SALMON ANGLtNG IN IRELAND. 117 



Pat, talking as calmly as if it were midday, instead of only three 

 horn's after midnight. 



"Holloa, "Willie, why didn't you call me?" 



"Your honour appointed four," observed Pat. ** All's quiet in 

 the town. Not a ghost of a soul's stirrin' ; we come early for fear 

 of being late. Niver a doubt but I'd have gravelled the winder had 

 there been any need ; but things ain't as they used to be." 



"We had been so fortunate as to obtain our old quarters in the Mall, 

 a site indeed quite to my taste, for it was within a hundred and forty 

 yards of the bridge ; and what did that imply ? Why, simply this 

 that I was hardly a minute's walk from the best cast in the kingdom. 

 The water thence to the falls is reserved, but my kind friend the 

 lessee had placed it at my disposal, and I longed to be there. 



The dear old bridge, scene of many former pains and pleasures ; of 

 defiance to foes and plots against friends, shone bright as ever in the 

 morning sun. Each stone on the parapet was graven on my memory, 

 for had I not seen it every hour in the twenty-four shivered there 

 at ten, eleven 



In the dead waste and middle of the night ! 



and as for two, three, and four they were parts of our daily life. 



"Well, Pat, who have you got here this season ?" I asked, as the 

 line was being passed through rings. 



" Some of your honour's friends ; and the Colonel ^you'll be glad 

 to hear he's come." 



This was good news, indeed. The stout soldier was so old a friend 

 that I knew him before my lips could well pronounce his name. We 

 had not met for three years, I having during that time rented a 

 river farther north. Bright, genial, and courteous, his society was a 

 privilege ; he was better than a book ; had haunted the Erne with 

 men whose active lives were over ; remembered bygone scenes and 

 ancient comrades, and spoke of them with a gusto and vivacity 

 rarely met with. 



""Will we try the parson first ?" 



" Oh, by all means, "Willie. Is the thread good ?" 



