DAPPING ON LOUGH DERG 



things that a Lough Derg trout knows so well how to do, be- 

 having in short like a creature possessed, and in the grandest 

 manner. At last we gained the open, and it was my turn to 

 smoke and look on — and it was grand. A good Lough Derg 

 trout is livelier than any salmon ; and this particular trout was 

 a champion. He was on the right side of the boat, however, 

 and that made all the difference, for we kept gradually drifting, 

 and he had to come with us ; unlike the case I have already 

 described. All the same, he had no inclination to come to 

 close quarters, and it was some thirty minutes later that Danny 

 was first able to bring him within hail. When I saw the long 

 glistening side shining through the wavelets for the first time 

 I was amazed. 



" Danny," I said, " he's too big for the net." 



" Don't be flustered, sir ! Do the best ye can ; but don't 

 let him go," panted Danny, nearly breathless from his exertions. 



But the champion did not like my appearance. He righted 

 himself and sailed off majestically into the deeps, Danny wisely 

 making no attempt to stop him. When the run was ended, 

 he brought him round a second time. But there was fight in 

 the champion still. 



" I'll take no risks, Danny," I said. " Let him go again." 

 And away he curved, but not so far this time. 



Once more Danny brought him round, slowly, carefully, 

 the ripples running over his golden flank. 



" Take him now, sir," he pleaded. " There's luck in 

 odd numbers, and I'm fairly bet." 



The big net slid under the semi-conscious champion. 



63 



