NATURE AND SPORT IN BRITAIN 



acres of mountain. We were therefore provided with 

 horses, which, as we issued from the lodge, were stand- 

 ing ready for us. These mounts were sorry-looking 

 garrons, hired from small farmers of the neighbourhood 

 at the price of is. per diem. Rough, unkempt, and 

 sometimes old as they were, they were wonderfully sure- 

 footed beasts, and carried us over the passes, torrents, 

 and mountain-sides in a way that no piece of horseflesh 

 not bred and reared in this wild district could have 

 accomplished. Their saddles and bridles looked as 

 though they would scarcely hang together for the day's 

 journey ; however, as we were not likely to get, in the 

 country through which we were to pass, beyond a trot 

 or mild canter, they sufficed. I mounted an old white 

 screw, whose age its owner acknowledged to be not less 

 than nineteen years ; and, the rest of the company 

 being ready, we set off along the mountain stream which 

 flows by the doors of Stramore Lodge. Three red 

 setters and a Laverack, all wild with delight at the 

 prospect of a day's sport, accompanied us. And two 

 or three strong Mayo lads, who were to carry the game, 

 had already shouldered our guns and gone on in 

 advance. Pat MacManaman, the keeper, rode with 

 us. Cantering and trotting our sorry hacks along some 

 pieces of grass and heather that spread along the smooth 

 valley of the winding stream, we were not long in 

 getting among the mountains. I have seldom ridden 

 through more magnificent scenery than we passed that 

 clear, bright September morning. Behind us on either 

 flank towered ranges of wild hill country of which 

 Cushcamcarragh and Glennamong, on the one hand, 

 and Mount Eagle, on the other, formed the highest 

 points. 



Far to the right, towards distant Lough Conn, 

 towered Nephin, and to our left front Nephin Beg 



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