Now tell me as calmly as ye can, how
many is drohwned besides yureself?"
Paul saw his mistake and positively assured the guard that he was the
only person to land, and that there had been no wreck and that the
steamer had proceeded on her way to Queenstown. Notwithstanding all his
protestations the coast guard could not realize the situation. The man
before him was, however shipwrecked and in distress, so with the
proverbial hospitality for which the Irish are famous, the guard said:
"Niver moind me lad how ye came ashure. Ye look tired enough. Come in
here an' lay near the fire."
When Paul entered the warm room he removed his uncouth costume. He was
thoroughly worn out buffeting the waves and with his long tramp down the
road, so he gladly accepted the proferred bunk close to the fire and was
soon in a sound sleep from which he was awakened by a kindly voice
saying:
"Here me poor fellow, take this, 't will do ye good."
Before Paul could realize it he had poured a glass of whiskey down his
throat, the strength of which raised every individual hair on his head.
It was then about eight o'clock in the morning and the coast guard house
was full of the villagers, men and women who curiously crowded around
his bunk. They were a wild looking lot.
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