DAYS STOLEN FOR SPORT 195 



should. Finding this was so, I had httle hope remain- 

 ing for that particular spot, but I did not say so. 

 If at my age I do not know that men will help you 

 most when trusted it is time I did, for when only in 

 my teens I heard my father say to a man of his who had 

 just retired to bed and looked out from an upper 

 window to see who knocked, 'Skinner, I want you to 

 drive to Lynton. It's most important, and I don't 

 know whom to trust but you.' 'All right, maister, 

 I be coming.' My dad's faith in men not only got them 

 out of bed, but caused them sometimes to surprise 

 themselves by the work they did. We trusted O'Malley 

 and his mate, and were justified by the result. Their 

 desire to get fish was unmistakable, and they showed 

 they were resourceful, as at their next attempt they 

 rowed round the other way, so that where the boat had 

 passed with the tide before it had now to be rowed 

 against. It was just where the* rowing needed most 

 exertion that a heavy fish came on which, aided by 

 the tide, needed much straining of the rod and line 

 to thwart his efforts to reach again his weedy haunt, 

 and which, when beaten at this trick, struggled near 

 the surface in plucky fashion until gaffed. 



It was much past lunch-time when we had finished 

 here, so we went on shore to refresh and stretch our- 

 selves. Hoping that we should get men to take us 

 out, we had brought food and drink for four. This 

 finished, there passed a whispered word or two between 

 the men, and then Brian said : Tf it'll plaise yer 

 honours ye'll be thrying yer luck again. Ye must take 

 some fish wid ye back to Mr Sheridan.' 



Brian had the seat next to me, so it happened that 

 we often caught each other's eye. Unhke the generality 

 of his countrymen he seldom spoke, but his smile 

 and the contraction of a shoulder that bent his head 

 a little to one side told rne much. It was with a smile- 

 a half-closed eye, and a nod in the direction of the spot 

 whence the fish had come, that he told us there were 



