SALMON ANGLING IN IRELAND. 237 



determine, for my friend was a great traveller, and, like some other 

 people, apt to tell his own stories till he believed them. 



Even the prospect of being charged for three beds would not have 

 disturbed me, as I opened my window and looked out over the quiet 

 village and the lonely sea. What is an error in an inn bill, or even 

 peculiar opinions touching conjugal privileges, compared with a 

 man's peace of mind ? 



CHAPTER XXXIV. 



Achil Taken Captive Western Village New Style of Trolling Inn Bill 

 Tyrena in "The Dry Season" Father Ned Perseverance Erica Medi 

 terranea Carrig-a-Binniogh A Quiet Evening Under the Stars 



September 25. 

 If any man desires the blessings of health and long life, let him 

 eschew " Parr's pills," avoid suppers, and sleep with his window 

 open. Through that balmy autumn night I was more than half 

 conscious of the solemn strains old Ocean drew from rock and 

 cavern ; heard the light rustle of the curtains as they swayed to and 

 fro with the breeze, and felt the exquisite sweetness of the air as it 

 stole laden with mountain fragrance down the sides of Sleive More. 

 To wake with the lark is almost a necessity under such conditions ; 

 and those " sweet spirits " mere specks against the blue sky were 

 singing the praises of early rising as I strapped the razor- on the left 

 palm previous to making some small portion of my countenance 

 visible. At this important crisis there was a sound of tiny feet 

 rushing up the stairs, and in another moment the door was flung 

 open, and two as fine little fellows as ever plagued mamma bounded 

 into the room, without the least regard to the sacredness of the 

 sanctuary so rudely violated. 



" Oh, I say," observed a precocious specimen of nine, " pa told me 

 you were sure to be up. You must make me a fly and give me a 



