1 10 WHAT I HAVE SEEN WHILE FISHING 



CHAPTER XI. 



CARLIN'S CABIN AND HIS BOATS IRISH SUPERSTITIONS AN 



AFTER-DINNER CHAT ABOUT GILLIES THE FAIRIES* CASTLE. 



THOMAS CARLIN, of Cloghboy, Loughros Beg Bay, 

 Ardara, a great authority on sea-fishing, was recom- 

 mended to us as being the man who possessed not 

 only the necessary knowledge, but also boats suit- 

 able for the bay or the open sea. We had no diffi- 

 culty in finding Thomas Carlin's cabin, in which we 

 were invited to stay while one of the many children 

 was sent to fetch the father, who was busy in the 

 hayfield. I tried again and again to count the 

 young Carlins ; but so numerous were they, and 

 so mixed with the old donkey which had two of the 

 children hanging to her neck a favourite and not 

 for sale the young donkey, daughter of the old 

 donkey price seven shillings the pigs, the fowls, 

 the ducks and the geese, that I always failed ; some- 

 times because some of the children were so nearly 

 alike that I feared I must be counting them twice. 

 I determined to give it up and ask Mrs. Noah if 

 she knew how many there were. The reply was 

 given with a proud, happy smile, as she tightened 

 her hold on the babe at her breast, " Just ten, sir 



