It was interesting to note how rapidly the small fry disappeared; and though it was repeated before my eyes over and over, I could hardly perceive the capture of a single sardine, so dexterously was it done.
Along the equatorial limit of the southeast trade winds the air was heavily charged with electricity, and there was much thunder and lightning.

It was hereabout I remembered that, a few years before, the American ship _Alert_ was destroyed by lightning.

Her people, by wonderful good fortune, were rescued on the same day and brought to Pernambuco, where I then met them.
On September 25, in the latitude of 5 degrees N., longitude 26 degrees 30' W., I spoke the ship _North Star_ of London.

The great ship was out forty-eight days from Norfolk, Virginia, and was bound for Rio, where we met again about two months later.

The _Spray_ was now thirty days from Gibraltar.
The _Spray's_ next companion of the voyage was a swordfish, that swam alongside, showing its tall fin out of the water, till I made a stir for my harpoon, when it hauled its black flag down and disappeared.
September 30, at half-past eleven in the morning, the _Spray_ crossed the equator in longitude 29 degrees 30' W.At noon she was two miles south of the line.