Paul and Bob had stayed up on purpose to witness this event, and by dead reckoning had computed their position so closely that John's announcement had come just as they were about to make a similar statement.  Although they could see no "line" stretching along down there in the sea, they fancied they could, with the most pleasant imagery.  That great line, the belt of the universe, dividing the Northern and Southern hemispheres, they had already crossed once, in their zigzagging course, at the mouth of the Amazon.  Now here in the South China Sea they were crossing it a second time.  At no time had they been more than thirteen degrees away from it.  One more crossing of it, if all went well, and they would be almost within sight of the end of their journey--Panama!