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. Paul requested that this man be sent for. Soon
afterward he appeared pushing his way through the villagers. He was a
strange looking man. The coast guard introduced him:

"Here is Andy," said he.

The latter acknowledged the introduction, by pulling his head forward
with a lock of hair and exclaiming, as he eyed Paul curiously:

"Did ye railly swim from New Yark'"

Paul laughed, saying: "I hear you have a horse and I am anxious to get
over to Skibbereen and send off a telegram. I would like to have you
take me over there."

"It's no harse Oi have," he solemnly responded, "but Oi've wan av the
finest mares in the south av Ireland an Oi'll drive ye over for six
shillin'. But did ye railly swim from New Yark? Shure it's not natural."

Paul urged him to get his animal as quickly as possible and the driver
rushed through the door only to be surrounded by a group of wild looking
villagers, who questioned him both in Irish and English. Soon after Andy
re-appeared coming down the village street driving a sorry looking
nag. As he approached the tavern and saw Paul and the guard at the door,
he shouted loudly to the crowd to separate, as though wishing to show
Paul the blood in his favorite mare. He punched her with a little stick
from which the sharp point of a nail protruded and by a dexterous
movement dodged the flying hind feet that were aimed at his head.

"Phat de ye think o' that, sur? There's blood fur ye." A murmur of
admiration stirred the crowd.

"But where is your cart? Hurry up and get her hitched," urged Paul.

Soon after Andy drove up to the door of the coast guard station with his
jaunting car. The mare was hitched to the car with a curious
combination of harness composed of twisted hay, rope, cords and leather.
As nearly every one knows, a jaunting car is a two-wheeled affair.
Over each wheel runs a seat, fore and aft, and in the centre is a little
recept