Then he would be able to sit up, move his limbs, and his head would stop aching.

He called all the powers of his will to his aid.

Since he could not move he would not cause himself any increase of pain by striving to do so.

He commanded his body to lie still and compose itself and it obeyed.

In a little while his head ceased to ache so fiercely, and the cords did not bite so deep.
Then he took thought.