The entire village was out.

Crowds blocked their way as they crossed the street.

While eating breakfast Paul learned that the most of the excitement was created by a report that he had swam all the way from New York.

In conversation with the guard, he found out that the village was called Baltimore, a little coast town about thirty miles from where he had left the steamer; and also that there was no telegraph office nearer than Skibbereen, a distance of nine miles.

There was but one conveyance in the village and as the driver was a very eccentric character, it was doubtful if he could be induced to go out on such a stormy morning.