He used to be able to remain entire hours in the sea, when naked and within sight of the coast, with the assurance of returning to _terra firma_ whenever he might wish....

But now he had to keep himself up, completely dressed; his shoes were tugging at him with a constantly increasing force as though made of iron ...

and water on all sides! Not a boat on the horizon that could come to his aid!...

The wireless operator, surprised by the swiftness of the catastrophe, had not been able to send out the S.O.S.
He also had to defend himself from the debris of the shipwreck.

After having grasped the raft as his last means of salvation, he had to avoid the floating casks, rolling toward him on the swelling billows, which might send him to the bottom with one of their blows.
Suddenly there loomed up between two waves a species of blind monster that was agitating the waters furiously with the strokes of its swimming.