Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1892-07-07
NOIRAUD, THE GUIDE.

"Nevertheless'-.
ooh, you need not look at your watch.
There's one thing you must know and do
not know, and your watch will not tell
you-the train is always a quarter of an
hour late There has never been IN in
stance when it was not late by quarter
of an hour"
There was one that day. The train had
been on time and | missed il. My driver
was furious.
"You should give notice" he cried to
the stationmaster. "You should give no.
tice if your trains are all of sudden go
ing to leave on time The thing has never
been known"
And calling all the bystanders co wit
hess:
HAS it ever been known? 1 don't wish
to seem in fault to monsieur. A train on
THE moment! A train eXact Tell him
that this is the first time it ever hap
pened" There was a general cry, eyes
yes; generally it is late" None the less, |
had three long hours to pass in a melan-
Eholy village of the canton of Naud,
thanked by two melancholy mountains
with little tufts of snow on their heads.
How to kill those hours? In my turn l
appealed to the bystanders and again there
was general cry: go see the Caldron.
There's nothing else TO see in this region"
Where was the Caldron? On the noun
tain to the right, half way up, but the
road was a little complicated. was adj
eised to take a guide, and there, down
there in that little white house with the
green blinds, should find the best guide
in the country, an honest fellow, Father
Simon.
Invent off to knock at the door of the
g.. 1
for me.
Gather Simon?"
This is the place, but-but if it's to go
10 the Caldrcn''--
Eyes, it's to go to the Caldron."
"Well, he's not been well since morning,
Father Simon--his legs have given out.
He cannot go. But don't be worried
there's some bne to take his place-there's
Noiraud."
Every well, let lne have Noiraud."
"Only ought TO let you know-it isn't a
person-Noiraud"
Mot person.
"No, it's our dog"
GLOW, your dog"
Eyes, Noiraud, and he'll guide you WELL
rs we'll as my husband; he's used to it."
Used to itf'
Certainly; for years and years Father
Simon has taken him along, he's learned
the places, and now he manages very we'll
all alone. He has taken up lot of travel
ers, and has always been complimented.
AS for intelligence, don't fear. lie has as
much as you and |. lie only lacks speech.
But speech is not necessary-if there was a
great building TO show, yes, then you must
know how to recite the stoy and give
dates. But here there's nothing but the
'.1- Nj,
its cheaper-three francs for my husband;
Noiraud is only thirty sous, and he'll show
you as much for his thirty sous as my hus-
band for three francs"
well, where's Noiraud?"
Hes asleep in the sun in the garden.
He took some English people up this morn
ing. Shall call him?"
Yes. Call him"
"Noiraudl NoiraudW
He came through the window with
bound. 1t was an ugly little black dog,
with curly and tumbled coat; he was not
pretty, but he had an air of gravity, decis-
ion, Importance. His first glance was at
me, direct, precise, confident, which took
me in swiftly from head to foot, and said
plainly; It's traveller lie wants to see
the Caldron."
One train missed was enough for one
day, and | explained to the good woman
that | had absolutely only three hours for
my trip to the Caldron.
"Oh, | know perfectly. You wish the
o'clock train. Fear nothing. Noiraud will
get you back i'll time. Come, Noiraud.
Start my boy, start"
But Noiraud showed no disposition to
start. He remained motionless regarding
his mistress with certain agitation.
CT ha a.
II was forgetting the sugar"
She went TO a drawer, took out four bits
of sugar, and giving them to me: "That's
why he would net start. You had not the
sugar You sec, Noiraud, monsieur has
got the sugar. Now start, my boy. To
the Caldron! Go TO tha Caldronl To
the CaldrOuw
She repeated these words three times
speaking very slowly and distinctly, and
watched Noiraud attentively. lie an
swered his mistress with little movements
of his head more and more emphatic,
with Il final touch OF impotence and i'll
humor They could be translated. YES,
yes, to the Caldron. | understand The
gentleman has the pieces of sugar, and we
are going to the Caldron. That's under
stood. Do you take me for duncef"
And before the third "to the Caldron"
was I0lrly uttered NOlfauO, clearly hurt,
turned on his heels planted himself in
front OF me and, with his glance on the
door, said as plainly as a dog could say it:
Come on, come on"
/ followed him with docility. We both
set out--he before, | behind. We passed
through the village, Children playing in
the street recognized my guide. "Oh,
Noiraudl Bon jour, NoiraudW They
wished to play with the dog, but he turned
his head disdainfully with the air Of dog
who has no time for play; who is on duty
and must earn his thirty sous. One of the
children cried;
Let him alona, He is taking the gen
tleman to the CaldrOn. Bon jour, m'sieun'
And then they all laughed, repeating the
palutation. / smiled, but awkwardly, /
am sure | felt embarrassed, little hui
inflated even. The animal dominated me-
He was my master. He knew where he
was going and did not, | was in haste to
get out of the village, to get alone with
Noiraud before the beauties of nature
which Sc was his mission 70 make me adj.