d informing Paul of the death of his old friend which caused him
sincere regret and of course changed their plans. While still hesitating
about what to do, a letter was received by the Count requesting him
to return immediately to Denmark. It was so urgent and of such
importance that he sailed by the next steamer.

CHAPTER VI.

After the Count's departure Paul joined a submarine company in New York
and pursued the occupation of diver for over six months. He was
wonderfully successful and when he resigned he had the largest salary of
any diver in their employ. The cause of his resignation was the
reports he had had heard about the diamond fields in South Africa. He
determined to cast his fortune with the diamond hunters that were going
from different parts of the world to the promised "Eldorado,"

Having secured a supply of implements and stores that he considered
necessary, he took passage on the tall rigged ship Albatross, commanded
by a friend of his. The Albatross was bound for China by way of Cape
Town, and the captain promised to land him there. They had a long,
pleasant voyage, during which Paul spent his time shooting at sharks
over the side and trolling for fish. One day in the vicinity of the
equator his hook was snapped by a dolphin, which he succeeded in
bringing to the deck. It was laid on the shady-side of the galley and
the sailors watched with great, curiosity the innumerable tints which
radiated from its body. This transition in color was considered by
the on-lookers as a visible evidence of the pain which it suffered.
Picking up an ax Paul quickly dispatched it. In passing the equator the
usual tom-foolery of receiving Neptune and baptizing those who had
never crossed the line before, was enjoyed with one slight exception.
The imitation of the god Neptune when coming out of the fore chains
over the bow, missed his footing and fell into the sea. Fortunately for
him the ship was becalmed at the time. With the aid of a line and a boat
hook which one of his mates fastened firmly to his collar, he was drawn
aboard. His appearance was certainly far from god-like. Paul often
enjoyed the conversation of sun old sailor named Joe Clark. He was a
misanthropist at the unjust inequality that existed in the conditions
of life, and often sung a verse of his own composition which gave him
intense satisfaction, as he chanted it while sewing sails or making
se