He was used up.
Marcus believed himself to be close upon McTeague now.

The ashes at his last camp had still been smoldering.

Marcus took what supplies of food and water he could carry, and hurried on.

But McTeague was farther ahead than he had guessed, and by evening of his third day upon the desert Marcus, raging with thirst, had drunk his last mouthful of water and had flung away the empty canteen.
"If he ain't got water with um," he said to himself as he pushed on, "If he ain't got water with um, by damn! I'll be in a bad way.

I will, for a fact." * * * * * * * * * * * * * At Marcus's shout McTeague looked up and around him.