he lifted it out dripping and rolled over onto his back , gasping , for once wholly aware of his body and grateful beyond measure for warmth and sated thirst , and then a pair of clawed , scaled limbs lunged flashing out from the bushes , seized upon the pile of bundling , and dragged it out of sight : he had only a glimpse of a saw-toothed maw and glittering black eyes , and then all vanished .