208 A YEAR OF LIBERTY ; OR, 



through the mountains with unspeakable delight ; and if for a 

 moment I dozed off, it was only to dream of fresh victories. About 

 xone the rain drove furiously against the windows, and filled up the 

 measure of my joy. With three hours for sleep before me I now 

 felt sure of the weather I sank into that dreamless oblivion which 

 yields such perfect rest. No alarum was needed to rouse me, and 

 at half -past-four, on descending the stairs, I found Willie, Jack, 

 Joyce, and the bilious man ready for a start. It has been before 

 observed that "early fishing" is seldom productive, and that the 

 best portion of the day for sport is from ten a.m. to three p.m. ; on 

 certain waters, however, I have often done very well about seven 

 o'clock, particularly at Lismore, the bridge of Ballyshannon, and the 

 pool on the beach at Waterville ; perhaps also Kylemore should be 

 added to the list. From half-past four to within a few minutes of 

 the favourable hour referred to, we only rose a few small lakers, but 

 presently afterwards the fun waxed fast and furious, and by eight 

 we had two salmon and seven white trout in the basket. 



Feeling the necessity of food, we beached the boat and walked up 

 to the house, where, standing by the door, was a Saxon brother of 

 the rod, who, like ourselves, was staying at the inn. A more perse- 

 vering performer after breakfast I have rarely seen, but early rising 

 was his abomination ; if he ever felt disposed to make a vow against 

 what Prince Hal calls ''bed pressing," I am disposed to think he 

 meditated doing so that morning, when Jack Joyce and the bilious 

 party carried the well-stocked pannier past him into the kitchen. 

 There is a sort of malicious triumph that at such moments will 

 make itself felt, and I ushered our countryman in the salon shortly 

 after with increased stature and a dignity not always usual with me. 

 The meal was not a long one, yet that three-quarters of an hour 

 sufficed to change the aspect of the day, and converted storm into 

 calm, clouds into sunshine, and hope into despondency ; then I felt 

 repaid for the scores and scores of times I had risen for weeks 

 together with the sun, and received little for my labour. 



It would have been vain even to hope for such another grand 

 break in the uniform glorious weather which so pre-eminently dis- 



