The man recovered himself and inquired: "Phere air ye frum ?" "New York," responded Paul.
"Phat air ye doin' here?
How did ye come ?" Paul explained to him that he had left a ship that night when off Cape Clear.
"Phat did ye lave her fur ?" questioned the perplexed life-guard for Paul had noted at once that he was in a life-saving station.
"Well, just to come ashore," said Paul.
"An' d'ye mane to say that ye came ashure in this gale ?" "I do." "How many came ashure wid ye ?" "No one." "Phere's ye're ship now ?" "God knows, I don't." Question after question followed; but Paul was unable to convince the coast-guard that he had left the ship voluntarily and had landed in safety.

The guard could not understand why any man should leave a vessel and come in on the coast of Ireland in such a gale unless he was shipwrecked.

He thought Paul's brain had been injured by concussion with the rocks and a pitying expression came over his face as he said: "Well, me poor fellow, 'ts no matther where ye're frum.

It's me duty to help ye and yure mates an' if ye'll only tell me phere they air Oi'll collect the b'ys an' have thim out.

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.