DAYS STOLEN FOR SPORT 



We secured the services of Michael Welsh who, 

 with the help of a mate, sailed his boat to perfection 

 in a stiffish breeze over the few and far between 

 dark patches of the mostly sandy-bottomed Ardbear 

 Bay but, as had been predicted, the fish were far 

 too small to test our lines, so the excitement of our 

 previous doings was lacking. 



On ordinary days, although happy and health- 

 giving, I must not dwell, as I need my pen for 

 more stirring times, accounts of men and women 

 whom we met, and incidents which I have notes of. 

 Let it be enough to say that those who would like 

 such comfortable sport as this inland bay affords 

 will be at ease in the Dudley Arms Hotel at 

 Clifden. 



From a livery yard opposite our hotel I had seen 

 well-horsed cars come, and, as my love of horses is 

 on a par with my hate of whips, except to show the 

 animal or stroke his back, I went across to tell the 

 man in charge what I had seen and ask if he would 

 let my son and me ride behind a good one to 

 Roundstone. Spectacles as a rule detract some- 

 what from the expression of a face and Irishmen 

 are the last I would wish to wear them ; but the 

 roguish look that came over the top of the pair this 

 man had on was added to by the slow one-sided 

 bending of his head to get a peep at me. When 

 he had satisfied himself his head resumed its 

 ordinary position and his lips, that had quivered as 

 if expecting a laugh to come to them, moved to 

 say: " Been in Ireland long?" At this we both 

 laughed and, as this was what we had tried not to 

 do, it did us good. 



Whether we got the best horse from the stable I 



