CHAPTEE XIII. 



THE BREAKING UP OF THE PARTY. 



The Captain's last Sketch — Autumn a saddening 

 Season — The Street of Belleek — A Contrast— The 

 Farewell — South Shore of Lough Erne — Legend of 

 the Lake. 



There are few things so utterly depressing 

 to the spirits as the breaking up of a fishing- 

 party. Scenes of past sports and past en- 

 joyments are now viewed for the last time ; 

 pleasant companions, who have shared to- 

 gether the roughs and smooths of a wild, 

 picknicking, campaigning sort of life, are 

 now parting, and, in all probability, never to 

 meet again. This, under any circumstances, 

 is depressing, but with fishermen it is so 

 peculiarly. There is a sort of freemasonry 

 in their craft, that seems to bind men more 

 closely together than they are bound by the 

 common pursuit of any other object what- 



