I'm struggling with figuring the function of the particle と in this sentence
from a book of Japanese literature in parallel text from the beginning of
[夏目漱石's 夢十夜](http://www.aozora.gr.jp/cards/000148/files/799_14972.html):

> 腕組をして枕元に坐っている **と** 、仰向に寝た女が、静かな声でもう死にますと云う。

The parallel text to this sentence translates this to:

> I was sitting with my arms crossed by the bedside of a woman. She was lying
> on her back.  
>  . . .

I do understand how the sentence was thus translated; however, I don't
understand the function of the particle と in the sentence.  
Can someone elaborate on the use of と in this sentence?
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-02-28T22:53:26.310
56954
2018-03-01T01:39:50.240
2018-02-28T23:20:26.810
25339
question
grammar particle-と
Function of と in this sentence