40 
PASSAGE THROUGH THE NEEDLES. 
successive swell rolled in from the ocean, from 1 foot to 20 
feet, and at low water was left quite dry. Two of us knew 
something of old ocean and old ocean's ways ; and though 
we were ignorant of this particular spot, we learned suffi- 
cient from the fishermen to know the thing was to be done. 
Off went the coats ; two men to each oar : we held our 
craft steadily against the current, which was tremendously 
strong, and kept her head right for the opening. An enor- 
mous swell rolled seaward, leaving us almost aground : 
rattle, rattle, and thump, thump, we heard the stones and 
fragments of rock beneath us ; it seemed an hour running 
out : at last another came : " Here she comes again ! keep 
her head right, and stand by ! " — up, up, we rose. " One 
stroke, up oars, let her drive ! " — and through we went, 
in gallant style, on the very crest of the swell. 
THE 
NEEDLES, TROM 
NEAR SUN 
CORNER. 
