The king was stripped of his dripping attire and swathed round with dry garments, and the water poured in floods from his chest as he kept belching it; his voice also seemed to fail under the exhaustion of continual pantings.

At last heat was restored to his limbs, which were numbed with cold, and his breathing became quicker.

He had not fully got back his strength, and could sit but not rise.

Gradually his native force returned.

But when he was asked at last whether he sued for life and grace, he put his hand to his eyes, and strove to lift up their downcast gaze.