3%6 THE RIVER. 



the Black Rocks to meet him ; he has got a 

 tail after him, too. Why, what on earth are 

 they about ? There are two men carrying 

 one fish ! The Squire must have caught a 

 whale." 



The combined party, who were wending 

 their course up the stream, had now arrived 

 nearly opposite to the Mullins Rock, and 

 catching sight of the group sitting there, 

 waved their hands in recognition, and alter- 

 ing their course, came up by the left shore 

 of the Monk's Pool, instead of taking the 

 direct path to Belleek. 



" They are going to cross the Ford," said 

 the Scholar, " and I vote we meet them at 

 the landing-place, and hear what sport they 

 have had." 



The party, to the number of twelve or 

 fourteen, had now entered the water, and were 

 crossing slowly, in order to give the Captain 

 time to fish the way before them, for the 

 Ford is seldom without a salmon or two 

 upon it. This time, however, the fishing was 

 without success ; and the parties met on the 

 beautiful sloping bank of short, thymy turf, 

 that edges the right shore of the Monk's 

 Pool. 



