298 A Sportsman at Large 



using black nose paste in order to fashion the fierce moustache 

 and imperial of Mr. Cutcliffe Hyne's irrepressible hero, and 

 to such purpose that the said Bizzy was quite unable to work 

 his jaws for the purpose of mastication. 



Some of us felt convinced that this was contrived by our 

 histrionic friend in malice prepense; consequently we egged 

 on the victim to seek vengeance. When it came to a similar 

 show a week later, he persuaded his persecutor to present 

 himself at table encased in a portable Turkish bath, with a 

 rough towel wrapped round his head, which was the only 

 part of his anatomy which protruded from the unwieldy 

 contraption. 



As soon as he was placed in position, Bizzy slipped a pad- 

 lock through the fastening of the lid and turned the key. 

 All being ready, we sat down and commenced to feed, paying 

 no attention whatever to the unfortunate captive, who had 

 perforce to look on whilst we devoured the delicacies which 

 were put before us. His piteous pleas for release went for a 

 long time unheeded ; but at last, so heart-rending were his 

 appeals that kind-hearted Kate Robinson held a glass of 

 champagne to his lips, and finally he was freed from his incar- 

 ceration, just in time to enjoy a vanilla ice, which was the last 

 item on the menu ! 



In the Bay of Cashel there was said to be very good fishing 

 for black bream, haddock, mackerel and other denizens of 

 the deep. Belonging to the Castle was a ten-ton fishing smack, 

 which had been placed at our service ; but the salmon and 

 sea-trout were keeping us so busy during the season that we 

 had not much time to exploit the ancient craft ; though, on 

 one occasion, I tried some desultory sea-fishing without any 

 obvious result. So we proceeded to scoop up oysters from 

 the celebrated Cashel beds, which belonged to my friend, 

 the over-lord of the Castle. These bivalves were of excellent 

 quality, so we made free with them to our hearts' content. 



About two miles away, in the offing of the bay, was a rock- 

 bound island, in which roamed a herd of about sixty fallow 

 deer ; but it was only when the wind was in a favourable 

 direction that there was any chance of landing thereon. 



On several occasions we sailed out, armed with our rifles, to 



