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46 the influx of more waves - not to be disregarded. Careless naturalists we found our retreat intercepted by the sea. Quite a body of water lay before us - uncertain of its depth - we paused to meditate our escape. But to remain where we was - was death - the advancing tide was behind us - and such sullen wave as it swept through the crevices and over the rocks - warned up of approaching fate. Terrence could not swim - but to look for help from the shore - was vain - our rocky heights would be submerged - long before we could be reached - could we even gain notice from thence. Our only resource then was the water - and into it we went. It surely could not be overhead - the tide cannot have risen so much - so we floundered forward over fragments of rock - now rising on a stone - and now sinking deep again in some hole or hollow of the reef. We forded the pass - and safe on the other side - pursued our way to the shore with dripping garments - thankful in having discovered our situation so opportunely. The tides at Panama - are quite interesting to observe - the distance [?] and overflowed is great - and the current of the flun and reflun is strong. When the water begins to cover the reefs - the rollers commence. The quiet sea beyond seems hardly ruffled - but you see a gentle swell coming - it no sooner touches the reefs - en it mass piles up - and curling with foaming top - it tumbles - and roars along - till it breaks - in a milky line upon the beach. There the flow and ebb of the waves - are from twenty to thirty feet. It was amusing to watch boats landing. The wave brings them in beautiful - in an instant they are left atilt on the sands - in another if the boatmen have not been spry - comes another wave - and knocks the boat - like a sledge hammer - disturbing the equilibrium of all aboard. A man came to land one day in a canoe - his manner indicated - "I am to old for these waves." He touched the beach - and instantly was left dry - but he standing up with paddle in hand - wished to alter the position of his boat. The man came - and as if insulted - more fierce than before. It struck - and quick as lightning - the man was tumbled over and submerged and canoe and all - thrown far up on the sands. I could have sat for hours and watched those waves as they broke upon the sounding shore. There was music in their hoarse murmer - grace in their swift motion - power in their heavy swell. They were children of old ocean - ephemerai of a moment - playthings - wherewith he amused himself - rolling them like tennis balls - against the beach. There were things