A NEW BET. 177 



another bet ? For five pounds, and within five minutes, 1'li 

 kill another salmon, and make the number ten /" 



f< Done !" we exclaimed together. 



" Hennessey, the rod ; wet the flies below the pool, and in 

 in twenty seconds, yon cloud will be over the sun." 



Before the cabin there is a tolerable hole, deep, but narrow. 

 Where the stream runs in, the ripple is considerable, and 

 between it and the bank, the deepest water lies. If there be 

 a salmon in the pool, there is the spot to find him. My cousin 

 sent the casting line in such masterly style into the opposite 

 eddy, as proclaimed him at once an adept, and the second cast 

 a salmon rose and took him. 



He was but a light fish, and in less than three minutes 

 was bounding upon the grass, beside his dead companions. 

 My kinsman handed the rod to the attendant. " Gentlemen," 

 he said in mock heroics, "in your memories be all my bets 

 remembered! And now to dinner, with what appetite you 

 may." 



" Well," said the commander, " this beats Bannagher* 

 I would have given my corporal oath the knave had swept 

 the river. His flies are absolute perfection ! There's villany 

 somewhere; but come along. The dinner must not cool, 

 and the wine shall pay for it !" 



" Julius," said the commander, as he extracted the third 

 cork, " thy star predominated ; a villanous combination of 

 circumstances, with infernal flies, and an intractable pony, 

 destroyed me. Andy Bawn (we are beaten, and the truth 

 may be told) for the first time in his life was taken with a 

 fit of conscience, and actually refused to gaff a salmon. The 

 very otters were combined against us, and disturbed the best 

 pool upon the river but Pull-buoy. I had no time to tie fresh 

 flies." 



" Or even send to Goolamere, to borrow," said my kinsman, 

 drily. 



"Ah, hem," and the colonel appeared a little bothered 

 " I want no man's flies ; my own, I find, will generally 

 answer." 



* An Irish phrase synonymous with "this exceeds everything/' 



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