Two Big Pike. 85 



Killarney nearly as black as a coal, while I 

 lighted my cigar (I was not equal to a pipe in 

 those days) as we were going comfortably along. 

 I may as well give the reader an introduction 

 to the squire. He was about forty-five years 

 of age, with a fine, healthy, fresh complexion, 

 such as only a man leading a regular life, and 

 spending most of his time in the open air, can 

 have; a very cheerful, handsome face, slightly 

 embrowned by the sun ; about four feet nine 

 in height, stoutly made, but not corpulent ; 

 altogether a good specimen of a country gen- 

 tleman, but wearing a moustache (which was 

 unusual at that time, except amongst military 

 men), which he wore by virtue of being a 

 major in the local troop of yeomanry cavalry ; 

 and he was uncommonly fond of telling the 

 foHowing story connected with it. His Ser- 

 jeant, when the troop met one day assembled 

 for drill, began exercising the men (previously 

 to the arrival of the serjeant-major) in the 

 sword exercise, and gave the following words 

 of command, which I give just as the words 

 are pronounced in the broad dialect : " When 

 I says draa, you bean't to draa; but when I 

 say soords, out vvi'un" (pronounced ween). 



