CHAPTER XXII 



" The Dhrawing-room Flure " The River Erriff for Salmon and 

 Lough Nafooey for Pike Up on a Connemara Mountain 

 for Grouse 



A SEA-CAPTAIN who has been thanked for valuable 

 information and has readjusted himself upon his 

 seat after a sip at a replenished glass, with a 

 satisfied air and a long clay pipe, makes a comfort- 

 able picture ; at least, so I thought when I looked 

 at him, as I commenced what I intended should be 

 a brief account of my visit to Leenane ; but he and 

 our host so encouraged me by interposing comments 

 that my son giving me no restraining kick I told 

 it as written here. 



It is just twenty years ago that my friend, Mr 

 Emery, in whose judgment I place implicit faith, 

 said: "Geen, will you go with me to Connemara? 

 Graham was going but has had to drop out through 

 illness. I have planned everything and am assured 

 the prospects are good for fishing, and, mark you ! 

 grouse shooting is promised should the river fall 

 too low." 



Free salmon fishing, within a mile of the sea, 

 where fresh-run fish may come with every tide, 

 was a prospect that moved me ; with grouse shoot- 

 ing added on the same terms it became irresistible 

 and I said "Yes" at once. Of course I ought 

 to have been very sorry for the poor fellow who 

 should have shared all this ; I quite forget whether 

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