DAYS STOLEN FOR SPORT 241 



e^^dently in no way moved from his purpose to have 

 a Hne out in which he could have some faith. 



It would have been easy, but unkind, and most 

 im\Nise, to have told him that we should not need 

 his hnes and lures or his help beyond piloting us to 

 the most likely places. Unkind, because he had 

 told us he had fished for pollack ever since he was old 

 enough to hold his father s hnes, and unwise, as men's 

 good temper is the first essential for their best work. 



His faith in the eel-tail, which with clumsy, horny 

 fingers he lo\ingly put on, so filled his huge frame, 

 that I was prompted to suggest a contest giving him 

 the fullest chance to beat my son's rod and line. Pat 

 offered me his line when paid out, but I declined it, 

 sa5ang I preferred to watch him using it, as I wanted 

 to see which would catch more fish, he or my son. 

 While I was saying this Pat gave a hearty jerk, and 

 got a start with a six-pound fish, but he was not 

 allowed to keep it long, as Harry made short work with 

 one of nine, and almost immediately after was playing 

 a heavier fish, the play and landing of which gained 

 a noticing remark from his opponent, 'Shure thin it's 

 tough that fine stuff is.' 



He was also pleased to speak kindly of the meat 

 hook that held up the eleven-pound fish while the 

 hook was wrested from its mouth. 



'Eleven pounds, Jennings,' and, as he looked round 

 to see me weighing it, he got a tug that pulled his 

 hne through loosened fingers and was too late with 

 his strike, but the fish, five pounds, came again and 

 was secured, making the contest level in num.bers. 

 After this there was, for some considerable time, no 

 response to either's offerings, and this caused the 

 captain to let out the reef he had taken in, and while 

 doing so, to say, 'I'll be making for Inishlackan, where 

 it will need my lines to hould thim.' 



The move proved fruitful, and I had cause to fear 

 that the first fish v/ould, with the aid of the weeds 



