378 A MORNING AT BALLYSHANNON. 



took five or six springs in succession his own 

 full length above the surface. 



The line came slack. " Reel up, reel up !" 

 was the cry ; but before the Squire could get 

 in his line, the fish had taken advantage of 

 his respite, and had laid himself up, sulky 

 and motionless, under a hidden rock, not 

 five yards from the boat. A touch from the 

 oar fortunately started him, and again he 

 rushed up the stream, and again returned on 

 his own course ; but this time the Squire 

 was prepared for him, and, keeping the 

 line tight, prevented him from gaining the 

 bottom. 



The boat had now neared the land, and 

 Paddy Mooshlan, who, with his gaff in his 

 hand, his mouth open, and his eyes fixed on 

 the straining line, had been leaning over the 

 gunwale, was pitched, over head and ears, 

 into the deep water as the boat touched the 

 rock. This was nothing to Paddy, who was 

 as much at home in the water as on the land ; 

 and the Squire had not landed before he 

 stood on a projecting point as still as the 

 rock itself, with the water just rippling over 

 the iron of his gaff. 



Short was the struggle after the Squire 



