Only in this case his mind triumphed for a while over the dissolution of his body.

When there was little left of him save bone and sinew, still he found strength to cry out to God for mercy.

Yes, and to raise himself and cast what had been arms about the ivory rood and kiss its feet with what had been lips, and in his last death struggle to drag it down and pant out his ultimate breath beneath its weight.
So there they left him, a horrible, huddled heap upon which gleamed the ivory crucifix, and went their way, gasping, into the air..