Following the Equator: A Journey Around the World

The narrator sets out on an ambitious tour of the globe, beginning in Paris before crossing the United States on a slow, smoke‑filled march that leads to the Pacific coast. After a brief, hectic preparation in New York, the party—two family members and an oddly named “carbuncle”—embarks on a three‑week sea voyage. The ship departs amid lingering forest‑fire haze, offering a welcome respite from the sweltering overland trek and promising a clean, cool ocean ahead.

Aboard the vessel, a gentle‑mannered captain struggles with the harsh realities of his trade, while the young, resilient purser battles hidden heart pains with surprising cheer. Among the passengers, a charismatic but whiskey‑bound Canadian adds both humor and pathos, embodying the tension between talent and habit. Their interactions paint a vivid portrait of travel in an age where comfort, camaraderie, and the occasional mishap shape the journey across the Pacific and toward new horizons.