212 DAYS STOLEN FOR SPORT 



spent there. As the train was starting an aged 

 man offered me a bunch of withered, yellow grapes : 

 " Sixpence, yer honour, and it's everybody that's 

 calling for thim and the train in a divil of a hurry." 



Our next stop was at Athlone. Need I say more 

 than that it is on the Shannon ? Is there any other 

 name that conjures up such varied possibilities ? I 

 think not, unless it be the sea. 



Castlerea, Claremorris and Castlebar are worth a 

 stay, and so is Westport, but I must hurry on to 

 Achill and from there to our journey's end that I 

 may have space to tell you of recent doings with 

 rod and line. 



Dugort was reached just before the dinner-hour, 

 and gathered in the lobby, waiting the call, was 

 quite a little crowd. Conspicuous among the 

 number was Boniface himself who welcomed us and 

 then gave instructions as to the disposal of our bag- 

 gage including our rod box which, when laid beside 

 the others, seemed to gain in size and attracted 

 much attention. 



There was a moment's wait for an upstairs guide 

 during which a youngish man approached my son 

 and voiced the question which several would no 

 doubt have asked : " Have either of you fished 

 here before?" and, when he got the answer " No," 

 he said: "You have brought some rods I see and 

 long ones, too, judging by your box." " It certainly 

 does seem huge beside the others," said Harry, 

 "but in it are some little rods to which I pin much 

 faith." To this came : " Well ! I wish you better luck 

 than mine. I have little rods, but, as yet, I have 

 pinned nothing to them." 



When in our room Harry was of opinion that the 



