THE UPPER RAPIDS. 155 



fuss about a couple of egg-shells, and putting 

 it all upon the men, telling us that they be- 

 lieve some absurd story or other. The fact 

 is, he believes it himself." 



" And if you had shot and fished among 

 the Slieve Ghie mountains, and their lakes 

 and streams, as much as I have, and lived 

 as much with their people, you would believe 

 it too," said the Parson ; " or, at least, you 

 would act as if you did, which comes to the 

 same thing." 



" The truth is," said the Captain, " nine 

 out of ten of us do believe with our hearts, 

 if we do not with our heads. We say boldly 

 enough that it is all nonsense ; but who 

 would sail on a Friday if he could help it ? 

 And who does not stick his spoon through 

 the bottom of his egg-shell when he has 

 finished eating the egg?" 



"And your tenth-man, your unbeliever, 

 is neither the wisest nor the best of the ten," 

 said the Parson. 



" I do hate your Utilitarian, who turns up 

 his rationalising nose at all popular belief," 

 said the Captain. "The superstitious man 

 before the sceptic, any day." 



1 ■ Yes," said the Parson, " better believe 



