2o8 DAYS STOLEN FOR SPORT 



that those who are rearing famihes of boys and girls, 

 whose needs are few and of such a nature as to help 

 to make strong men and women of them, are doing 

 more for our country's welfare than those good noisy 

 folks that are so anxious to mend our ways. 



When we reached the quay at Cloughmore, we 

 learned that the only boat likely to be available that 

 day was away to an adjacent island with the post- 

 master, who was dehvering the mail. The dr.ver, 

 not Pat, but a quieter man, would have unloaded and 

 left us, but, as there was no accommodation near 

 for travellers, I asked him to wait the issue of our 

 conference with the returning postmaster, as it might 

 be that after all we should have to return to Achill 

 railway station. 



After about an hour of anxious waiting the boat 

 arrived. It was rowed by a square-built man who 

 manipulated the oars in most effective fashion, and 

 looked so much the sailor in garb and gait that I 

 thought I was venturing much when I asked him 

 if he was the postmaster. He was, and in a very 

 brief space of time he had found a mate ; the two 

 trotted with the loads of luggage to the boat, and 

 we were off in much less time than it sometimes takes 

 to ascertain the cost of hiring. The reason of this 

 haste was that there was not a minute to spare if the 

 tide was to help the boat to round the island to where 

 the sails would fill, and faihng this help, they would 

 have no chance of returning home that night. Hence 

 the quickest shipment and the most manful struggle 

 I have ever witnessed, a struggle which deserved 

 success. It only just succeeded, the tide turned during 

 the last fifteen minutes, but we reached the wind, the 

 Rails filled, and the boat commenced to leave a trail 

 that grew in size. The men had a drink, mopped their 

 brows, and, having rearranged the baggage, ht their 

 pipes, folded their arms, and smoked contentedly. 



It was seven o'clock when we entered the little 



