I scarcely heard it.

My strength was exhausted; my fingers stiffened; my hand afforded me support no longer; my mouth, convulsively opening, filled with salt water.

Cold crept over me.

I raised my head for the last time, then I sank.
At this moment a hard body struck me.

I clung to it: then I felt that I was being drawn up, that I was brought to the surface of the water, that my chest collapsed--I fainted.
It is certain that I soon came to, thanks to the vigorous rubbings that I received.