MOGH-A-DIOTTL. 173 



lost it. My kinsman commences his work three miles up, at 

 his favourite Pull-garrow, while we fish from the mouth of 

 the river. At five we meet at the cabin, and the party then 

 producing the greater weight of fish is conqueror. These 

 preliminaries being adjusted, our opponent went off like an 

 Arab, to join his aide-de-camp, Mr. Hennessey, who has all 

 in readiness for his commencement, and, I suspect, a salmon 

 or two already in the pannier. 



The opening of our campaign is every thing but satisfactory 

 Mogh-a-dioul seems possessed with the demon of obstinacy ; 

 any advance towards the river is his aversion, and, as Pattigo 

 expresses it, "the beast will neither wear or stay." The 

 commander's seat has been more than once perilled by his 

 gambadoes ; and, as we are informed that he is caparisoned 

 with a bit, which is his abomination, there is but little chance 

 of amendment in Mogh-a-dioul. This appears very like a plot 

 against the Colonel's person ; and I fear that the midnight 

 embassy to the priest will be more than countervailed, by the 

 manoeuvres of our abler antagonist. 



Both adepts made excellent professions of good faith at 

 starting ; but, as my kinsman left us, there was a " lurking 

 devil in his eye," that augurs us no good fortune. The com- 

 mander, too, talked in good set terms of " honourable con- 

 duct ;" but precept and practice, I lament to say, are some- 

 what irreconcilable. 



"Andy" he said, in his most insinuating manner, to our 

 attendant ; " Andy Bawn, you were always an obliging boy, 

 and very handy with the gaff. Just keep your eye about the 

 banks as we go along ; and if you can snaffle a salmon or two, 

 why, the pannier will tell no tales, and weigh all the better. 35 



To me there never was a more delightful expedition ; but 

 my companion was cold to all the romance of nature, and en- 

 grossed with one consideration to win his wager. While I 

 was enraptured with the splendid scenery that each new point 

 presented, the colonel was cursing his flies, and pouring 

 anathemas on the priest. "How beautiful!'' I exclaimed, as 

 the sunshine fell upon a mountain valley, through which a 

 little rivulet was winding, and whose waters, in the glare of 

 jlight, danced downwards like a streak of molten silver. " How 

 damned provoking," responded my brother fisherman, " that 

 the only decent fly in that cursed priest's collection, should be 

 tied upon a hook with no more point upon it than a hobnail ! 



