The danger of death by drowning had passed for the moment and he had a sense of triumph over nature.

Despite his weariness and soreness, he was as anxious as ever to live, and he began to wonder about this island of which the captain spoke.

It must be tropical, and hence in his imagination beautiful, but by whom was it peopled?
He did not doubt that they would reach it, and that he, as usual, would escape all perils.
Always invincible, his greatest characteristic was flaming up within him.

He seemed to have won, in a way, the regard of the captain, and he did not fear the men.

They would be castaways together, and on the land opportunities to escape would come.