“Yes,” answered the King, “it shall be granted unto thee.”

Then said Faithful John, “I am unjustly condemned, and have always been true to thee,” and he related how he had hearkened to the conversation of the ravens when on the sea, and how he had been obliged to do all these things in order to save his master.

Then cried the King, “Oh, my most Faithful John. Pardon, pardon⁠—bring him down.” But as Faithful John spoke the last word he had fallen down lifeless and become a stone.