DAYS STOLEN FOR SPORT 255 



but, if I get you over arid can get back again, I 

 won't be for asking too much for obliging gentlemen 

 in difficulties." 



The sea ran high but the little ship, in spite of 

 being full of weighty casks, lifted herself and topped 

 the waves in such a perky fashion that we were 

 bound to notice and admire her. Now and then the 

 foaming edges of one higher than the rest would 

 hustle her a bit and souse her passengers but she 

 kept her course in such plucky fashion as told she 

 would fetch Claggan pier. 



The certainty of being freed from Inishbofin was 

 a tonic that made me gay, in spite of my having to 

 hold grimly to a rope to maintain my somewhat 

 sprawling position on the deck, and, by way of giving 

 vent to my delight, I poked Harry's ribs with an 

 elbow and sang to him : 



" A wet sheet and a flowing sea, 

 A wind that follows fast, 

 And fills the white and rustling sail, 

 And bends the gallant mast." 



When near our destination, having in mind not 

 to delay the vessel at the pier, I asked again : " What 

 shall I pay you, captain ? " and, in reply, he stated a 

 sum which he expressed a hope would not hurt us 

 greatly. It was too small to hurt and small enough, 

 with all else, to make me decide for the thousandth 

 time how unwise it is to judge a fellow-man too 

 quickly. No ! Darby Green, of Ballinabay, Clifden, 

 is not ugly ; he does not snarl, and he has two gems 

 of eyes that sparkled when we admired the behaviour 

 of his boat. 



We stood some time where he had landed us 

 watching the manoeuvres of his boat to keep her 



