DAYS STOLEN FOR SPORT 189 



against the iron rails that rose from out a low wall, 

 which allowed him only a portion of a seat, on which 

 he perched as much of himself as the narrow ledge 

 permitted. I crossed to him. 



* Good-morning, Mr Sheridan/ 



*Good-moming, sir.' 



*I am here with my son with the hope of doing 

 a little fishing; can you suggest where we are most 

 likely to get it ? ' 



. I admit that this question could not assist him 

 to assist us, so I deserved what I got, which was : 

 *I was thinking, perhaps, you would like some fishing 

 when I saw you had brought your rods, and I said to 

 myself we shall be having rain soon, I hope.' 



My next question should have been my first : 

 'Is there anywhere round this island a sheltered spot 

 where a boat could be had to take us sea- 

 fishing ? ' 



*Bedad and there's that anyway, sir,' and with 

 that he fairly jumped from his seat and called loudly 

 for 'Pat,' which quickly brought a young, energetic- 

 looking man from the stable-yard, who was told to 

 bring a car to take two gentlemen fishing, and, as he 

 turned to obey this order, there was added, 'Now 

 quick, Pat, these gentlemen would be there long ago.' 



Irish readiness to help some one else to do the 

 thing that other has in mind was to the fore, and we 

 found the car waiting us when we appeared with our 

 lunch, rods, and tackle, and, as the little six feet 

 six inch rods were at their length, there was some 

 surprise on the faces of the knot of fishers who had 

 been told by Pat we were after trout. 



The steep ascent of half a mile to the cross roads 

 made conversation easy, so when Pat told us that he 

 feared the lough was low and bright, I explained to 

 him that we wanted a boat to take us sea-fishing. 



'Is that so, yer honours? Thin it's meself that 

 will soon have ye on the say, and it's a big boat ye'il 



