154 WHAT I HAVE SEEN WHILE FISHING 



How much the place had changed I was soon 

 to learn, as amongst the guests at the hotel were 

 a Mr. and Mrs. Rogers, from New York city. 

 Mr. Rogers had left Arranmore as a young man, 

 twenty-five years before, and now, while on a tour 

 of Europe with quite a large party, he had stolen 

 away with his wife to get a look at his old home. 

 For many days he sat next me at table but I failed 

 to start him on a talk. He looked an Irishman 

 and I guessed, as he " guessed " and " calculated " 

 when talking to his wife, that he had seen America. 

 The man was troubled and his broad forehead 

 showed it, so I tried the more to draw him out. 

 At last I got it from him. What he came expecting 

 to see and what he really saw caused such a jumble 

 of all his notions that what he had framed to say 

 was not appropriate. " I'll tell you plainly," said 

 he. "I'm glad to get it out. I came expecting 

 to find here the misery from which I fled and ready 

 to curse your country, but now I guess I'll sell 

 those curses cheap." 



The hotel cannot possibly be spoken too highly 

 of, and the proprietor will listen to your wishes 

 and aid you to their fulfilment. 



McCole and Johnny, with just the right sort 

 of boat which they could sail or row as occasion 

 offered, were at our disposal at the time appointed, 

 and on the jetty stood our host to introduce us to 

 them. Having told them what we most desired 

 to catch we handed in our little rods, and I was 



