THE UPPER RAPIDS. 135 



the fire might be lighted, the eggs boiled, 

 and the Captain's two trout, with anything 

 else they might catch, broiled or roasted for 

 their dinner. These al fresco dinners were 

 exceedingly popular with all parties, when- 

 ever they were practicable ; which, indeed, 

 was not very often the case, for Ireland 

 boasts a weeping climate. 



No one seemed very much disposed to try 

 the rapids. They were not very likely : the 

 sun was too bright, and the day predisposed 

 all parties to laziness. A decided preference 

 seemed to be given to sauntering about on 

 the shore, or lying at full length on the turf; 

 while the short pipe, the meerschaum, and 

 the cigar, were all put into requisition. 



" Come here ! come here !" said the Squire, 

 who had gone some thirty or forty yards be- 

 low the landing-place, and was now looking 

 into a deep round pool, between the bul- 

 rushes and the shore, formed by an indenta- 

 tion of the bank. " Look here ! — but come 

 gently, and do not shake the ground or show 

 yourselves." And there lay an enormous 

 pike, asleep on the surface, with his great, 

 round, green, finless back just a- wash, show- 

 ing no sign of life or motion, except the slight 

 opening and closing of his gills as he breathed. 



