at any waters.

moment be washed into the raging

9. They could not climb up the steep rocks, and so they decided to leap again into the sea, hoping that the waves might cast them ashore at some safer place.

10. While they were speaking, one of them felt his foot slip, and to save himself he caught hold of a weed which grew on the rock. A flash of lightning showed him that he held a piece of samphire in his hand.

11. "Thank God, mates, we are safe!" he cried, holding out the plant which he had found on the rock. "Let us stay where we are; the tide will not cover us." And so it was; they remained on that ledge of rock till morning, when they were seen and rescued.

a-shore' Do-ver

height

pro-ceed'

speak-ing

At-lan-tic Dun-ge-ness knowledge prom-on-to-ry stretch-es

66

SUMMARY.-Dungeness, or Dangerness, means Cape Danger." It is so called because so many ships have been wrecked upon it. This cape is formed of sand, stones, and shells, washed up by the sea. Every year it advances seaward. Beachy Head is a bold, rocky promontory, about five hundred feet high.

EXERCISE.-Draw a Map of the South Coast of England, and mark

the Capes.

17. THE NEEDLES-PORTLAND BILL—
LIZARD POINT.

1. On the west side of the Isle of Wight there is a cape called the Needles. It is so called because here are three tall, pointed rocks, which rise to a considerable height above the sea.

2. These rocks are composed of chalk, and are being gradually washed away; for the great waves of the Atlantic Ocean find their way up the English Channel, and break on this coast with terrible force.

3. As a protection to passing vessels, a lighthouse has been erected on the outer part of the farthest rock. This light-house is more than one hundred feet high, and yet, notwithstanding its height, its highest windows have often been broken by stones cast up by the waves.

I

4. The Needles passage, though so dangerous, is regarded as the grandest and most fitting approach to England. One writer says: "There is something imposing in entering England by this strait. afterwards entered at Dover in a packet from Calais, my eye fixed upon the sentinels as they slowly paced the heights; but the Dover cliffs, bold as they are, did not equal the passage through the Needles."

5. The point of Portland Island is called Portland Bill. This so-called island is really a peninsula; for it is an island only at very high tides. It is connected with the mainland by a pebble ridge called Chesil Bank, more than ten miles long, and at no place more than half a mile broad.

THE NEEDLES LIGHT-HOUSE, ISLE OF WIGHT.

6. Portland is famous for its building-stone, of which there are scores of quarries in the island.

7. Further west, the south coast is exposed to heavy gales; and the rocky cliffs are so pierced and crumbled by the waves that they are full of coves and caverns.

8. The most southerly cape in England is Lizard Point. It is the last English land seen by sailors

going south, when they have passed out of the English Channel. Two light-houses on this point warn sailors not to approach too near a coast on which they can expect little help. The cliffs are so high that no boat could be sent out to bring any one from a sinking ship.

Calais, the French port nearest En- Main-land, the larger of two portions

SUMMARY.-The Needles are three tall, pointed rocks, on the west side of the Isle of Wight. Portland Bill is the point of Portland Island. Portland is famous for its building-stone.

southerly cape in England.

Lizard Point is the most

EXERCISE.-Describe the positions of the Needles, Portland Bill, and Lizard Point, in your own words.

18. HEAVING THE LEAD.

1. For England when with favouring gale
Our gallant ship up Channel steered,
And, scudding under easy sail,

The high blue western land appeared,
To heave the lead the seaman sprung,
And to the pilot cheerily sung,

"By the deep-nine."

2. And bearing up to gain the port,

Some well-known object kept in view,-
An abbey tower, the harbour fort,

Or beacon to the vessel true,-
While yet the lead the seaman flung,
And to the pilot cheerily sung,

"By the mark—seven.'

3. And as the much-loved shore we near,
With transport we behold the roof
Where dwells a friend or partner dear,

Of faith and love a matchless proof.
The lead once more the seaman flung,
And to the watchful pilot sung,

"Quarter less-five."

4. Now to her berth the ship draws nigh;
We shorten sail-she feels the tide.
"Stand clear the cable!" is the cry;

The anchor's gone, we safely ride;
The watch is set, and through the night
We hear the seaman with delight

Proclaim-" All's well."

Heaving the lead, taking sound- | ship is nearing the shore.-Nine, seven, ings to find the depth of water when a five fathoms of water.