The crowd poured into the hotel after him and invaded the dining room, so he had to remonstrate with the landlord who unceremoniously shouldered-them out.

The news of Paul's arrival on the coast seemed to have spread with the rapidity of a prairie fire all over Skibbereen, and people commenced gathering from all parts of the town around the hotel.

One of the gentlemen who insisted on coming in was the superintendent of the telegraph, Mr.
Jolly.

He apologized for his seeming discourtesy at the office and assured Paul that the dispatch he had written seemed so improbable that he could not in justice blame them for not receiving it.

He proved to be a very friendly, sociable gentleman and gave Paul all the assistance and information he desired.