Читать книгу Horae subsecivae. Rab and His Friends, and Other Papers - John Brown - Страница 28

I add another bit from Mr. White, too characteristic of that

mixture of kindness and cruelty, of tenderness and pluck,—

Dandie Dinmont,—and of the exercise, called one-sidedly

"sport." It ends happily, which is more than the bigstore-

farmer wished:—

"The mother of the far-famed Peppers and Mustards was a

dark-coloured, rough-haired bitch of the name of Tar.

Davidson wanted a cat from some of the cottages at a

distance from Hindlee, that he might have the young dogs

tried upon it. One of his shepherds chanced to call at

Andrew Telfer's house (the grandfather, I believe, of my

late friend), where he saw baudrons sitting on the end of

adresser near the door; and the house being low and dark, he

swept her into his plaid-neuk on going out, and carried her

home. Next morning she was introduced to a covered drain,

which ran across the road, the said drain being closed up at

one end, whereby she was compelled to give battle to her

foes. A young terrier was the first to oppose her, and paid

for its rashness by retreating from the drain with the skin

almost torn from its nose. Another of the same age met with

the same punishment, and Davidson, considerably irritated,

brought forward Tar, the old dame, who, by her age and

experience, he considered, would be more than a match for

the cat. There was sore fighting for a time, till again Puss

was victorious, and Tar withdrew from the conflict in such a

condition that her master exclaimed, 'Confoond the cat,

she's tumblt an e'e oot o' the bitch!' which indeed was the

case. 'Tak awathe stanes frae the tapo' the cundy,' said

Davidson, 'and we'll ha'e her worried at ance.' The stones

were removed, and out leapt the cat in the middle of her

enemies. Fortunately for her, however, it happened that a

stone wall was continued up the side of the road, which she

instantly mounted, and, running along the top thereof, with

the dogs in full cry after her she speedily reached a

plantation, and eluded all pursuit. No trace of her could be

discovered; and the next time the shepherd called at Andrew

Telfer's house, my lady was seated on the dresser, as demure

as if nothing in her whole life had ever disturbed her

tranquillity."