PISCATORY DISQUISITIONS. 53 



* My honour had no sport,' and he looked carelessly 

 at my flies. * Would I condescend to try one of his ? ' 

 And he put a strange-looking combination of wool 

 and feathers on the casting-line. There was a fine 

 pool near us — I tried it, and at the second cast I was 

 fast in a twelve-pound salmon ! My ragged friend 

 remained with me some days ; and in his sober intervals, 



* few and far between,' gave me lessons in the art 

 that have been more serviceable than any I had hitherto 

 acquired. 



'* Two years after I was obliged to attend the winter 

 fair of Ball to purchase cattle. It was twilight when 

 I left it, and I had proceeded only a few miles towards 

 a gentleman's house, where I was to dine and sleep, 

 when my horse cast a shoe, and forced me to leave him 

 at a smith's shop, which was fortunately at hand. The 

 evening was chilly, and I determined to proceed on 

 foot, directing my servant to follow. I passed a lonely 

 poteen-house — several rufiian-looking fellows were on 

 the road beside it. They were half-drunk and insolent 

 — I was rash — words borrowed blows, and I soon 

 discovered that I should have the worst of the battle, 

 and was tolerably certain of a sound drubbing. Sud- 

 denly an unexpected ally came to my assistance ; he 

 dropped the most formidable of the assailants as if he had 

 been struck down by a sledge-hammer. A few blows 

 settled the contest ; and I turned round to recognise 

 and thank my deliverer. ' 'Pon my sowl, you're 

 mighty handy. Master Julius ; it's a murder that ye 

 don't practise oftener 1 ' The speaker was my gifted 

 friend — the tinker." 



