218 RAMBLES AFTER SPORT. 



couple of inflated skins fastened on to long drop lines. 

 We rowed quietly out for a mile or more, and laid the 

 line, as usual, across the mouth of the small bay at the 

 east end of the island, and after that we had nothing to 

 do but to wait. The night was coldish, and clear almost 

 as noon. However, we were prepared for all contin- 

 tingencies, and hove our anchor overboard close in a 

 small cove ; Jose then rigged up a couple of short poles 

 on each side of the boat, and spread an old sail over the 

 top like an awning; and what with a small cargo of 

 ponchos, horsecloths, &c., in the bottom we made as snug 

 a crib as need be. A lantern was slung overhead, and 

 one forward, and after an impartial distribution of Islay 

 all round (taking particular care of Master F.^s share) a 

 couple of packs of cards were produced, and Juan and 

 Jose took a hand of rocamhor against the two patrons, 

 and, by the same token, took the shine out of them also, 

 though Fedorico said they played a " mean game.^' 

 Well, they won four j^esos, nnyhow — a small fortune for 

 them. 



The old fisherman grew quite garrulous under the 

 influence of the "foreign element,^^ and seemed to think 

 us Heaven-sent strangers, for he grasped my hand 

 fervidly, and swore by all the santos and santas in the 

 calendar that he would consider himself my com/padre for 

 evermore. He seemed to like fishing in this sort of way; 

 he said it was niagnijico for dios ; he committed his 

 own boat, with sundr}- curious Spanish oaths, to the 

 diablo several times over, and finally rolled himself up in 

 the stern under a heap of mantos, and expressed his 

 intention in figurative terms of having nothing more 

 to do with mundane aff'airs till the morning. Poor old 

 chap ! he didn't get a " drap " every day like that. For 



