IN A FISHING COUNTRY 



the shore. Some chose the sands at the 

 Murray's mouth, where the salt water was 

 a little tempered; others the ledges near 

 the Protestant church (who remain to 

 identify the red rock where the boys were 

 wont to gather at high tide?) 'The Point' 

 resorted to the white rocks below the clifif, 

 or found good depth above the wharf for 

 a dive at all tides, and a waterfall to give 

 a chill and stinging shower-bath. Every 

 morning, one with a long white beard (be- 

 loved at all other hours of the twenty-four) 

 made the round of the cottages, booming out 

 'show a leg, boys, show a leg, show a leg', 

 till the sleepy crew in varied undress ral- 

 lied and straggled after him to the beach. 

 Nor wits nor pity won escape from the 

 regulation three plunges; were the evasion 

 discovered late, in you must to complete 

 the tale at any stage of dressing, no tender 

 hands* aiding. I remember a venerable 

 man, a bishop, who swam seaward from the 

 white rocks ^ill the strong ebb-tide was 

 carrying him away. Someone shouted a 

 warning, and I see his shiny head and hear 

 his cheerful hail: — 'all right boys, I'll land 

 on the sand-bar'! He and a few others 

 were little troubled by the coldness of the 

 water. While not pretending it was the 

 38 



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