Yet there was nothing for it but to put the helm over, and as I laid her nearly broadside to the wind a great wave swept us.

At that the Greek, the Goanese, and all the natives in the hold set up a yell together that ought to have announced our presence to the Seven Sleepers.
I held the helm up, and let her reel and wallow in the trough.

Now I could see the fangs of rock myself and the white waves raging around them.

See?
I could have spat on them! There was a current there that set strongly toward the rocks, for a backwash of some sort helped the helm and we won clear, about a third full of water, with the crew too panicky to bail.
"Hold her so!" yelled Fred in my ear.

"Don't ease up yet! If we get too close and they see us, I've the rifle! They haven't seen us yet!" "Rocks ahead again!" yelled Will.