He began to have a hopeless feeling, as if he was doomed to drown there all alone on the vast ocean.

A nameless terror seized him.

Then, to his joy, his fingers touched something.

It was the floating cork life-preserver, and he knew he could keep himself up with it for a long time.
Once more he shouted, but there came no answering hail.
"Have they rowed away and left me ?" thought the boy.
He held this idea but for an instant.

Then he guessed the truth of what had happened.