\documentclass{article}
\usepackage[T1]{fontenc}
\usepackage{graphicx}
\begin{document}
\noindent
Here is some text before the figures.
\begin{figure}[h]
\begin{minipage}{.45\textwidth}
\begin{center}
\includegraphics{first.eps}
\end{center}
\caption{The first picture}
\label{fig:first}
\end{minipage}\hfill\vrule\hfill
\begin{minipage}{.45\textwidth}
\begin{center}
\includegraphics{second.eps}
\end{center}
\caption{The second picture}
\label{fig:second}
\end{minipage}
\end{figure}

\noindent
Here is some text following the figure.
I have drawn a vertical line between them (\verb!\vrule!), but this can be 
omitted.
The figures are numbered and have captures.
You can refer to them separately as Fig.~\ref{fig:first} and 
Fig.~\ref{fig:second}.
\end{document}