Using needle to remove stitches as to purl? How???

[cutesmurf]

I'm working on my very first knitting project and to finish the hat I'm making the pattern says to thread yarn through tapestry needle and thread through each remaining stitch on needle as if to purl, taking stitches off needle. I'm just not sure exactly what this means, "as if to purl." Does this just mean that the tapestry needle enters the stitch in the same direction of a purl and then you just move onto the next stitch entering it the same way until you have all the stitches off? I just don't want to mess up the very last row of stitches after coming this far. Any help or clarification would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!!!