A MORNING AT BALLYSHANNON. 3^3 



and that some one had crept up to the top 

 of the rock and had cut away three yards of 

 it, with his pet fly at the end. The wiseacre 

 had no spare casting-line, and was obliged 

 to go home." 



A grave yet sly smile crossed the iron 

 countenance of Paddy Mooshlan, the Squire's 

 attendant, which did not escape the quick 

 eye of the Captain. 



" Ah, you old rogue ! that was your boy 

 Willy," said he ; " as clever a scoundrel as 

 his father. I see it, I see it. There's half- 

 a-crown to buy him a halter, and make him 

 remember the Grass Guard!" 



" I wonder why that throw is called the 

 Grass Guard?" said the Squire. 



"Why, you know," said the Captain, 

 " that Cromwell, for a long time, held the 

 line of the Erne as a military position, and 

 a pretty strong one too. That fort, or tete 

 du pont, at Belleek Bridge, defended his 

 right, while his left occupied Ballyshannon ; 

 and the Grass Guard, which you know is 

 a deep and very defensible loop of the river, 

 and nearly in the centre of his position, 

 formed the depot of forage for his cavalry." 



"And have you never heard," said the 



