Then he could go to sleep never again to waken.

He was very weary, and already so drowsy that the thought of sleep was pleasant to him.

Such a death would certainly not be so terrible as drowning after a hopeless struggle with black waters.
With this thought every incident of that awful night after the loss of the "Lavinia" flashed into his mind.

How utterly hopeless had seemed his situation then and how desperately he had fought for his life.

But he had fought, and had won the fight.