SALMON ANGLING IN IRELAND. 133 



an hour's very pretty sport I broke the spell by landing a silvery 

 sixteen-pounder. Leaving my friend wonderfully restored and tran- 

 quillised,, to finish the throw at his leisure, I hastened on to '' the 

 Sod Ditch," and close to a sunken rock, was once more successful. 

 The heavy stream and level margin were great odds in my favour, 

 and Mr. S. was soon well under command with the dark line of his 

 back above the water. " Keep off you, sir," to poor Willie, who 

 was calmly waiting his opportunity, "I'm going to land this one," 



and suiting the action to the word L dashed at once into the 



stream and made towards the fish, which slowly retreated as the 

 enemy advanced. On he marched, up to the knees over the knees 

 to mid thigh ; now the hips are covered, but at length he stands 

 face to face with the foe. I saw the gaff poised, and " felt " the 

 dull sound of the stab. With a heavy lunge the wounded animal 

 wrenched the smooth and polished handle from his hand. For an 

 instant fly, casting-line, the luckless weapon, the living and the 

 d}dng, were all "in wild confusion blent." For twenty or thirty 

 yards we watched the polished lignum vitse shaft whirled round and 

 round, and then vanish. The discomfited hero's look of real distress 

 and comical dismay were irresistible. " Oh, dear I what will Rowley 

 say ? Why don't you swear at me ? I know you're in a towering 

 rage, and 'twill do you good. You'll feel easier afterwards ; why 

 dont you swear at me ?" Four days after a fine salmon was found 

 dead on the shallows near the town. His size and the great rent 

 through the back assured us that we looked on the immediate cause 



of the Major's grief and L 's chagrin. 



The afternoon fulfilling its earlier promise was throughout 

 intensely hot. Experience, however, had long sho^vn that downright 

 hard work will effect more on the Erne than on any other of the 

 Irish waters. Indeed, the river is a perfect paradox, a sporting 

 contradiction ; and it has often been found that days seemingly the 

 most favourable too frequently turn out blanks, and that weather, 

 apparently impracticable, constantly affords first-rate angling. In 

 short, the professionals seldom like to stake their reputation on 

 a promise of success, and the eager and confident, " Well, Pat, this 



