He realized before long that he was parched with thirst, and reached out for the water-jar that stood beside the lamp; but as he started to drink he realized that a crawling evil was swimming round and round in rings in the water.

In a fit of horror he threw the thing away and smashed it into a dozen fragments in a corner.

He saw a dozen rats, at least, scamper to drink before the water could evaporate or filter through the floor; and when they were gone there was no half-drowned crawling thing either.

They had eaten it.
He clutched his rifle to him.

The barrel was hot, but the feel of it gave him a sense of companionship.