SALMON ANGUNG IN IBELAND. 203 



CHAPTEE XXX. 



Early Morning Up before the Sun Autumn The Evening fulfils its Promise 

 A Breeze Journey to Kylemore A Day on the Lake Doings for the 

 Week Leenane The Killeries Delphi The Errive Drive to Westport 

 The Reek, and what we saw there On to Newport. 



August 18. 

 The world was asleep when we trotted out of Olifden. A few stars 

 still lingered in the cool grey sky, winking wearily after their long 

 watch ; the valleys, the brown moorlands, and the bases of the 

 Twelve Pins were all in their white night-robes ; the horse seemed 

 walking in his sleep ; the driver snored audibly, and two of our 

 party were thinking profoundly with their eyes shut ; all was in 

 harmony with nature, for nature slept. Oh, give me the morning, 

 the fresh, beautiful morning the infancy of the day ! There is a 

 hopefulness about it that no other portion of the twenty-four hours 

 possesses, for there is yet a long stretch ere noon. Then how soon 

 the sun begins to decline ; little by little the shadows lengthen ; 

 twilight deepens into night ; another day is gone, and we are so 

 much nearer to the inevitable hour. But now we think not of 

 night, for the morn is in its prime. Away up in the clear sky the 

 Twelve Pins lift their immortal heads, and look down on us creatures 

 of an hour with quiet majesty. An old cock grouse is chattering 

 drowsily to himself of the fun he hopes to have with his wife and 

 family ; perhaps he is laying out his plans for the day, thinking 

 where the richest bilberries grow, or meditating what mountain 

 watercourse affords the longest and most blooming ling for their 

 midday siesta. The small rough cattle have not yet risen to break- 

 fast ; only the restless sheep and goats are up and working for their 

 daily bread, whilst an angler, equally restless no doubt to the 

 secret disgust of his wife and family is padding through the 

 mountains a full half hour before the sun will show his face and 

 bid the world "good morrow." To my mind the scenery between 



