LOUGH DERG. 209 



the native manufacture," said the Parson. 

 " If you happen to get a dry cot — rather a 

 rare variety, by the way — you will find it 

 answer a fisherman's purpose better than any 

 description of boat whatever." 



" Provided always you have not to pull it 

 yourself," said the Captain. 



" You would be surprised if you saw a 

 Lough Erne boat-race," said the Parson : 

 " awkward and clumsy as it seems, if the day 

 should happen to be perfectly still, it is the 

 cot that invariably wins the race ; their 

 great, broad, shallow frames seem to slip over 

 the surface without touching it. But the 

 slightest breeze is fatal to them ; they drop 

 to leeward as unresistingly as a floating 

 plank. Come, in with you ! To-day is just 

 the day to see them to advantage. We will 

 make our bargain as we go across." 



There was no difficulty in making the 

 bargain, for the fishermen were by far the 

 best pay of any people who were likely to 

 come to the lake ; and an Irishman, even 

 though he be the Charon of Purgatory, loves 

 sport of any kind dearly. Besides, they 

 were by no means sure of another cargo of 

 pilgrims ; and if any should by accident 



p 



