping　of　Tammy　Barr's　crutches；　he　scampered　up　the　slope；　and　he　suited　his　pace　to　the　crippled　boy's　in　coming　down　again。　Tammy　chose　a　heap　of　cut　grass　on　which　to　sit　enthroned　and　play　king；　a　grand　new　crutch　for　a　scepter；　and　Bobby　for　a　courtier。　At　command；　the　little　dog　rolled　over　and　over；　begged；　and　walked　on　his　hind　legs。　He　even　permitted　a　pair　of　thin　little　arms　to　come　near　strangling　him；　in　an　excess　of　affection。　Then　he　wagged　his　tail　and　lolled　his　tongue　to　show　that　he　was　friendly；　and　trotted　away　about　his　business。　Tammy　took　an　oat…cake　from　his　pocket　to　nibble；　and　began　a　conversation　with　Mistress　Jeanie。
  〃I　broucht　a　picnic　wi'　me。〃
  〃Did　ye；　noo？　An'　hoo　did　ye　ken　aboot　picnics；　laddie？〃
  〃Maister　Traill　was　tellin'　Ailie　an'　me。　There's　ilka　thing　to　mak'　a　picnic　i'　the　kirkyaird。　They　couldna　mak'　my　legs　gude　i'　the　infairmary；　but　I'm　gangin'　to　Heriot's。　I'll　juist　hae　to　airn　ma　leevin'　wi'　ma　heid；　an'　no'　remember　aboot　ma　legs；　ava。　Is　he　no'　a　bonny　doggie？〃
  〃Ay；　he's　bonny。　An'　ye're　a　braw　laddie　no'　to　fash　yersel'　aboot　what　canna　be　helped。〃
  The　wifie　took　his　ragged　jacket　and　mended　it；　dropped　a　tear　in　an　impossible　hole；　and　a　ha'penny　in　the　one　good　pocket。　And　by　and　by　the　pale　laddie　slept　there　among　the　bright　graves；　in　the　sun。　After　another　false　alarm　from　the　gate　she　asked　her　gude…mon；　as　she　had　asked　many　times　before：
  〃What'll　ye　do；　Jamie；　when　the　meenister　kens　aboot　Bobby；　an'　ca's　ye　up　afore　kirk　sessions　for　brakin'　the　rule？〃
  〃We　wullna　cross　the　brig　till　we　come　to　the　burn；　woman；〃　he　invariably　answered；　with　assumed　unconcern。　Well　he　knew　that　the　bridge　might　be　down　and　the　stream　in　flood　when　he　came　to　it。　But　Mr。　Traill　was　a　member　of　Greyfriars　auld　kirk；　too；　and　a　companion　in　guilt；　and　Mr。　Brown　relied　not　a　little　on　the　landlord's　fertile　mind　and　daring　tongue。　And　he　relied　on　useful；　well…behaving　Bobby　to　plead　his　own　cause。
  〃There's　nae　denyin'　the　doggie　is　takin'　in　'is　ways。　He's　had　twa　gude　hames　fair　thrown　at　'is　heid；　but　the　sperity　bit　keeps　to　'is　ain　mind。　An'　syne　he's　usefu'；　an'　hauds　'is　gab　by　the　ordinar'。〃　He　often　reinforced　his　inclination　with　some　such　argument。
  With　all　their　caution；　discovery　was　always　imminent。　The　kirkyard　was　long　and　narrow　and　on　rising　levels；　and　it　was　cut　almost　across　by　the　low　mass　of　the　two　kirks；　so　that　many　things　might　be　going　on　at　one　end　that　could　not　be　seen　from　the　other。　On　this　Saturday　noon；　when　the　Heriot　boys　were　let　out　for　the　half…holiday；　Mr。　Brown　kept　an　eye　on　them　until　those　who　lived　outside　had　dispersed。　When　Mistress　Jeanie　tucked　her　knitting…needles　in　her　belt；　and　went　up　to　the　lodge　to　put　the　dinner　over　the　fire；　the　caretaker　went　down　toward　Candlemakers　Row　to　trim　the　grass　about　the　martyrs'　monument。　Bobby　dutifully　trotted　at　his　heels。　Almost　immediately　a　half…dozen　laddies；　led　by　Geordie　Ross　and　Sandy　McGregor；　scaled　the　wall　from　Heriot's　grounds　and　stepped　down　into　the　kirkyard；　that　lay　piled　within　nearly　to　the　top。　They　had　a　perfectly　legitimate　errand　there；　but　no　mission　is　to　be　approached　directly　by　romantic　boyhood。
  〃Hist！〃　was　the　warning；　and　the　innocent　invaders；　feeling　delightfully　lawless；　stole　over　and　stormed　the　marble　castle；　where　〃Bluidy〃　McKenzie　slept　uneasily　against　judgment　day。　Light…hearted　lads　can　do　daring　deeds　on　a　sunny　day　that　would　freeze　their　blood　on　a　dark　and　stormy　night。　So　now　Geordie　climbed　nonchalantly　to　a　seat　over　the　old　persecutor；　crossed　his　stout；　bare　legs；　filled　an　imaginary　pipe；　and　rattled　the　three　farthings　in　his　pocket。
  〃I'm　'Jinglin'　Geordie'　Heriot；〃　he　announced。
  〃I'll　show　ye　hoo　a　prood　goldsmith　ance　smoked　wi'　a'。〃　Then；　jauntily：　〃Sandy；　gie　a　crack　to　'Bluidy'　McKenzie's　door　an'　daur　the　auld　hornie　to　come　oot。
  The　deed　was　done　amid　breathless　apprehensions；　but　nothing　disturbed　the　silence　of　the　May　noon　except　the　lark　that　sprang　at　their　feet　and　soared　singing　into　the　blue。　It　was　Sandy　who　presently　whistled　like　a　blackbird　to　attract　the　attention　of　Bobby。
  There　were　no　blackbirds　in　the　kirkyard；　and　Bobby　understood　the　signal。　He　scampered　up　at　once　and　dashed　around　the　kirk；　all　excitement；　for　he　had　had　many　adventures　with　the　Heriot　boys　at　skating　and　hockey　on　Duddingston　Lock　in　the　winter；　and　tramps　over　the　country　and　out　to　Leith　harbor　in　the　spring。　The　laddies　prowled　along　the　upper　wall　of　the　kirks；　opened　and　shut　the　wicket；　to　give　the　caretaker　the　idea　that　they　had　come　in　decorously　by　the　gate；　and　went　down　to　ask　him；　with　due　respect　and　humility；　if　they　could　take　Bobby　out　for　the　afternoon。　They　were　going　to　mark　the　places　where　wild　flowers　might　be　had；　to　decorate　〃Jinglin'　Geordie's〃　portrait；　statue　and　tomb　at　the　school　on　Founder's　Day。　Mr。　Brown　considered　them　with　a　glower　that　made　the　boys　nudge　each　other　knowingly。　〃Saturday　isna　the　day　for　'im　to　be　gaen　aboot。　He　aye　has　a　washin'　an'　a　groomin'　to　mak'　'im　fit　for　the　Sabbath。　An'；　by　the　leuk　o'　ye；　ye'd　be　nane　the　waur　for　soap　an'　water　yer　ainsel's。〃
  〃We'll　gie　'　im　'is　washin'　an'　combin'　the　nicht；〃　they　volunteered；　eagerly。
  〃Weel；　noo；　he　wullna　hae　'is　dinner　till　the　time…gun。〃
  Neither　would　they。　At　that；　annoyed　by　their　persistence；　Mr。　Brown　denied　authority。
  〃Ye　ken　weel　he　isna　ma　dog。　Ye'll　hae　to　gang　up　an'　spier　Maister　Traill。　He's　fair　daft　aboot　the　gude…for…naethin'　tyke。〃
  This　was　understood　as　permission。　As　the　boys　ran　up　to　the　gate；　with　Bobby　at　their　heels；　Mr。　Brown　called　after　them：　〃Ye　fetch　'im　hame　wi'　the　sunset　bugle；　an'　gin　ye　teach　'im　ony　o'　yer　unmannerly　ways　I'll　tak'　a　stick　to　yer　breeks。〃
  When　they　returned　to　Mr。　Traill's　place　at　two　o'clock　the　landlord　stood　in　shirt…sleeves　and　apron　in　the　open　doorway　with　Bobby；　the　little　dog　gripping　a　mutton　shank　in　his　mouth。
  〃Bobby　must　tak'　his　bone　down　first　and　hide　it　awa'。　The　Sabbath　in　a　kirkyard　is　a　dull　day　for　a　wee　dog；　so　he　aye　gets　a　catechism　of　a　bone　to　mumble　over。〃
  'The　landlord　sighed　in　open　envy　when　the　laddies　and　the　little　dog　tumbled　down　the　Row　to　the　Grassmarket　on　their　gypsying。　His　eyes　sought　out　the　glimpse　of　green　country　on　the　dome　of　Arthur's　Seat；　that　loomed　beyond　the　University　towers　to　the　east。　There　are　times　when　the　heart　of　a　boy　goes　ill　with　the　sordid　duties　of　the　man。
  Straight　down　the　length　of　the　empty　market　the　laddies　ran；　through　the　cr