DAYS STOLEN FOR SPORT 217 



CHAPTER XXI 



FROM CLARE ISLAND TO INISHTLTIK ON A STORMY SEA 

 — DOING AN OVERLAND JOURNEY IN STATE — 

 CAPTAIN DARBY GREEN. 



During the night preceding the morning we had 

 chosen to leave Clare Island for Inishturk the wind 

 changed and freshened so much that I was glad we 

 had decided on one of the larger fishing boats for 

 the journey. 



Edward O'Malley, Hugh Kill, and the boy, all 

 good sailors, had readily consented to forgo their 

 fishing for what they anticipated would be a pleasant 

 sail, but when we met them at the jetty in the morning 

 O'Malley inclined his head sideways towards me and 

 said, 'Bit fresh, sorr.' Owners of other boats came 

 down, looked seawards, and, ha\nng apparently 

 satisfied themselves, turned back, took a glance at 

 their craft, dug their hands deeper into their trousers 

 pockets, and marched off home. 



We started with a reef or two in the sails, but before 

 we had been out long or made much progress, more 

 were taken in, and soon after that a sail was furled. 

 The men took a peep at us to see how we were faring, 

 or possibly to gather from our looks if we had thoughts 

 of turning back. If this was the question they desired 

 to ask, it was answered by our rising and helping each 

 other into oilskins to protect ourselves from the 

 increasing spray. 



It was certainly a wet journey, and the outlook as 

 we neared the island was the reverse of bright. The 

 huge waves that rolled under us hurled themselves 

 against the rocks, and the resounding roars that came 



