“It is not because they consider us their equals that they are supposed to look with abhorrence upon those who eat our flesh,” replied Ja; “it is merely that we are warm-blooded animals
They would not think of eating the meat of a thag, which we consider such a delicacy, any more than I would think of eating a snake
As a matter of fact it is difficult to explain just why this sentiment should exist among them
” “I wonder if they left a single victim,” I remarked, leaning far out of the opening in the rocky wall to inspect the temple better
Directly below me the water lapped the very side of the wall, there being a break in the bowlders at this point as there was at several other places about the side of the temple
My hands were resting upon a small piece of granite which formed a part of the wall, and all my weight upon it proved too much for it
It slipped and I lunged forward
There was nothing to save myself and I plunged headforemost into the water below
Fortunately the tank was deep at this point, and I suffered no injury from the fall, but as I was rising to the surface my mind filled with the horrors of my position as I thought of the terrible doom which awaited me the moment the eyes of the reptiles fell upon the creature that had disturbed their slumber
As long as I could I remained beneath the surface, swimming rapidly in the direction of the islands that I might prolong my life to the utmost
At last I was forced to rise for air, and as I cast a terrified glance in the direction of the Mahars and the thipdars I was almost stunned to see that not a single one remained upon the rocks where I had last seen them, nor as I searched the temple with my eyes could I discern any within it