180 A YEAR OF LIBERTY ; OR, 



I went, flung myself once more on the cool sward. Pat discoursed 

 at length concerning the varied charms of Lough CuUen and Lough 

 Conn, of their trout, sahnon, pike, and perch, which last he said 

 attained a large size, as in fact they do in all the more extensive 

 Irish waters. 



The alders on the western bank were beginning to cast lengthening 

 shadows on the stream, and if anything was to be done, now was 

 the time. Slowly, under Pat's most skilful guidance, we drifted 

 over the pools we had fished in the early part of the day. For an 

 hour we did not move a fin. Gradually the shadows grew longer 

 and the air more cool. At The Island we secured our sixth grilse, 

 and at the Upper Eapids two more were brought to bag, and so 

 ended our first expedition "up the river." 



Stretched on the sofa, as perfectly at home as if he had been there 

 for a month, was my old friend the Colonel, who, possessing a 

 tenacious memory, had not forgotten my refusal to spend a couple 

 of days with him on Lough Melvin and Lough Erne. Being a good 

 geographer he had a pretty correct idea of the merits and locality of 

 Conn, on which he made up his mind to take an ample revenge for 

 my previous delinquency. At present he was more disposed to be 

 inquisitive than communicative, particularly on the subject of dinner. 

 By the time I had set his mind at rest on this important subject our 

 repast was announced. A crimped salmon and a few small fry 

 caught during the morning at once enlisted his sympathies. 



" That fish, so firm, dry, and curdy I'll trouble you for another 

 slice, and one or two of those pinkeens all Billingsgate could not 

 match it. I say, "Walter, how different from the flabby, unctuous 

 article we get at the clubs for two shillings the pound, in the fond 

 misconception of enjoying a luxury ? Glass of sherry, my dear ? 

 Another with you, my boy. Well, dinner is a pleasant invention. 

 Kid did you say kid ?" and then, after a reflective pause, " This 

 animal must have fed on nectar and ambrosia." 



With the first glass after dinner the old soldier came out in force, 

 rung for Willie, ordered a car at eight on the following morning, 

 stretched out his legs, and made himself up for the evening. Merrily 



