274 THE FALLS OF BALLYSHANNON. 



The nominal object of the meeting was to 

 see the salmon take the leap, which indeed 

 is a sight at once extraordinary and beau- 

 tiful ; but no point could be chosen from 

 which the river appears to greater advan- 

 tage on a still, bright, unclouded evening. 

 Behind is the great pool of Ballyshannon, 

 surrounded by the buildings of the town, 

 and alive with sporting salmon ; in front 

 the splendid estuary, lake-like and glittering 

 in the setting sun. This extends for five or 

 six miles, bounded on the south by the pic- 

 turesque sandhills near Bundoran, and on 

 the north by the wild shores of Kildoney, 

 the scene of the recent exploit, while in the 

 far distance appears the bold promontory 

 which marks the entrance to the bay of 

 Donegal ; to the southward of this the view 

 is terminated only at the imaginary line 

 where the sky and sea seem to unite. 



The Squire was seated on the turf at the 

 edge of the fall. He had planted his gaff 

 firmly in the ground, and was steadying 

 against it a pocket telescope, with which he 

 was reconnoitering carefully the scene of the 

 last night's attack. 



"That is a smart fellow that Hector," 



