all the
inhabitants of the island were on hand to witness the start. To his
surprise he found the effect of the water of the bay in the dark, the
same as had been observed in the Blue Grotto. Even the fish darting
about, would leave a phosphorescent trail.

When the sun rose that morning, Mt. Vesuvius loomed up before Paul in
the clear atmosphere. It seemed very near and he thought he would reach
Naples before time. About nine o'clock, the bay became very rough and
soon the blue waves covered him. He kept paddling on and on, yet the
grim, smoke-covered mountain seemed no nearer. At three o'clock in the
afternoon, he sighted a felucca bearing down on him. When near enough,
he stood up in the water and hailed her. The occupants of the little
vessel came to the rail, pointed at the unusual object in the water
and then the great sail was veered around and they scudded swiftly away.
Sailors on that bay have a superstition about picking up a dead body
and they either supposed Paul was a drowned person or some mysterious
denizen of the deep. At any rate they were too badly frightened
to investigate. At five o'clock, the voyager was nearing Naples in a
rough sea. The excursion boats went out but almost missed him. Sounding
the bugle, he attracted their attention. He landed at the city at about
seven o'clock before an enormous crowd, among whom were King
Victor Emmanuel, the sindaco with the other authorities of Naples. The
usual banquet was prepared and it was a late hour that night
before the ceremonies were concluded. The fishermen of the city
presented Paul with an address signed by over four thousand people
connected with the water, and Marianne Aguglia, Comtesse Desmouceaux
published a poem commemorating the event. Victor Emmanuel invited Paul
to exhibit before him in the arsenal, or military port. The King was
accompanied by his morganatic wife, the Countess of Miraflores. He
was delighted with the performance, more particularly with the
torpedo display. One of the pieces of timber from the explosion fell
near his feet; he laughed merrily about it, while the Countess drew
away in alarm. After the exhibition, Boyton divested himself of the
rubber dress and stood clad in a well-worn naval uniform. He was
escorted to the presence of the royal pair by Admiral del Carette. The
King asked Paul many questions in his quaint, Piedmontese French, and
then observing that the voyager was fa