162 WHAT I HAVE SEEN WHILE FISHING 



nods and smiles, told me about the man who 

 had paid such a lengthened visit to a fairies' 

 castle. He was much surprised at my knowing 

 of it, and showed anxiety to learn who had told 

 me. I fancy he was more fogged than ever 

 when I told him I came from a country where 

 fairies were quite plentiful and sometimes visible. 

 The rings they made while dancing in our meadows 

 and on our moor were worn quite bare with use. 

 In the early morning music came through the 

 mists from near the brook in the home meadow, 

 just as the lark was rising, and tiny voices were 

 singing : 



" Fairy king attend and mark 

 I do hear the morning lark." 



The reality of Devon fairies sobered him, 

 and he quite seriously told me that it was true 

 about the old man on Arran Island being lost, 

 and he supposed he must have been in the 

 Fairies' Castle, or he could not have told the 

 tale he did. 



The days flew by at Burton Port, for, go where 

 we would, sport was sure, and there were no 

 anxieties about getting back ; we had two strong 

 men to row when the wind failed. There were 

 no dull moments. McCole, of whom I have 

 spoken but little, is a keen listener with a well- 

 stored memory, loving a tale and most encouraging 

 to the teller of it. Now and then he encouraged 

 himself to let out quaint sayings that hinted at 



