248 LOUGH DERG. 



and these not the little fish that had been 

 rising during the day, but the patriarchs of 

 the flood. The very smallest weighed down 

 a pound and a half, while the large ones 

 would come hard upon four or even five 

 pounds. The baskets were getting full ; 

 when suddenly — just as suddenly as it had 

 begun — the sound of rising ceased, the lake 

 was as still as before, and the fish seemed to 

 have retreated by word of command, and 

 sought the depths below. 



" We'll catch no more now," said the 

 boatman, " till maybe one or two in the 

 morning. ,, 



"And I do not think it will be worth 

 while to wait for that," said the Captain. 

 " The Squire cannot laugh at us now with 

 such baskets as we shall bring home ; and 

 though this night -fishing is a thing one 

 would like to experience once in one's 

 life, it is nothing like fishing by day-time, 

 when you see your enemy and your enemy 

 sees you." 



"Yes," said the Parson, as the old cot 

 sprung forward under the hearty efforts of 

 all hands, "it is well enough to catch big 

 fish ; but this mode is open to the meanest 



