"Irish!" exclaimed the other.
Jack threw out his right hand in full salute, wondering if the German boy was a member of the Boy Scout army, and was pleased to see him make an awkward attempt to respond.
"I got it my headt in," the German said, "but I can't get it oudt. It shticks. Vot is? I'm the Owl Padrol, Philadelphia."
"No one from Philadelphia ever does remember," laughed Jack. "What are you doing here?"
The boy took himself by the back of the trousers with his right hand and by the back of his neck with the other, then bounced himself forward, as if being thrown out of a vessel or a building.
"You mean that you got fired off a ship here?" asked Jack, almost choking with laughter.
"You bet me I didt!" exclaimed the other. "I hidt in a lifeboad to get me pack to Gott's goundry, an' they foundt me. Shoo! Kick! Den I schwim! Gott un himmel! Vot a goundry!"
"Where did you get aboard the ship?" asked Jack.
"Hongkong."
"What's your name?"