The news of my death would be telegraphed to New York, my mother would hear of it and it would make a sad Christmas for her." The voyager straggled with all the strength he possessed against the awful power of the contending waters and fortunately succeeded in throwing himself out on a big wave and was carried down.

A great sigh of relief went up from the crowd which sounded like the rush of distant wind.
Soon after Paul was pulled from the river insensible.

When he recovered from that adventure, King Victor Emanuel gave permission for him to appear in the Jardin Boboli.

The excitement was so great during that appearance and the crowd so large that ticket takers were carried away from the gates, and though many thus entered free, several thousand francs were realized.
Paul was now the fashion in Italy.

Songs were composed and sung in his honor at the theatres, brands of cigars and other articles were given his name; business men had their calendars for the new year printed with his adventures detailed on them, and the citizens of Meletti christened a lake after him.