164 WHAT I HAVE SEEN WHILE FISHING 



explanation. What can Johnny's clouded brow 

 and firmly-set mouth betoken ? He is young, tall, 

 slim, and fair to look upon, and at the last wedding 

 the slipper came his way a sure sign that the 

 Destinies have his happiness next on their pro- 

 gramme. What ails the lad then ? Did his 

 colleen tread upon his toe while dancing with some 

 one else ? Surely it can be nothing less than that. 

 So I offer him consolation by singing : 



" Cheer up, Sam, don't let your spirits go down, 

 For there's many a gel, 

 As I know well, 

 A-waiting for you in the town." 



He saw some humour in this, laughed and said : 

 " It's not girls, sir." "Then what on earth is it?" 

 I replied, " Well, it's not earth at all, at all ; it's 

 just the regatta I was thinking your honour would 

 be going to this day. There will be donkey- 

 races and horse-races." 



" Surely not on the sea, John ? " 



" On the say-shore, sir." 



"Is that so?" was my quite-Irish inquiry, to 

 which John gave the orthodox Irish reply, " It is." 



" Port your helm, McCole, and make for Arran- 

 more. I love regattas, and, if it plaise the pigs 

 (this I had heard before I left the hotel that 

 morning) I'll be picking the winning crew and 

 be chinking money on our return." The troubled 

 look on John's face instantly disappeared as he 

 heard the order given, and his lips, which before 



