DAYS STOLEN FOR SPORT 209 



Karbour, and we found our to-be host, Mr J. M'Cabe, 

 oa the quay to welcome us. When the luggage was 

 landed, I asked the boatmen to come on shore and have 

 some food, but they shook their heads as they rephed, 

 'We must be off at once,' and they would have gone 

 without had not my host, at my request, hastened 

 for bread and cheese and something in a bottle. When 

 shaking hands with Martin Kilbane, postmaster of 

 Cloughmore, I told him that his quick perception and 

 easily aroused energy fitted him to be an Admiral 

 of the Fleet or Postmaster-General. 'It would be 

 yerself thin that has been kissing the blarney stone, and 

 it's plinty of fish ye'U be catching, I hope.' 



The post ofhce, the hotel, and a two-roomed cottage 

 stood together, and formed three sides of a square 

 on the north jetty. It was the cottage that was given 

 us, and our meals were brought to our Uttle sitting- 

 room from across the way; so we were very snug, 

 and so close to the sea that we had only to step out- 

 side, shp off our night apparel, and take a morning 

 dip. 



It was Sunday morning when we took our first 

 swim, and, the water being warm in anticipation of 

 the heat of the sunny day that followed, we much 

 enjoyed it. A Spring tide was running, and the 

 hea\'ing sea caught varied colourings from the rising 

 sun that ghttered in the v/aves our arms went through. 

 GuUs innumerable were taking toll of passing shoals 

 of httle fish, which, when caught, were fought for 

 with noisy clamour. After we had dressed we sat on 

 a wall where the fishers' nets were spread and watched 

 the fish below, which, by their antics, showed that 

 they too were bubbling over with the joy of life. 

 Hunger came to us long before the meal, so we were 

 pleased when our host came to tell us it was ready. 



The inhabitants of the island are few, and their 

 means so hmited that they share the services of their 

 priest with the occupants of Inishturk, a still less 



