September 22d, when, upon coming on deck at seven bells in the morning, we found the other watch aloft throwing water upon the sails; and, looking astern, we saw a small clipper-built brig with a black hull heading directly after us.  We went to work immediately, and put all the canvas upon the brig which we could get upon her, rigging out oars for extra studding-sail yards, and continued wetting down the sails by buckets of water whipped up to the mast-head, until about nine o’clock, when there came on a drizzling rain.  The vessel continued in pursuit, changing her course as we changed ours, to keep before the wind.  The captain, who watched her with his glass, said that she was armed, and full of men, and showed no colors.  We continued running dead before the wind, knowing that we sailed better so, and that clippers are fastest on the wind.  We had also another advantage.  The wind was light, and we spread more canvas than she did, having royals and sky-sails fore and aft, and ten studding-sails; while she, being an hermaphrodite brig, had only a gaff topsail aft.  Early in the morning she was overhauling us a little, but after the rain came on and the wind grew lighter, we began to leave her astern.  All hands remained on deck throughout the day, and we got our fire-arms in order; but we were too few to have done anything with her, if she had proved to be what we feared.  Fortunately there was no moon, and the night which followed was exceedingly dark, so that, by putting out all the lights on board and altering our course four points, we hoped to get out of her reach.  We removed the light in the binnacle, and steered by the stars, and kept perfect silence through the night.  At daybreak there was no sign of anything in the horizon, and we kept the vessel off to her course.

Wednesday, October 1st.  Crossed the equator in lon. 24 24’ W. I now, for the first time, felt at liberty, according to the old usage, to call myself a son of Neptune, and was very glad to be able to claim the title without the disagreeable initiation which so many have to go through.  After once crossing the line, you can never be subjected to the process, but are considered as a son of Neptune, with full powers to play tricks upon others.  This ancient custom is now seldom allowed, unless there are passengers on board, in which case there is always a good deal of sport.

It had been obvious to all hands for some time that the second mate, whose name was Foster, was an idle, careless fellow, and not much of a sailor, and that the captain was exceedingly dissatisfied with him.  The power of the captain in these cases was well known, and we all anticipated a difficulty.  Foster (called Mr. by virtue of his office) was but half a sailor, having always been short voyages, and remained at home a long time between them.  His father was a man of some property, and intended to have given his son a liberal education; but he, being idle and worthless, was sent off to sea, and succeeded no better