112 A Sportsman at Large 



a kiss from Nannie's ruby lips, a shadow darkened the cabin 

 door and the burly form of Dan Heggarty was revealed. 



" The top av the marnin' teu yer 'anner," said the unwel- 

 come intruder, doffing his corbeen and grinning sardonically. 

 " Ut's hopin' ut's well yez be, sor-r. Faith ut's a proud man 

 Oi am sor-r, teu see yez so plazed wid me colleen phwat is 

 teu be me woife come Christmas the Holy Saints so willin' 

 ut!" 



Ted bowed his acknowledgments. 



" An' now, an' ut plazes yer 'anner ye'd best be skippin' 

 as fast as the fat legs av yez whill carry yez ; fer if so be 

 ye've not a move ahn afore oi've counted foive, ut's knocking 

 the ugly, bald patched head av yez arf entoirely Oi whill be 

 wid arl respecks teu yer 'anner's person. But if so be ut's 

 trying a bout wid me wid the bare fists av yez, yez'd be 

 axin', come yez out inteu the back yard, so be Oi can chop 

 yez up and ate yez, yez fatheaded fule beggin' yer 'anner's 

 pardon." 



Ted declined the contest and turned away with as much 

 dignity as he could command without even a backward glance 

 in the direction of his erstwhile charmer. He says he heard 

 her sobbing ; but Dan declared, when relating the episode 

 to Johnny McDonald, that Nannie was " nigh teu disthruc- 

 tion thru' the larfin' av her 1 " 



I think I have already remarked that though salmon fre- 

 quented the Furnace Lough in considerable quantities, they 

 were a dour and ascetic crowd given to lengthy fastings ; 

 consequently the capture of one of the clan was an event 

 which called for a red letter mark in our sporting calander. 



Sometimes one would be tempted to look at a fly and to 

 make a great to do on the surface of the water ; thus filling 

 the angler's palpitating heart with hopes never to be realized. 

 This refinement of tantalization would be repeated again and 

 again, every time the lure passed over the particular rock or 

 trench where the fish was presumably lurking ; but never a 

 touch would be felt. At last the patience of the fisherman 

 would wane, and he would give it up in despair. 



But on one occasion, a venturesome salmon, after playing 



