AND HOW I HAVE CAUGHT MY FISH 55 



CHAPTER VI. 



A GRAND DAY AMONGST THE POLLACK BAD BEGINNINGS 

 "THE DIVILS AND THE GEAR" PADDY AND BILLY. 



THOSE of my readers who have never made an 

 early start for a day on the sea, with hopes higher 

 than the waves and with the thrushes' and black- 

 birds' joyful hailing of the morn filling their ears, 

 have a joy to taste, of which they should take 

 careful note. Before the lark had finished his 

 matins the boat had been manned, and we were 

 paying out our lines in a sea which resembled a 

 gently-heaving mass of molten metal, that had a 

 silver fringe which encircled the feet of rocks, the 

 heads of which were as yet hidden in morning 

 mists. The ring of gold on the horizon changed 

 to streaks of red and gold that lit up the headlands 

 far and near, and partially cleared away the shroud 

 which hid their vast proportions. 



Then, while thoughts were busy with Nature's 

 changes, there came a discordant noise, which told 

 that the hitherto regular flow of an extended line 

 had met a check, and with such violence as told of 

 vigorous, tugging life. Until now I had been in 

 Wonderland. The soft breeze that moved the sea 



