ENNIS NA SHIA. 81 



" I never set it down for a blank day," 

 said the Parson. " I knew we had always 

 this lake in reserve, and it is a very good 

 thing to have this reserve to fall back upon. 

 The best of rivers — and I am inclined to 

 think that there are few rivers better than 

 the Erne — but the very best of rivers will 

 sometimes be out of order, and then these 

 lakes come in for an odd day." 



" I am inclined to think that there are 

 few lakes better than this," said the Captain. 

 " Verily, St. Columba is a powerful saint." 



" Very few, take it altogether. There are 

 better trout, and more of them, in the Mul- 

 lingar lakes, and at Inchiquin, and in several 

 other places, but not the variety. It in- 

 creases the interest wonderfully, when you 

 are never certain but that the next rise may 

 be from a small whale." 



"I do not question the power of the 

 saint," said the Squire; "but I think that 

 there are some earthly second causes which 

 co-operate with his blessing." 



" Yes," replied the Parson ; " and the 

 principal of these is inaccessibility of the 

 place. Naturally, this lake is in no way 

 superior to Lough Gilly ; give it a county 



G 



