Let's make friends with them, and get them to help us.

Do as I do." I tried to, but found it impossible, for my repugnance was immovable.
It was like the horror which one feels toward rats, cockroaches, earwigs, or serpents.

It was something that defied reason.

These creatures seemed like human vermin.
We marched inland for about half a mile, crossed a ridge, and came to a valley, or rather a kind of hollow, at the other side of which we found a cave with a smouldering fire in front.

The fire was made of coal, which must exist here somewhere.