at, and making a low bow, says I, 'God save all here,'
says I.

"Well, to be sure, they all stopt ating at wanst, and begun to stare at
me, and faith they almost looked me out of countenance--and I thought to
myself it was not good manners at all--more be token from furriners, which
they call so mighty p'lite; but I never minded that, in regard of wantin'
the gridiron; and so says I, 'I beg your pardon,' says I, 'for the liberty
I take, but it's only bein' in disthress in regard of ating,' says I,
'that I make bowld to throuble yez, and if you could lind me the loan of a
gridiron,' says I, 'I'd be intirely obleeged to ye.'

"By gor, they all stared at me twice worse nor before, and with that, says
I (knowing what was in their minds), 'Indeed it's thrue for you,' says I;
'I'm tathered to pieces, and God knows I look quare enough, but it's by
raison of the storm,' says I, 'which dhruv us ashore here below, and we're
all starvin',' says I.

"So then they began to look at each other agin, and myself, seeing at
wanst dirty thoughts was in their heads, and that they tuk me for a poor
beggar comin' to crave charity--with that, says I, 'Oh! not at all,' says
I, 'by no manes; we have plenty o' mate ourselves, there below, and we'll
dhress it,' says I, 'if you would be plased to lind us the loan of a
gridiron,' says I, makin' a low bow.

"Well, sir, with that, throth, they stared at me twice worse nor ever,
and faith I began to think that maybe the captain was wrong, and that it
was not France at all at all--and so says I--'I beg pardon, sir,' says I,
to a fine ould man, with a head of hair as white as silver--'maybe I'm
undher a mistake,' says I, 'but I thought I was in France, sir; aren't you
furriners?' says I--'Parly-voo frongsay?'

"'We, munseer,' says he.

"'Then would you lind me the loan of a gridiron,' says I, 'if you plase?'

"Oh, it was thin that they stared at me as if I had siven heads; and faith
myself began to feel flusthered like, and onaisy--and so, says I, making a
bow and scrape agin, 'I know it's a liberty I take, sir,' says I, 'but
it's only in the regard of bein' cast away, and if you plase, sir,' says
I, 'Parly-voo frongsay?'

"'We, munseer,' says he, mighty sharp.

"'Then would you lind me the loan of a gridiron?' says I, 'and you'll
obleege me.'

"Well, sir, the old chap begun to munseer me, but the divil a bit of a
gridiron he'd gie me; and so I began to think they were all neygars, for
all t