“So, with that, it wos no sooner said nor done. They pulled away, and got close into shore in less than no time, and run the boat up in a little creek; and a beautiful creek it was, with a lovely white sthrand—an illegant place for ladies to bathe in the summer; and out I got; and it’s stiff enough in the limbs I was, afther bein’ cramped up in the boat, and perished with the cowld and hunger; but I conthrived to scramble on, one way or t’ other, tow’rd a little bit iv a wood that was close to the shore, and the smoke curlin’ out iv it, quite timptin’ like.
“‘By the powdhers o’ war, I’m all right,’ says I; ‘there’s a house there.’ And, sure enough, there was, and a parcel of men, women, and childher, ating their dinner round a table, quite convanient. And so I wint up to the door, and I thought I’d be very civil to them, as I heerd the Frinch was always mighty p’lite intirely, and I thought I’d show them I knew what good manners was.
“So I took aff my hat, and, making a low bow, says I, ‘God save all here,’ says I.
“Well, to be sure, they all stapt ating at wanst, and began 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 betoken from furriners which they call so mighty p’lite. But I never minded that, in regard o’ 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 made 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 tatthered 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 again; and myself seeing at once dirty thoughts was in their heads, and that they tuk me for a poor beggar coming to crave charity, with that says I, ‘Oh, not at all,’ says I, ‘by no manes—we have plenty of 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 under 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 seven heads; and, faith, myself began to feel flushed like and onaisy; and so says I, makin’ a bow and scrape ag’in, ‘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?’