rn nothing of Bainbridge at this place;
and he soon departed, after scrupulously exchanging salutes with a
rickety little fort, over which floated the flag of Portugal.
Continuing her southward way, the "Essex" crossed the equator, on
which occasion the jolly tars enjoyed the usual ceremonies attendant
upon crossing the line. Father Neptune and his faithful spouse, with
their attendant suite, came aboard and superintended the operation of
shaving and dowsing the green hands, whose voyages had never called
them before into the Southern seas. Capt. Porter looked upon the
frolic indulgently. He was well known as a captain who never
unnecessarily repressed the light-heartedness of his crew. Two hours
daily were set aside during which the crew were free to amuse
themselves in any reasonable way. At four o'clock every afternoon, the
shrill piping of the boatswain's whistle rang through the ship,
followed by the cry, "D'ye hear there, fore and aft? All hands
skylark!" No order ever brought a quicker response, and in a minute
the decks became a perfect pandemonium. The sailors rushed here and
there, clad in all sorts of clothes; boxed, fenced, wrestled; ran
short foot-races; played at leap-frog, and generally comported
themselves like children at play. Fights were of common occurrence;
and the two combatants soon became the centre of an interested ring of
spectators, who cheered on their favorites with loud cries of "Go it,
Bill. Now, Jack, lively with yer left." But a sailor has no better
friend to-day than the man he fought yesterday; and the fights, like
the play, only kept the crew in good spirits and contentment.

The day after crossing the equator, the "Essex" sighted a sail and
gave chase. Towards evening the frigate had gained greatly upon the
stranger, and Porter displayed all the British signals which he had in
his possession. The chase made no response, but set a British ensign.
By nine o'clock, the "Essex" was within musket-shot, and could easily
have blown the fugitive out of water; but this Porter was loath to do,
as he desired to take the brig without doing her any injury. However,
as she showed no signs of surrendering, he ordered the marines to give
her a volley of musketry. One man on the chase was killed, and a
number wounded, upon which her flag was immediately hauled down. She
proved to be the British packet "Nocton" of ten guns. In her hold was
found fifty-five thousand dollars in specie, which was at once