When
a man tells me that he can shoot better than I, I tell him that my
keeper can shoot better than he."
"All the same, it's a good thing to excel," said Phineas.
"I'm not so sure of that," said Mr. Kennedy. "A man who can kill more
salmon than anybody else, can rarely do anything else. Are you going
on with your match?"
"No; I'm going to make my way to Loughlinter."
"Not alone?"
"Yes, alone."
"It's over nine miles. You can't walk it."
Phineas looked at his watch, and found that it was now two o'clock.
It was a broiling day in August, and the way back to Loughlinter, for
six or seven out of the nine miles, would be along a high road. "I
must do it all the same," said he, preparing for a start. "I have an
engagement with Lady Laura Standish; and as this is the last day that
I shall see her, I certainly do not mean to break it."
"An engagement with Lady Laura," said Mr. Kennedy. "Why did you not
tell me, that I might have a pony ready? But come along. Donald Bean
has a pony. He's not much bigger than a dog, but he'll carry you to
Loughlinter."
"I can walk it, Mr. Kennedy."
"Yes; and think of the state in which you'd reach Loughlinter! Come
along with me."
"But I can't take you off the mountain," said Phineas.
"Then you must allow me to take you off.
Pages:
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214