congratulated the hardy navigator, as did also the Queen. As she thanked
him for the pleasure he had given her, Paul said, referring to the
dove that had gone to her feet:

"I hope it will prove a good omen, your Majesty." Turning her wondrously
beautiful, though melancholy black eyes on him, she replied, with a
sad smile:

"I hope so; I hope so."

She then conferred on Paul the order of Hospitaliers of Spain, making
him for a second time a knight. He is the only foreigner ever knighted
by Mercedes during her short reign. The King also presented him with the
Marine Cross of Spain and photographs of himself and Queen.

Before he left Spain the beautiful young Queen was dead. Might not the
erratic action of the dove have been an omen?

Leaving Madrid, Paul appeared in the principal cities of the northern
division of the country and was everywhere received with the usual
cordiality. At Barcelona, he gave an exhibition for the benefit of
several families of fishermen who had been lost in a gale but a short
time before. The fishing folk of Barcelona, as well as those of Northern
France are unlike those in any other part of the world. They are
peculiar in their costumes and characteristics and form a little world
unto themselves. After Paul had given the benefit exhibition, he was
surprised one morning to be summoned from his room. He found the
courtyard of the house full of fisher folk dressed in their holiday
attire, who had appeared to tender him their thanks. An address was
delivered, and he was also presented with a curious, pear-shaped iron
locket, inlaid with gold and silver, that had been made by one of
their number who was a cripple. It was suitably inscribed and of
ingenious workmanship. He values it among his most cherished
possessions.

Toulouse, France, was next visited and a voyage made from that city to
Bordeaux on the Garonne, which occupied six days, from May 19th to the
25th. There was nothing but pleasure on the trip down that beautiful
river, which winds through the rich wine valleys of France. The
greatest hospitality was shown Paul and when his little tender was not
loaded down with flowers, it was filled by his admirers with provisions
and rare wines.

After the Garonne he went to Paris, where his steam yacht, the Paul
Boyton, which he had ordered before departing for the Tagus, was
delivered to him. She was a magnificent little vessel, in which he
intended to sail