Final answer:
The correspondent thinks that drowning might offer a comfortable end and incredible relief from the ongoing battle with the sea. Exhaustion leads him to view the cessation of hostilities as preferable to enduring agony. His thoughts reveal a desire for peace and a natural conclusion to his struggle.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correspondent in the passage is caught in a dire situation, battling the sea for survival. As he contemplates the nature of drowning and the struggle against the relentless ocean, he comes to see it as a comfortable arrangement. He imagines that reaching a point of exhaustion might lead to a peaceful end, providing incredible relief from the pain and battle he is enduring. The correspondent reflects on the cessation of hostilities as a desirable escape from the temporary agony that he fears more than death itself. His musings reveal a deep fatigue and a longing for peace, suggesting his acceptance of death as a natural resolution to his struggle.
This sentiment is contrasted by his later experiences of survival, the help from the man onshore, and the eventual safety that renders his thoughts on drowning all the more poignant. Throughout the ordeal, his predominant desire is to avoid the pain associated with the battle against the sea and his potential demise.